Dear all,

Toby's bloods came back and all is well. However, the white cell count seemed to be inaccurate, so we had to take more bloods today. The vet said that it was so off the chart that the machine had to have been the probelm, so we will get another reading in the next few days. He wanted to have the most accurate figures before he began chemo.

Toby is still rather subdued. The vet checked his heart, his hips and his spine, all appeared to be fine. Neverthless, he has given me more tramadol to use, but a much lower dose than before and only to be used if I feel that Toby is uncomfortable. Toby is still only eating small amounts, but on a more regular basis. He just has no spark, it is quite sad to see. I do hope that this is just a normal phase and that eventually his zest for life will return.

We discueed the chemo in detail and I asked to be in the room when it is administered as Toby is becoming more and more stressed when he visits the vet. They are now looking into the law on whether I can be in the room or not. Not sure what the rules are in the US, but here they seem to be quite strict.  I can however be with him when he goes on the drip following chemo. So we will see.

To try and answer your question Jerry, Western acupuncture has been described to me in the following way. Western Medicine was somewhat critical of the Chinese philosophy of acupuncture and the balancing of energy.  In the UK it was seen as inconsistent and thus could not be successfully incorporated into Western diagnostic techniques. Following further research into the Eastern technique, Western acupuncture was developed. Western acupuncture, as far as I understand it, is based on formula researched for a variety of illnesses and applied only on the basis of a western medical diagnosis having first been made by a doctor/vet. What was discovered by scientists is that the nervous system can indeed be stimulated at 'trigger points' within muscle tissue and the connective tissue in and around it. These points are already known to Western medicine, and that this sometimes works to block or inhibit nerve pain. I hope this makes some sense, probably as clear as mud!

We will monitor Toby and then make the decsion whether he should begin chemo on Monday or Tuesday of next week. His eating has to be more consistent and he needs to be feeling a little more like his old self.

Thanks as always for your support and words of encouragement.

We don't have a WBC count as yet, we will do shortly. Toby was given antibiotics during the surgery and then antibiotics for one week at home.  The histology report came back and the vet was quite shocked, as was I. Toby's tumour, while an osteosarcoma, is low grade, which according to my vet is very unusual. There is no visible signs in the lungs, but of course it may be too small to see, but we are pleased that the tumour is low grade.

Toby has perked up a little today, he was actually up and barking at the pheasants, which is great, loud, but great!

Had most of the staples out, but still some left in. Toby became quite agitated, so the vet will take them out when we start the chemo. I hope this is OK.

Will keep you updated as things progress.

WBC is low/normal, around 7. I think it is a different system here in the UK, but looking back over of WBC results this is Toby's norm. He is supposed to start chemo on Monday at 9:30am, but Toby now has an allergy to something, he is constantly licking and itching himself; he is almost in a frenzy. He also appears to have conjunctivitis. We are off to the vets tomorrow. I called my regular vet, who referred me to the vet who did the amputation and will be doing the chemo, he is concerned, saying Toby should not start chemo if he has an ongoing infection. So I will see what the amputation/chemo vet says on Saturday.

Hope all is well with you all.

I will keep you updated.

He is not on any meds now, so we are cutting one thing out from his diet at a time. He was having milk, so we have cut that out and he seems to be claming down a little. He has a cream for the scar which appeared to be a source for some itching, the cream seems to be helping. He does have conjunctivitus in one eye and imflammation in the other, so no chemo on Monday. Maybe we can start on Wednesday if the eye infection clears.

I will check the meds that the vet is putting him on throughout chemo to ensure the addition you mentioned is not in them.

Thanks