Hello all:

First I'm going to say hi, welcome, sorry you had to meet us all in this way. And here's some 'numbers' for you to just get some idea.

Tika:  Malamute--5 years

Cancer: aggressive chondroblastic osteosarcoma

Diagnosed: Late November 2008

Amputated: December 9, 2008  Rear Leg.

Chemo: 4 rounds Jan-March 2009

Metronomic Protocol: March 2009-September 2009

Lung Mets first appeared: June 2009

Alternative Therapies:

IL-2 Inhaled Therapy: Late July to August 2009 (a lot of it in RV) Result: Can't say it failed, can't say it won, can say it drained pockebook, but worth it for trying.

Inhaled chemotherapy:  September.  We didn't continue the therapy because Tika really had a hard time with recovering from anesthesia and I didn't have the heart to put her through it again.

Palladia:  Pretty much see above. Tika has a hard time with meds, and she seemed to be reacting badly to this.

Hospice care:  

First Sub-Q metacam for awhile.  Baytril injections. Pepcid when needed.

Ups and downs. 

Current hospice care:  Baytril tablits and 20 mg Prednisone 2x daily.

FUN STATS:

Tika has been travelling lots since her lung mets were confirmed. She got to meet the great Jim and Rene and the gorgeous Wyatt Ray .
 Next week Tika will be celebrating her 11 month ampuversary.  AND....5 months since lung mets were confirmed.
I have great pics of Tika playing in the lake on a beautiful day in Kansas (warmer on November 1st than on August 1st, but that's the Midwest) I will post those soon. 

To everybody: I'm thinking about you all, I read everybody's posts on my iPhone, but can't always post a reply. I was gone last week (with Tika's blessing!) for work, during that time, the Missouri German Shepherd Rescue contacted me to help with somebody who thought they would have to euthanize their dog for it's health problems, exocrinic pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). 

Side note: Tika's sister is a German Shepherd with EPI, which is failure of the pancreas to create digestive enzymes for the stomach and small intestine.  A dog that doesn't get the enzyme supplement will die of starvation. Sooooooo....Tika is stable, so we put forth our effort to help the owner with her dog.  Very simple remedy.  It was a good day.  You'll see mention of German Shepherd rescues here, we are also part of one as much as we can. (however, all doggies ROCK!)

For those who are just starting this journey:  

The first two weeks are hard.  First everything seems fine and the WAM! You are thinking, oh sh!t, what did I do? Then the dogs will get through that (for Tika it was pain meds, they messed her up BIG TIME).

Then you will learn through your pup.  Tika's message to us was just CHILL OUT! We listened.

Chemotherapy? Every dog is different.  Tika did IV chemo pretty well, just chilled for about 24 hours afterwards. Metonomic protocol, she did that well for several months until the Piroxicam started to be too much for her belly. 

Everything is scary, try not to cry in front of your baby, they think they have done something wrong.  Find your happy point with them. Tika and I will sing and dance, and walk if she's okay. Tonight we watched preseason college basketball so she could high five with us. I'm good with that!

Don't be afraid to consult multiple doctors. We love our primary care vet, but even he knows he has limitations on his knowledge. I would be wary of a vet who thinks they have all the answers.  But that's just my humble opinion.

I'm back home and will check in more often now.  Don't hesitate to send me a personal message if you have a question. I guess we have graduated to 'veteran' status now.  

Take care all, give your babies a big hug from me!

--Kim and Tika