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by Blitzen on 21 January 2012 - 03:01
I really wish I could be more optimistic, Cheryl. She's 10 1/2 and to extend her life another year would probably take more than one round of chemical chemo, but no one can say that for sure. It's a disgusting disease that takes way too many dogs every year. I put off the inevitable too, cancelled one appt only to reschedule it a few days later.
The steroid drug of choice is prednisone.
There is still the chance it is not leukemia; keep the faith.
by hexe on 21 January 2012 - 06:01
The other concern I'd have about chemo for Libby would be the effect it could have on the DM--there is reason to view DM as part of the complex of autoimmune disorders, and consequently I'd have to wonder if the chemo for lymphoma would accelerate the DM as it suppresses the normal immune responses, or would it have the opposite effect and slow the progression? That's a question for the oncologists, and even then I'm not so sure they'll be able to answer it with any certainty, either.
(I am wondering if Libby actually does have DM, which I say only because Libby's mother and Hexe's mother were full sisters, and there was definitely no sign of any DM with Hexe throughout her 14 1/2 years...but she DID develop some disc herniation in the lumbar section of the spine at about 10 years of age, and that caused her to have a very, very slight toe drag on her left hind. When I noticed the toe scuffing, I had her looked at down @ Michigan State, and when the ortho specialist showed me the x-rays, it was clear why I was seeing what I was seeing. Things never progressed beyond that slight toe drag until she had a fibrocartilagenous embolism at 13 years old, and even then she managed to regain most of her movement back as she recovered from that. So if you haven't had any *good* x-rays done of Libby's spine, I wouldn't be so quick to rule out some disc degeneration if Libby's gait is off...)
by shepherdhope on 21 January 2012 - 11:01
So sorry to read about Libby. What a girl. Me and my poochies are sending you all the best.
shepherdhope
by Quest55 on 23 January 2012 - 23:01
by NIKKI04 on 26 January 2012 - 03:01
Lisa
by halekahakai on 30 January 2012 - 17:01
We lost our beautiful boy "Chief" in September. He suffered with DM for over a year, but still moved around pretty well with the boots on his hind feet. He died abruptly from a very agressive form of cancer called HSA (it's blood related) at 11.5 years. He was still a goofy puppy at heart and remained so up until the end. We miss him every day! Anyway, about the boots............they really made a huge difference to the quality of his life. Custom made from "Tammy and Teddys". You can find them online.
by XenaGSDCKC on 09 February 2012 - 04:02
Hello everyone, reading all of your posts has made me smile and cry, not at the same time though.
Thank you for posting your feelings and stories here, it helps to know a person is not alone when dealing with the horrible effects DM has on a loved one. Hugs tight to everyone of you who has watched your loved 4 legged furbaby struggle to get up, be embarrassed after messing on the carpet without knowing it, and still be beside you and try to comfort YOU. My girl here, Xena (named Xena Princess Warrior by my then 7 year old daughter who picked her out at a small kennel in a nowhere little town in my home province of Manitoba) 14 years ago, has been by my side constantly when I allowed her to be (she stayed behind with my husband when I travelled back to Canada when my Dad was ill and passed, then a year later again for just over a month when my Mom passed). She knows ALL my secrets and won't tell a soul, she promised! Together we survived moving together, travelling together, her separation anxiety, her pannus, and now her DM which she was diagnosed with this past May, we tried K laser treatments which I think did help, vitamin supplements, exercise, but the past 2 months have been tough watching my very proud dignified girl go through this. I say this as I pant myself after coaxing her to go potty for the night, she got her back end up with my help as i have been doing this past month but didnt want to make the effort to go down the hallway to the backdoor to go outside,,so I've been helping by supporting her back end and coaxing her forwards. I've read that letting her go is the last kindest gift I could give her, well this friday afternoon she will go to the Rainbow Bridge to be with my loved family who has gone there before her: Coco (terrier x), Magnum (GSD), Cowboy (AQHA), Dixie (terrier x). She will wait for me until she hears me whistle, then along with my other furbabies she will find me, this is my hope anyway. I know I will never have another like her, but her loyalty has been cherished, as she has been my very own personal therapy dog all these years. The feline crew here will miss her, 4 to be exact, my oldest male Kaze had adopted Xena when he was 6 weeks old as his 'Mamma', he would paw at her hip to fluff her up then try to nurse on her hind elbow, silly kitten, all Xena would do would be to moan and pick her head up and look at me "really Mom? your gonna let a cat try n nurse me?" He still fluffed her up, up until a few weeks ago. They always made us laugh. She sure is a treasure to put up with 4 cats! I had better go help her back in the house now, I just want to have my words here to comfort anyone who needs it and for my own memorial to my Sweetheart, I won't tell her good-bye friday afternoon, because I dont believe in good-byes. I will see my Princess later, I promise!
Hugss everyone <3
by Blitzen on 09 February 2012 - 04:02
RIP, Sweet Xena. Run free.........
by hexe on 09 February 2012 - 05:02
And I agree with you as far as what you'll say to her Friday afternoon...I, too, never say 'Goodbye'; I tell them that I will see them later, when my time comes to join them, and tell them it's OK for them to keep themselves busy while they're waiting for me because I know we'll find each other easily.
I'm glad you found this thread, and you posted your tribute to your Xena Princess Warrior here and shared her with us all. Come Friday afternoon, she'll be rejuvenated in the next realm, with all of her old strength back in her body again, and she'll find joy in that as she waits for your arrival. May the comfort that comes from having loved a good dog provides one's soul help you through the coming sadness.
by shepherdhope on 09 February 2012 - 16:02
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