Today Ivan had his first hydrotherapy treatment at the Canine Rehabilitation Center in Walnut Creek, California.  The website is http://www.thek.....center.com.  A little anxious at first, can't say as he was thrilled, but he hung in there for two 3-minute sessions, a short break in between so he could rest.  Dr. Troy says he'll be tired tonight and probably sore tomorrow. But so good for our boy Ivan!  Ideally he would go two times a week, but we can only do one time a week. 

We'll keep you all posted on Ivan's progress.

An update on Ivan.  After good progress on recovering from his TPLO surgery, Ivan ruptured his right rear cruciate ligament, despite the physical therapy routine we were using to avoid that event  At the same time, his chest xray came back showing lung mets.  So, we are keeping him comfortable, will start acupuncture, and see how he is after a 21-day round of oral cemo to slow the lung mets down.  We're taking it a day at a time.  Had the lungs been clear, we were going to do another TPLO, since Ivan did so well with the first recovery, was a happy dog even on restricted activity. 

We keep the faith, thanks everyone for your support.

Ivan's ortho surgeon just called, and is recommending we proceed with a less invasive repair of Ivan's knee--tomorrow.  The oncologist suggested waiting until we see how the first round of oral chemo goes, at the end of three weeks, to see if the mets slow down, saying that the literature says a prognosis of 8 weeks, even though she has patients Money at this point is an issue, but . .  .  The surgeon sees Ivan's pain releif from the surgery as immediate, and why wait another 2-1/2 weeks.  I guess the issue for part of our family is how much time is left.  For me, it is seeing Ivan in pain from the knee, not from the cancer.  Don't know what we will do, but wanted to put it out there.   

Thanks, Jerry. After further discussions with the surgeon, who talked to our oncologist, we are going ahead with the surgery tomorrow morning.  The surgeon sees this as a way to alleviate Ivan's knee pain for however long he has left, and improving the quality of his life.  That is the determining factor for us.  Ivan has so much joy in him now, even with the knee, that improving his knee pain is best for us.  We don't regret one decision we have made, knowing that the amputation, then the TPLO, was the right choice, and now, this surgery.  Ivan is in good hands with Dr. Carlson at Berkeley Dog and Cat, she has been the most wonderful, caring and compassionate health professional.

Thanks for the encouragement.  We'll keep you posted. Ivan has a lot of prayers embracing him! 

An update on Ivan:  He had his right rear knee repaired January 7, is at home recovering.  The recovery from this procedure is going more slowly than the recovery from his TPLS surgery, which the doctor says is to be expected.  We do have a new concern which has developed, he now has pain at his amputation site, and this seems to be causing him more distress thatn the knee repair, as he isometimes whimpers and cries a bit when he lays on the amputation side . . .

I don't want to speculate what this is, he goes in Wednesday for a chemo recheck and chest xray to see if the current chemo meds are working to slow the lung mets down, we can get a picture of his amputation side then.  If we can, we sill start back with hydrotherapy on Thursday, unless there is a pain issue that would be worsened by that . . .

Ivan had his first acupuncture yesterday, and the holistic vet prescribed some herbal remedies for the joint pain and Hoxsey Boneset formula for the cancer, and recommended a Moxa stick to stimulate his acupuncture points with heat.   He's already on Metacam, Dasequin, Ligalex, Tramadol, and the Leukeran chemo regimen, so this is a bit more . . .Phew, it seems like a lot.

Keeping the faith, as we see what the next day brings.  Thanks for all the continuing support.