Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hey Family,
I just wanted to share some good news quickly .... I believe that Emerson *IS* responding because his lymph nodes are less firm/have reduced in size by at least 50%.
As a result, I am packing-my work-schedule with appointments and travelling today (leaving the boys with my mom in CT).... tell you more later.
thank you for all of your well wishes and positive energy.
Wheeeeee! Wonderful news to kick off the week! Cheers for much more pawgress and getting rid of those mean ol' tumors!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
This is awesome news 🙂 Can't wait for more updates
hugs
Michelle & Angels Sassy & Bosch
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Yay!!❤️❤️❤️ Keeping all those fingers, toes, paws, and tails crossed!!
Xoxo
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Ok... Finally have a few moments for a proper update!!
So, Emerson had his appointment on Friday. He received *treatment* and I left there having convinced myself that he was given placebo. (I live my life preparing for the worst. I've never been lucky.....). So, when we woke up on Saturday morning, I checked his nodes again = no change, massive. Again at hour 24 post-treatment, I checked again ... no change massive. I was crestfallen. Emerson had begun responding to all other treatments that he's had within 10 hours after treatment. I was in a state of panic and immediately started searching the literature and for blogs outlining the timeline of response. Again, I learned (what the tech told me) that it can take 3-7 days to begin seeing a response. At the same time, Emerson just didn't feel well... lethargic, refusing to eat, sleeping restlessly, flinging himself onto the floor to sleep (feeling weak?). I was just about convinced that the disease was progressing.
I was frozen ... I had soo much stuff do to. But, I couldn't manage to peel myself off the couch to do it. We celebrated family Easter on Saturday so, I went to dinner @my aunts house late and left early to come home to my dogs. I checked my work schedule and started to draft emails to cancel client meetings this week ... because there was no way on earth that I could prepare and be lucid enough to have any type of coherent conversation with anyone because I felt that my chest was caving in. I then decided that I didn't want to be alone with the dogs, and that I'd just stay in CT with my mom and dogs until the re-check appointment this coming Friday (The clinical study site is about 3.5hrs south of my apartment in New Hampshire. My mom's house is 2.5 hours south of my apartment ... and 1 hour away from the clinical study hospital).
The doggies 'go to bed' at 10 pm... so both of them settled down and fell into a deep sleep. Rocky was in bed and Emerson was by my feet. And, then I noticed that Emerson was sleeping really quietly ... to take a step back, as Emerson's neck- lymph nodes swelled, he started snoring loudly, snorting and waking up to cough. And then, it hit me .... maybe they're shrinking? I checked again after midnight and the nodes felt the same size, but, they weren't as firm as they had been. I wasn't sure... but I carried Emerson to bed and we went to sleep. Emerson woke me up 3 times to use the bathroom that night, each time returning to bed to very restless sleep.
Sunday morning... I wasn't ready to check the lymph nodes again. For fear that what I suspected the night before was wishful thinking. I forced myself to wait until 48 hours post-treatment to check. And they actually felt very slightly smaller. I took a deep breath ..... I checked a few hours later and they were DEFINITELY smaller/less firm. I told my mom and we both took a deep breath.
Sooooo... I decided that I needed to do some things. So I booked the flights for my vacation: NYC - Zimbabwe, Capetown - Dubai (for the day) - NYC. I also managed to be lucky enough to find a great deal on my return flight. I also decided that I would keep all of my work appointments and left the boys in CT, to travel to my home base in New Hampshire on Monday. I'm also fighting hard to return to normalcy. I went to pottery class on Monday and back to the gym today.
I'll head back to CT on Thursday and to the oncologist on Friday. I hope that he is in complete remission by the time I'm home...
Thanks again for your support and positive energy... it's working.
Mom sent me pictures today. Apparently, Emerson gathered up all of the stuffed animals, hid them in the couch blanket and then laid on them to taunt Rocky: https://www.ama.....Z9DcSXTVsV and https://www.ama.....PK9kIPsmEF
Note from the doctor: https://www.ama.....Uj7tUmsyiq
That is a great update. Prayers still coming that the treatment continues to work. Sweet sweet pictures. 🙂
hugs
Michelle & Angels Sassy & Bosch
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Soooo proud of you for holding it together, being patient and taking good care of yourself! By doing so, you are giving Emerson the strong pawsitive energy he needs to heal and fight this cancer. YEAH!
Had no idea you make pottery, that's a wonderful creative outlet. And your vacation plan sounds like a blast!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I was riveted not every word! Sooo glad things are looking up! Emerson is one tough pup!
Keep sleeping "quietly " Emerson!!😎
And those pictures...a ton of cuteness wrapped up in your pups!!😍
And we must have pics of your dream vacation. Such an Incredible adventure...and a well deserved one!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Wow Kim, I've missed so much! For some reason the tripawd forum posts AND Sally's emails have been going to spam! Hoping I solved the problem. So happy to hear that Emerson appears to be responding...however, and I say this with love, you seem to be "over-doing" it on checking his lymph nodes so often 
. Are shrinking lymph nodes like the proverbial pot of boiling water??? Have a great vacation, all 12 paws crossed here that things continue to improve for that little cutie.
Paula and Warrior Angel Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Everything is ever changing.....
So we're 16 days post Tanovea dose #1 and 5 days before dose #2. After week 1 of worry and confirmation that he had drug (+ shrinking nodes), I took a deep breath... felt better and made a point of not checking his nodes. We packed up and traveled from Connecticut to 'our' home in New Hampshire. He's ok, he's still acting ok .... so that's the good part. And also the part that I'm trying to focus on.
Well, when I came home from work on last Wednesday night, I was greeted by Emerson and his stuffed-animal purple dragon and a Rocky-dog trying to snatch-away said-stuffed purple dragon. I bent down to give the boys an ear scratch when I noticed a *bump*, right at the base of Emerson's ear (kinda behind the earlobe, in humans). This was a new one ... one that I hadn't noticed before. Ugh! I dropped my bags and immediately checked all of the nodes. And to my disappointment, things definitely felt 'different' from the last time I had checked ... the weekend before. Awash with panic, and an inability to call a vet (it was after hours)... I was just frozen. I had sooo much work to do, but, all I could do was lay in the couch with the doggies. So we did (and they loved the cuddles).
Then, first thing Thursday morning, I called our local oncologist who was hesitant about seeing us because he was unaware of the clinical trial rules. I also called the clinical trial coordinator who told me that I probably should head back to CT, but I *could* see my regular vet if I was comfier with that route... So I scheduled an appointment at both offices. Then our local oncologist called and urged me to go to Connecticut. So, I canceled the local-appointment and headed to CT at 6 am on Friday morning for his 11am appointment (it's about a 4-hour drive, with no traffic...).
The appointment confirmed what I suspected... some nodes are bigger and others were smaller. The vet considers this to be consistent with stable disease. I am trying to refocus my thinking to recognize this as a blessing, as he could have progressed over time since the first dose. We're holding onto hope that things remain relatively the same until this coming Friday when he's due for dose 2. (I've heard that dogs often have a better response after the second dose).
Again ... he's feeling fine. Yesterday he had a super animated squabble with Rocky, over the purple stuffed animal dragon. Suffice it to say he's still as feisty and *himself* as ever. LOL!
I was riveted to every word! And after digesting everything and for whatever it's worth, I actually feel quite optimistic!
The fact that some nodes are smaller, and based on how the Onco felt this represents stability, all sounds very encouraging.
But the real clue of how well Emerson is doing is how unwilling he is to let Rocky have his Purple Dragon!!!!
As you know, THE most important thi g tjat you can do is continue to Be More Dog . BE MORE EMERSON. As hard as it is, do not waste one second of your blissful time together worrying abput the tomorrows. Now is all we have. And now Emerson is telling Rocky to lay off his Purple Dragon with a delightful feisty attitude!
Extra treats for all, along with extra hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too
PS Have you actually gone on vacation yet?
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Yes, riveted! But after digesting the whole story and hearing about his activity now, I totally agree with Sally, pawsitive!!
It is so hard to not worry over everything, and I am like you, a total worry wort. And fear of the unknown is the worst for me. I'm much more comfy dealing with things that I am knowledgeable of.
You have support, you have faith, and your love has endless bounds. Deep breaths, sounds like your boy is doing well. That is your focus right now.
Lots of hugs and love,
Jackie and Huckleberry❤❤❤🤗
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Sally & Jackie have it it on the head, I agree pawsitive. Keep breathing. Maybe possible that lump behind the ear was so small before and it has to get bigger before shrinking??? Keep on being More Dog. You and Emerson have this.
Sometimes we project our emotions onto our dogs so as long as he is feeling well and playing keep on doing what you are doing. Breathe and eat more Chocolate lol and wine.
xoxoxo
Michelle & Angels Sassy & Bosch
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Quick note.
i was away for work all day and left my dumpling doggies with mom. She called at 9 to let me know that Emerson was refusing food and water.... I called the vet and ended up scheduling an appointment.
when I got home in the evening.... he had deteriorated. Extremely sluggish and lethargic.... very obviously sick. I have never seen him this sick...I took his temp late tonight and it was 104.1
We ended up and the emergency vet who gave antibiotics, pain meds and sub Q fluids.
not feeling super hopeful at this point. But we head to his scheduled appointment tomorrow.
Oh no, I hope this is something that will pass. Sending you big hugs and hopes that this is just a side effect. My thoughts are with you. I will try to check throughout the day for an update.
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
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