Say a prayer for my boxer he has Leukemia
- Thread starter riggodunick
- Start date
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This may be hard for you to read...
Hi RiggoD,
"Palpate" to me at least, just means to feel. I was always checking Abby's mandibular lymph nodes daily to feel for swelling, since that is the first place that we noticed the inflammation. When she relapsed a 2nd time, I had noticed that the swelling started first in her "popliteal" nodes.
When Abby came out of remission the first time, the oncologist told me that we would do a "rescue protocol" and then after that, there was really not much more that could be done. There was still one drug that they could give her, but the prognosis for it was really poor. When we got back from vacationing with family over Christmas, that's when I noticed the swelling in her popliteal nodes (5 weeks after we started the second protocol). I was pretty upset and had hoped that I was being paranoid, but within a few days, the swelling started at other sites, so I began to prepare myself. I had read that in untreated lymphomas, dogs usually only last 4-6 weeks. We decided against the last drug because quite frankly, I got to the point where enough was enough. Abby hated the hospital, the needles, IVs, pills, and I didn't want to put her through anymore. It's all about acceptance. I began to realize that the cancer was winning. I wanted her to enjoy her final weeks.
Unfortunately, the cancer was incredibly aggressive. I say unfortunately, but in hidsight, I think it was a blessing. To see her health decline so rapidly... well, I could not watch her suffer like that for weeks... My boss at work is an Army veterinarian and I asked him, "How will I know when it's time?" because I struggled with this for a long time... But I remember when Abby was diagnosed, I sat with her on the floor, cradled her head, cried, looked at her and promised her that I would not let her suffer.... So anyway, my boss told me to listen to Abby and she would let me know when it was time... She did. Each day was worse than the one before. First it started out in the evenings when she was trying to sleep, she would pant, tremble and I started noticing that she was having trouble breathing. Over the next couple of days, she was unable to jump into the car without help (this broke my heart). Then she stopped eating and only wanted to sleep in her doghouse outside... She wouldn't come inside anymore. We took her to our regular vet to discuss euthanasia... It's like I needed to hear from them that it was ok at this point. Yes, she still had a spark, that little nubbie tail of hers would wag, but she was fading fast... We left the office with a Wed. appt. to put her down. That was absolutely surreal... scheduling your dog's death... On the way home from the vet, however, she threw up in the car. She continued to throw up when we got home. That night for the first time, she refused her peanut butter "prednisone" for the first time (I broke down then too). She couldn't even hold down water... She told us it was time... So we called in the morning and scheduled her euthanasia for that afternoon....
Sorry to have completely bummed you out. I know right now how you are feeling. You're starting to "prepare" I can tell by your question to me... I think this is all a process. In a way, you have been grieving since Riggo was diagnosed. I think it helps to talk to people who have been through it. That's why I joined BW. I desperately sought out a post to tell me what to expect with the lymphoma and how to deal with the difficult decisions that were ahead of me. I hope that I can provided this for you, as I think it really helps to know there is someone out there who has been through it all.
But like my husband said, "Don't bury him before he's dead." Focus on these good days that you are having right now. You're still making great memories. Good luck at your next appt. I'm here (barring any comupter breakage) if you need me.
Hi RiggoD,
"Palpate" to me at least, just means to feel. I was always checking Abby's mandibular lymph nodes daily to feel for swelling, since that is the first place that we noticed the inflammation. When she relapsed a 2nd time, I had noticed that the swelling started first in her "popliteal" nodes.
When Abby came out of remission the first time, the oncologist told me that we would do a "rescue protocol" and then after that, there was really not much more that could be done. There was still one drug that they could give her, but the prognosis for it was really poor. When we got back from vacationing with family over Christmas, that's when I noticed the swelling in her popliteal nodes (5 weeks after we started the second protocol). I was pretty upset and had hoped that I was being paranoid, but within a few days, the swelling started at other sites, so I began to prepare myself. I had read that in untreated lymphomas, dogs usually only last 4-6 weeks. We decided against the last drug because quite frankly, I got to the point where enough was enough. Abby hated the hospital, the needles, IVs, pills, and I didn't want to put her through anymore. It's all about acceptance. I began to realize that the cancer was winning. I wanted her to enjoy her final weeks.
Unfortunately, the cancer was incredibly aggressive. I say unfortunately, but in hidsight, I think it was a blessing. To see her health decline so rapidly... well, I could not watch her suffer like that for weeks... My boss at work is an Army veterinarian and I asked him, "How will I know when it's time?" because I struggled with this for a long time... But I remember when Abby was diagnosed, I sat with her on the floor, cradled her head, cried, looked at her and promised her that I would not let her suffer.... So anyway, my boss told me to listen to Abby and she would let me know when it was time... She did. Each day was worse than the one before. First it started out in the evenings when she was trying to sleep, she would pant, tremble and I started noticing that she was having trouble breathing. Over the next couple of days, she was unable to jump into the car without help (this broke my heart). Then she stopped eating and only wanted to sleep in her doghouse outside... She wouldn't come inside anymore. We took her to our regular vet to discuss euthanasia... It's like I needed to hear from them that it was ok at this point. Yes, she still had a spark, that little nubbie tail of hers would wag, but she was fading fast... We left the office with a Wed. appt. to put her down. That was absolutely surreal... scheduling your dog's death... On the way home from the vet, however, she threw up in the car. She continued to throw up when we got home. That night for the first time, she refused her peanut butter "prednisone" for the first time (I broke down then too). She couldn't even hold down water... She told us it was time... So we called in the morning and scheduled her euthanasia for that afternoon....
Sorry to have completely bummed you out. I know right now how you are feeling. You're starting to "prepare" I can tell by your question to me... I think this is all a process. In a way, you have been grieving since Riggo was diagnosed. I think it helps to talk to people who have been through it. That's why I joined BW. I desperately sought out a post to tell me what to expect with the lymphoma and how to deal with the difficult decisions that were ahead of me. I hope that I can provided this for you, as I think it really helps to know there is someone out there who has been through it all.
But like my husband said, "Don't bury him before he's dead." Focus on these good days that you are having right now. You're still making great memories. Good luck at your next appt. I'm here (barring any comupter breakage) if you need me.
A lot of it too was the "undesirable" side effects from the enormous dosage of prednisone she was on. It's like her body would get on a timer and around 5pm, it would shut down until I gave her the next dose, then the tremors and panting would subside a little. Plus I've heard that the steroids make them weak.
Praying that the vet has some good news for you. Even if these drugs aren't working, perhaps there is another protocol that Riggo can try. My oncologist had said he had a patient on the second protocol who had been in remission for a year. You never know what's going to happen, that's part of the frustration. Think positive!!! Let us know how Friday goes.
Praying that the vet has some good news for you. Even if these drugs aren't working, perhaps there is another protocol that Riggo can try. My oncologist had said he had a patient on the second protocol who had been in remission for a year. You never know what's going to happen, that's part of the frustration. Think positive!!! Let us know how Friday goes.
Murphys Mom
Boxer Pal
Our prayers are with you and Riggo! It broke my heart reading your story, you are in my prayers.
Murphys Mom
Murphys Mom
Murphy's Mom,
Thanks for the prayers. I took Riggo to the oncologist yesterday. His right mandibular node is till giving us some trouble. I guess the silver lining is that the rest of his nodes are normal. When we were having trouble before it seemed like all of them would go up at once. He got a treatment of Vincristine and Cytoxan yesterday and is feeling well. Great appetite and energy. His blood counts are also good and while not conclusive (a biopsy is the only real way to tell) the oncologist believes that his bone marrow is still clean. He's going to be getting a serious treatment next Tuesday and hopefully go into remission again but for an extended period of time. Hopefully a couple of months. My emotional state and my wallet both need a break. He will also probably get neutred once he's in remission again.
RiggoD
Thanks for the prayers. I took Riggo to the oncologist yesterday. His right mandibular node is till giving us some trouble. I guess the silver lining is that the rest of his nodes are normal. When we were having trouble before it seemed like all of them would go up at once. He got a treatment of Vincristine and Cytoxan yesterday and is feeling well. Great appetite and energy. His blood counts are also good and while not conclusive (a biopsy is the only real way to tell) the oncologist believes that his bone marrow is still clean. He's going to be getting a serious treatment next Tuesday and hopefully go into remission again but for an extended period of time. Hopefully a couple of months. My emotional state and my wallet both need a break. He will also probably get neutred once he's in remission again.
RiggoD
Keep chuggin' Riggo!
Adriamyacin on Tuesday??? My oncologist always told me that was the "Big Gun." I hope it does the trick, and at any rate, I'm glad Riggo is feeling well.
Good luck at your appt. Has your credit card melted yet?
A word of advise for the future, VPI covered about 85% of Abby's chemo. I will DEFINITELY get insurance again for my next dog, although I hope and pray she doesn't have to go through the devastation of cancer....
As always, hang in there.
Adriamyacin on Tuesday??? My oncologist always told me that was the "Big Gun." I hope it does the trick, and at any rate, I'm glad Riggo is feeling well.
Good luck at your appt. Has your credit card melted yet?
A word of advise for the future, VPI covered about 85% of Abby's chemo. I will DEFINITELY get insurance again for my next dog, although I hope and pray she doesn't have to go through the devastation of cancer....
As always, hang in there.
AllisonJ,
Wow it covered the chemo thats' great. The policies I read through I thought didn't cover cancer.
I do have a question. She gave him the vincristine yesterday and it actually seems like his right mandibular is larger today. That stuff takes a while to work it's way through doesn't it?
Wow it covered the chemo thats' great. The policies I read through I thought didn't cover cancer.
I do have a question. She gave him the vincristine yesterday and it actually seems like his right mandibular is larger today. That stuff takes a while to work it's way through doesn't it?
I think the catch is you have to have the policy before it's diagnosed. But yeah, I was pretty pleased at the coverage. Slow as all get out to get your money but it eventually comes.
You know, I wish that I had an answer for you. Abby would go into remission immediately (within 2 days or so) when each of her 2 protocols started, and it was obvious when she came out of remission. How are Riggo's other nodes? Perhaps if it doesn't go down, put in a call to the vet. As far as I know, the absence of swollen nodes is how they judge remission (what my oncologist told me), so if it's still swollen, you may need a different treatment. Good luck.
You know, I wish that I had an answer for you. Abby would go into remission immediately (within 2 days or so) when each of her 2 protocols started, and it was obvious when she came out of remission. How are Riggo's other nodes? Perhaps if it doesn't go down, put in a call to the vet. As far as I know, the absence of swollen nodes is how they judge remission (what my oncologist told me), so if it's still swollen, you may need a different treatment. Good luck.
baby tyson
Boxer Pal
so sorry to hear about your baby! i don't know what to say, i can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to deal with a situation like this, you obviously have much support from all of us at BW! i don't know if you are interested in holistic care at all but if you are, here is a website i found for you:
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/amailbag.htm#1
can't hurt, right? it's all natural!
go to that and scroll down and there is quite a story about a boxer recovering from leukemia.
i wish you and riggo the best!!!
-di and tyson
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/amailbag.htm#1
can't hurt, right? it's all natural!
go to that and scroll down and there is quite a story about a boxer recovering from leukemia.
i wish you and riggo the best!!!
-di and tyson
- Status