Eustacia, I couldn't figure out the logistics either! You know they didn't have a horse's gallop figured out until fast action photography, so you and I aren't so slow... I can tell the difference between a hop up and down stairs and a walk and I can see if he is skipping a stair, so I try to arrange things so he will walk up and down stairs (possible for a giant dog). That's his new command when getting in the car WALK. He does know the difference although he can't always manage it (or doesn't want to)

I try to remember: The dogs figure out the logistics!!

Sunday July 30  45 days post op. We opened up the temporary fencing so now Nicky can go all around the outside of the house, up and down the front stairs to the higher level and up the bedroom annex stairs to the lower level. He's been moving around more. My husband thought of this a couple of days ago, but i get protective. Because he is not in this room all the time I can finally give it a good clean. YAY!

Monday July 31 46 days post op. A very frustrating day at OSU. I never received an email or call with instructions and gave Nick a half cup of kibble at 6AM, We arrived at 8 and at 10 found out that his CT scan had been moved to 2 because he should have fasted so he was in a kennel with all the anxious dogs until almost 5. The staff and techs are great there but the systems don't work well, probably outdated. 

Tuesday Aug 1. 47 days post op Nick slept all day. I hope they didn't sedate him twice yesterday.

Wednesday Aug 2. 48 days post op. Nick got his Yale booster shot at BARC in Edmunds WA. All went very easily. The office manager requested the report from OSU which I was supposed to get yesterday. This must have given them a reminder and they then sent one to me.

CT Scan  showed NO apparent lung mets!!! It also showed: Gastric and small intestinal mineral opaque foreign material. because he stole a stew bone off the kitchen table, last night  which he never does. I think he's forgetting his manners. Or maybe it was because the bone was intended for the bobcat trap! 

He hasn't begun chemo yet so I was a little concerned. He will be taking cytoxin with rimadyl chews, metronomic so administered at home. 

Thursday Aug 3. 49 days post op, seven weeks! This was a rest day for everyone after a pretty hectic beginning of the week.

Friday Aug 4 50 days post op  Nick had his swimming therapy at 10AM. He does not like the ramp. He does not like the indignity of being helped by two people to back into the water, which is what they do with big dogs. He probably wouldn't let a man do that. He does not like me agreeing that he has to go through with this unseemly entry into the water. He lets us know loud and clear, so of course I worry that he is also pulling a muscle or something but he was protesting before he had even tried it so I think not.  He likes the swimming though, once he gets there.  While he was exercising up and down the pool, JayJay a chubby two year old Lab was retrieving over and over and I could see Nick wanting to join in. Maybe some day, although good luck getting a Newf to repeat a simple trick more than a couple of times! He knows this water business better than anyone. I think it would be fun for him to try the Water Dog I title at Centralia next year, if present. He can do a lot of things beyond that but not get in and out of a boat, so that's the limit.

For people following the Yale vaccine experience, When he came home from swimming (and a hour round trip in the car) Nicholas began to yelp as he moved when lying down (first pain noise out of him since the cancer appeared, he doesn't complain) He was hunched over and generally looked miserable.  We noticed that he had developed a lump or cyst subcutaneously at the injection site between his shoulders. It may have been present earlier this morning, but he seemed chipper before the trip. So according to the Yale EGFR/HER2 information, the lump is normal for some dogs receiving the vaccine and actually a good sign as it shows the immune system is active. Was the pain normal? My husband thinks any cyst of that size in that location would cause pain on movement  About 6" across times maybe under an inch high. I gave him the 1.5mg x twice a day Rimadyl that he was perscribed pre and post op. The only thing Yale doesn't want administered is steroids. He had trouble settling down to sleep. I will email  BARC if it's still painful tomorrow.

Saturday Aug 5, 51 days post op. Nicholas woke up feeling better, no yelps, moves around more but still thinks about where he wants to go. I will check with BARC that the pain could have been caused by the swelling so I know if the swimming should continue. With BARC I get to consult with a doctor. Tuesday is his wonderful rehab therapist, and she can tell if he's in muscular pain.

OSU wants weekly jugular blood draws. I think not. Other metronomic consultation schedules that I have researched are less frequent; but perhaps OSU is prescribing  a larger dose for Nicholas (19mg Cytoxan capsule daily). They are really pretty scattered and I have not yet talked to anyone but a Resident, who may reverse her memorized opinion after she consults the oncology DVM. I wish I had researched more and found a private oncology clinic like BARC but in June they were backed up in oncology appointments until September and I wanted to get started with the vaccine. So there you go.....