From what I remember with our other dog Bonnie who underwent chemo (don't know which kind, something they did through an IV), I don't remember her ever NOT having side effects.  Some weeks she was real sleepy, other weeks she hardly ate...eventually after chemo was over and she was deemed in remission did she return to "normal".

I would like to impart with you a saying we have in my yoga classes, "Focus on what you are doing and forget what everyone else is doing.  What ever you do is just perfect for you." Every dog's recovery is different: some people on this site have tripawds due to accidents, some amputations "cured" the cancer like with Chloe, and some dogs only begin their battle with cancer after amputation like Sammy. We are all different, we cannot compare ourselves to one another because all of our circumstances are different.

Please do not be discouraged, we all know you love Sammy so much and that you are doing everything you can.  Sometimes there are just lessons that you have to learn, like giving Sammy antinausea asap. I learned a harder lesson the day I took Chloe home from amputation. We went on a potty walk and I was letting her go at her own pace. BIG mistake. We got 2 houses away (just around the block) and she plopped down on our neighbor's lawn and wouldn't budge.  I didn't have my phone, but our neighbors took pity on us (they didn't even know us) and drove us around the block home.

So like with the yoga saying, you cannot compare Sammy's story to others. It is just important to acknowledge he will recover at his own pace, on his own time and all you can do is just love him through it.  Look to others as inspawration to boost your optimism, not to feel bad that he isn't a super dog who can have super white blood cells that can kill the cancer. Otherwise I would say bottle it and send it around the country!!

Ok this is getting long...going to stop blabbing now...

-Chloe's mom

Elizabeth & Sammy,

We are thinking about you during this time! The first time for Charlie getting Carboplatin I was scared to death! I really feel for you in this situation. It will work itself out.

I didn't use the anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea until I saw symptoms (when he wasn't eating well, or if his poo got too runny). I also have been giving Charlie the generic (Target brand) Tagamet as an antacid, which has seemed to help.

I am almost on the other side of chemo, with Charlie having his 5th round on Friday. Each time has been a little different, but nothing too overt.

There is something that my vet has been doing that I haven't seen on this forum: At each chemo he gets a shot of Benedryl. We started this due to my worry that he would have a reaction to the chemo the first time. I don't know if it has helped, but it doesn't hurt. Charlie once had a bad reaction to a new vaccination (I can't remember the name, but it was for dogs that come into contact with water or stuff that has other animal urine in it). So we just did it as a preventative and have done it each time since (about $38 each time). It may have helped with his seasonal allergies too.

Anyway, we'll be thinking of you at this time and know that this too shall pass.

Charlie & VQ

Catie's first days of each treatment - she had a total of five, alternating between carpoplatin and doxorubicin - were surprisingly uneventful too. She ate her supper; she had energy; she was her old self. The second, third and fourth days she would turn her nose up at her breakfast and walk away, but usually managed to eat something in the evening. She had some mushy poops and lethargy, despite which she managed to rouse herself to excitement at going to the park.

The feelings of sadness and anxiety, frustration and even anger are all normal ones. They pass. They really do. The most destructive one, I think, is the guilt.

Be very, very kind to yourself. And get lots of rest. I find I'm particularly vulnerable to an onslaught of bad feelings when I'm tired.

Sending pawsitive thoughts and wishes for better days ahead, Elizabeth and Sammy!