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Yep, those lumps from two posts ago are gone after a dose of doxyrubicin. They went down slowly, but after 3 weeks I can’t feel them at all. In Devo’s oncologist’s words: “Good for her!” She wasn’t too bothered by the chemo and we had a second dose last week. We know it’s temporary but we’re encouraged that she responded so well.

Her eye is still swollen and sight in that eye is gone from the cancer induced glaucoma. We need to watch the pressure and are still dialing the right eye meds. Acupuncture has been working too. It helps me to jokingly think of her as Mad Eye Moody from Harry Potter! Or imagine that she’s got one eye on us and one on the other side.

So for now, we’re enjoying the Fall and happy that she’s happy to keep hanging out with us 🙂

Well it seems Devo’s chemo is not controlling her cancer growth. 10 days ago she had a red painful eye that turned out to be uveitis from cancer cells blocking her eye ducts and circulation. Luckily steroid drops eased the pain right away. It is still red but doesn’t seem to hurt. She doesn’t see out of that eye any more.

She also has small lumps growing near her incision site that are also cancerous. She doesn’t love those being touched, but they also don’t seem painful.

So we are very sad.

But she is just herself — chasing apples, enjoying the heck out of food, sprinting after squirrels in the yard. Maybe groaning a little more than usual? It is confusing.

We tried a new chemo drug, doxyrubicin, yesterday. If that doesn’t slow down the lumps’ growth then we’ll be done with chemo and focus on apple chasing as long as we can.

 

Devo is doing so well on three legs! Around 5 / 6 weeks she really came into her own and it is such a joy to see. She’s figured out her new geometry and started rolling in the grass, scampering, and generally getting back to herself. Pre-surgery her greatest joy was running like a maniac on the beach, and she’s been able to do that again (albeit with more rest breaks). Her hair has mostly grown back too.

Still she definitely reminds us that she’s in her final life transition. A few weeks ago she woke me up at 2 am to go outside. (I thought maybe she had to puke.) We went out into the night, and she hopped just beyond the reach of the porch light and laid in the grass. I don’t know what she needed to do out there, but I’m glad she shared it with me.

She sleeps in bed with me sometimes now too, which she’s never enjoyed until now. I like feeling her doggy body curled in my knees and knowing she’s there through the night <3

 

Devo is doing so well. Her energy and playfulness are back. She figured out how to shake off, how to stretch a la downward dog, and how to sit while begging for food from the table!

Second dose of chemo (cytoxan) was this week and it seems fine so far. We found a great holistic vet who’s supporting her through it all. Supplements and raw food are going fine. Feeling grateful.

Tomorrow will be a month post surgery… Now when I catch a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye it’s not strange any more that she’s on three legs. I’m just glad she’s there <3