No ill effects from chemo yet, but I was given to understand those would most likely hit tomorrow-end of weekend if we were going to have any of that.  We didn't go on as much walking today because R didn't seem enthused, but we did... play our first few rounds of fetch!  

261

I limited it to five our so runs since it was our first attempt and R seemed to get tired after that, even if he didn't really want to admit it, but it's our first fetch in a couple weeks...  He even wanted to play a little tug when we got inside.  I think he's realizing slowly that I AM willing to play again and maybe he's starting to get used to his new body.  I thought tug is probably good for all those front leg muscles and re-learning balance. It wasn't a super aggressive tug game, just some fake growl-grumbles and shaking.

Anyone ideas on baths?  I used to just do it in the bathtub, but that seems like a horrible idea with three legs; very slippery.  I could do it with a hose in the yard right now.  When lazy I used to send him to daycare for a bath, but the oncologist said daycare probably not ideal during chemo, which makes sense.  So... 

I haven't looked into rehab yet.  I admit, at some point, we've been hemorrhaging money all spring/summer this year.  (We replaced our roof literally the week before R's diagnosis.  It's been a great summer.)  But I suppose I could look into it.  I think they have some rehab stuff at OSU.  We could do a couple sessions just to learn the exercises maybe.  If they'll even let me in for the session.

Thanks for the info.  Yeah.  We're going to Ohio State vets.  It sounds like the trial might still involve some 'invasion' (between a full open surgery option and a like tiny holes surgery option)?  How do you personally weigh benefits/risks to trials?  We actually spoke at some length to the guy leading one of the immunotherapy trials at OSU.  We ended up not qualifying for that one due to the lung mets.  But that one took me a long time to think about too.  I'm not sure I want to put R through any more invasive procedures.  He's also not a fan of the vet office, so that was something I was balancing in deciding just on chemo.  He gets super stressed when we go to the vet.  I figured at least chemo just meant five or six days of stressed balanced against maybe extra months of good quality time.  I don't know.  These are always such hard decisions to balance, aren't they?

R was a little more himself again this morning.  Still way reduced from the R of old, but he was butt-wiggling for a little walk this morning and we started our day with three solid fetches in the backyard.  If we do three more before bed, we'll be up to SIX fetches today.  Dude.  In a weird way nice for me to know we're living out our final time together (whether that's a month or a year) because I really savor the fifteen minutes on the back stoop, with summer breeze right now, leaves whispering, R panting, even the freaking cicadas singing...  So much more present in our moments.

Love that I've got at least glimpses of R's puppy grin the past two days.  Hopefully their appearance multiplies.

No bad chemo effects yet.  We have our follow up for bloodwork check next Friday.  Then second chemo will follow 3 weeks after first.  We're doing X-rays again midway through chemo since we already know we have lung mets and we're basically just trying to slow those suckers down.

Stacy, sounds like I'll have to check out some of your rehab exercises.  Probably time to start thinking about doing some of those as R gets more feisty.  Sandra, at least what I see when I post pictures is a number that's showing up orange in my posts?  That's a link to the Instagram pictures/videos that I think should work for you in your browser.  (So on my message post 107 there's a 261 in orange in that post and that should be linking out to Instagram video of R's first fetch.)

No chemo effects yet.  I think I'll start to feel safe if we get through the weekend.  Actually, especially energetic this morning.  We made it around our smallest loop walk this morning.  I wish it didn't take us by the 'big road' where buttheads seem determined to have at least one broken glass bottle on the sidewalk at all times, but...

We also got to butt-wiggle 'hi' with the neighbor.  Got a cookie and got to express our enthusiasm to the max.  Might have a friend over tomorrow. A little worried about his love torpedo routine, but she's willing to get down on the ground with him so he'll run around the living room in psychotic circles but he probably won't have to leap up and down repeatedly.

Any ideas on best bet for a bath?  (He kinds needs one, stinky dude.)  We used to do it in the bathtub but with three legs on the slippery tub floor and I'm not sure how much he'd want to stand...  How do people feel about hose outside on a hot day?  We've actually never done that before and I have some slight reservations because the water out of the hose that sits outside all year can't be 100% clean, and I have the whole immunocompromised thing in the back of my head, but seems like it would allow for a better place for pup to stand...

Sandra, You're probably pretty safe from too many more baking pictures.  I do a cyclic bodybuilding diet and next week (oh, the woe) we're back on a 'cut' (translation: carbs and fats slowly go away until you're eating basically lean meat and veggies every meal).  If chance likes chasing you... have you ever tried 'soccer'?  R loves soccer too.  We have a big ball that's made for dogs (he used to get his teeth stuck in the real soccer bolls) and I kick it and he picks it up and I chase him.  He likes being chased and when I get the ball he likes chasing me.  Might fit Chance.