It has been a long time since we updated this blog. I’m sorry for that because Sasha had so many victories that I could have reported on. After her amputation she was able to get around quite well. So well in fact that her chemo vet recorded her and used the videos to help other people to make their decision about amputation. After each of her six doses of chemotherapy, she had no side effects. It wasn’t until she started her metronomic therapy that Sasha ran into trouble.
We started her on a single dose of Cytoxan, a low dose oral chemo drug, once daily. Within three days her urine became bloody. She was put on two antibiotics. After several weeks of little improvement, Sasha was put on sulfa drugs. This finally cleared up her urine. The chemo vet felt that the bloody urine was caused by a bladder infection that was coincidental. The vet then put her on Leukeran, another low dose chemo drug. Unfortunately, after a week she had bloody urine again, and also had an episode where her gums and other mucus membranes turned grey-white. We took her to an emergency vet where she was diagnosed as anemic and dehydrated. I took her to the chemo vet where i was told Sahsa probably had an auto-immune response to the chemo drugs and she was destroying her own red blood cells. She was regenerating them, so that was good news, but she couldn’t take the chemo drugs any longer.

Over the next month, Sasha had a couple of more anemic episodes. She became weaker and didn’t eat well. She still drank water and could get up relatively well.
In the last week, Sasha has gotten worse. She hasn’t eaten, vomited a few times and doesn’t drink much water. She only gets up once a day and that is a struggle for her. The end has come for our tough fighter. Friday, September 16, 2011, we are going to have a friend that is an animal control officer come to our house to help Sasha. It has been a difficult, tortuous decision, but a necessary one. All that we have done for Sasha has been to help her be comfortable and have as good a quality of life as she can. Her quality of life is almost nil and she is in obvious pain. It is time.

It has been such a privilege to be Sasha’s owner. She is so smart, funny, loving, and a little bit naughty. Everyone always comments on how beautiful a dog she is. They especially love the spots on her ears. She is such a tough girl, who has been through so much. Although she was almost 200 lbs.,  she didn’t let the loss of her front left leg slow her down. She still ran, jumped up on the couch and bed, and even went down the basement stairs once (to avoid getting her flea treatment). As weak as she is, she still wags her tail. When her Momma comes home,  it even spins in a circle. She has such a strong positive spirit. Our hearts will have a hole for a long, long time when she is gone.

There is a poem called the Rainbow Bridge. I know Sasha will be there.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Author unknown…

We will miss your slobbers, your big raspy tongue and the piles of hair all over the house.  We will will miss your bright eyes, your smiley face, and your whippy tail.  We will miss your face on the counter, your loud sonorous barks at the mail man, and the messes you made.   We love you Sasha, you are our big, beautiful baby girl, the sweetest thing and you will always have a special place in our hearts.