Hello All,

Zepplin wanted me to update everybody, as he has appreciated your thoughts so far.  He underwent his R forelimb amputation on 6/26 (1 week before his 11th birthday).  The surgery went well, inscision has healed nicely.  He went for his follow up with the surgeon yesterday to have sutures removed, and the initial consult with the oncolgist.  He began chemo yesterday, 1 treatment of one drug every 3 weeks, followed by one treatment of a second drug once every 3 weeks for a total of 6 treatments possibly followed by metronomic therapy.  No evidence of lung mets or any other metastisis at this point.  Later that day we had an intial eval with a rehab vet, and got lots of pages of homework exercises (his dad is a PT so that is good I guess), and we'll be doing underwater treadmill training for a few weeks as well.  Then today we had an appointment with a holistic vet and got about 600 vitamin, suppliment, and other pills to give him every day (good thing he thinks pill pockets are treats and we're encororating that into his home exercise program).  We are trying to cover all conventional and non-traditional bases.  We're cooking his cancer diet food which he loves, and starting to get him moving a bit more.  He figured out the stairs and dog door in the first week.  He didn't really want to drink water, and just started yesterday.  His right back leg is a little smaller and weaker than the left so we'll be working on a lot of strength, range and balance.  His first real walks were today, but he got pretty pooped after about 100-200 feet and didn't seem interested in walking, more in laying down and eating grass. 

He still seems to sleep a lot (most of the time,) and has brief periods where he seems more himself, but still seems really tired and down/ depressed.  He's not on any pain meds anymore and we are tapering him off of Gabapentin.  We've had a few hearbreak moments: one when I gave him a half of a hamburger and usually he would run around, throw it on the ground and ponce on it, knock it around with his nose.  He couldn't figure out what to do, he just stood there and whined.  Another time I gave him a stick to chew, and normally he would wedge it between his two paws to chew on it, and I couse see he was trying to use the arm that wasn't there and he just gave up and put his head down/ lost interest.  He also really liked to dig in the dirt and lay down in it, and he just kind of stares at the old hole like he doesn't know what to do.  I really hope he figures those things out, he always loved those things the most.

All that being said all of the vets caring for him are really impressed with his rate of progress, and although he seems down still, we can tell the pain behaviours aren't there any more.  He is so far a rock star.  I have some great video of him hopping around, but can't really load it on this discussion board I don't think...

Thanks for all of your help so far.

Zep, Brad & Dana (and Katie, Stu, Monkey and little kitty too)