Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I posted some pics of Tika's lung mets progression, and I thought more needed to be said. The images look scary, but how is Tika?
I hope this will help those who see the dreaded image for the first time. I'm not going to lie, it's a punch in the gut.
So here is the latest image of Tika's lungs taken September 1st.
As I said, each 'snowflake' is a met. (Oh, look at me, the queen of positive thinking....SNOWFLAKES? sheez 
)
However, since this radiograph:
1. Tika has gone for several good walks.
2. She's visited our dog park.
3. She travelled to Columbia, MO and had adventures with Tigers (okay, not really), and knocked out for inhaled chemo treatment.
4. She played in the St. Charles dog park several times.
5. She hiked on the Katy trail (missouri) and she went sight seeing on the Lewis and Clark Riverfront park.
6. She has inspired and touched about a gazillion people.
Even before this image we could see lung mets, and she went to Colorado and met great peoples! (Oh, stop blushing, you know who you are!) Visited mom's family. Participated in a Bark for Life event (and won a prize for her agility course attempt)
Yes, we had a scare this past weekend, but we let her overdo it. I quoted Top Gun to her today "Maverick, you are writing checks your body can't cash" Tika's response was: Whatever...
So, in case you can't tell, I've been a bit giddy. I'm also getting punched in the foot by a dog who thinks computers are complete crap and I should be paying attention to her.
So, I got to follow the bosses rules.
Peace all,
Kim
Kim and Spirit Tika http://www.tika.....ogspot.com
Thank you Kim, you make it soud bearable, and Tika can run for "most active dog with lung mets". I love the way you handle this and hope to have the strength to do the same thing when the time comes.
At the moment we are still having problems adjusting to the changes since ampu... so we have time to learn to be brave, both of us.
Thanks, for the example you are to us!
Cecilia & Horacia
Spirit Horacia, Castaño, Olympia + human family Cecilia, Georg and Julia - - - Hori first diagnosed 8/6/09, ampu 8/12/09, run over the bridge 9/10/09 – We miss you every day dear girl!
Kim and Tika,
First, while we have posted on a number of your topics today, we want to tell you how sorry we are to hear of the appearance of the dreaded mets. This is not what we wanted to hear after the nine month ampuversary!! It is wonderful that you two are still so very active and enjoying life because that quality of time is what it is all about. Rock On!!!!
Thanks for sharing the radiographs. I have been too freightened to go back in for chest x-rays but we did take a set in mid-March when we were worried about possible torsion. You need to examine Jerry's blog or contact them directly because I believe that they had a number of very good months after they had such x-rays. In fact, I believe that they actually went in for the x-rays because he was showing other symptoms. As I said, you may want to trace this down to get the facts straight.
Also, I love your attitude. Stay as positive as possible, enjoy every moment together that you can, and start tomorrow with the same up beat attitude. Our hearts and prayers go out to you. As one who grew up in southern Illinois (Belleville) and now lives in California, I can relate to the beautiful places you have described. However, Cherry is a California native.
Bob & Cherry
As I said, each 'snowflake' is a met. (Oh, look at me, the queen of positive thinking….SNOWFLAKES? sheez
)
Sheez is right…..I called Paris' lung mets polka dots!! Her lungs were both covered and I called them polka dots…sheez!!
Have they started her on Prednisone? Paris takes 10 mg in the am and 5mg at bed if needed. I am glad you are enjoying your days together, every moment is important and you still have your sense of humor too!
Take good care,
Gineej & Paris, loving my girl one day at a time
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
Polka dots, snowflakes...how about sparkles? Yeah, that's it! Yes, those are sparkles in our lungs, people! Why not think of them like that? Those sparkles are like magic dust that keeps us from laying around and feeling sorry for ourselves (ok that might be a stretchbut I'm trying here). Tika, Paris, keep on showing your pawrents that we don't let those spots get us down, and neither should they!
Yeah, yeah, it's hard not to. But I remember my Mom and Dad just watching me in amazement each time I wanted to play, and run, and wrestle with them. I was just trying to show them that even if we have an illness that might ultimately get worse in the long run, at least for the moment, we must get out and have some fun, doggone it! As long as they smiled at me, I knew I was doing my job.
Bob, to clarify how we found out about my mets....I was just going in to see my Auntie's dog's vet for a prescription refill. That was 16 months after my amputation, and I hadn't had a follow-up x-ray for about a year (we just didn't want to know while we were on the road). The vet convinced my pawrents to do an x-ray, and that's when they got the dreaded news. Between that appointment and the last time I saw my oncologist, I lasted seven months until those nasty mets finally did get the best of me.
But what did I do in those seven months?
- Hiked and swam in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming
- Ran around a dude ranch
- Went fishing with Dad
- Played chase with farm dogs
- Went to dog parks and met other Tripawds
- Laid around and watched the trees turn colors in the fall
- And ate like a KING! Buffalo burgers....yum!
I wasn't keeping track of time, only my pawrents were. I just wanted them to make the most of every day, and I think they did a darn good job at that!
For anyone interested, we did do a "What to Expect Next" post, after we knew that my time was at hand. It makes my Mom sad to read it now, but it also helped her cope by writing it at the time.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
And Tika, think of the gazillions of people you are inspiring and helping here too?!
Thank you for sharing that x-ray photo. Sparkles, right? 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kim & Tika, Gineej & Paris, Rene, Jim & Jerry,
Thanks for sharing the details and thanks for presenting such a positive attitude. I have fit more in the "I really did not want to know" camp. It is still unclear what I would do differently from what we do now as a family but your detail of how wonderful those seven months can be is inspiring. I am sure that I speek for Horacia, Cecilia, Georg and Julia as well as all those who regularly visit when I say a sincere THANK YOU!
Bob & Cherry
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