She is still with us! I have had dogs and other animals all my life. I have seen births and deaths. I have nursed people and sadly seen quite a few depart this world. I have never seen any living thing so near death and survive. Paschale was in a state of total collapse - she messed herself for the first time in her life, she wheezed horribly, she was scarcely with us. I cleaned her up and carried her to a comfy bed and put a pillow under her flopping head while Michael walked up the road with the others then came in to say goodbye. We sat by her for a while and finally she just went into a deep sleep when we could see all her features had relaxed and she was breathing evenly, if shallowly.
Michael left for a time. when he returned with some lights (offal) he had cooked for her I thought how hopeless that was but miraculously she took piece by piece from him and a drink after. Since then she has slowly regained some of her strength and is now able to walk (or wobble) around the garden and the lane unaided and is eating almost normally. The tumour is still visibly large and ugly but doesn't seem to hurt her. The vet asked again if we wanted to try the newer drug Palladia, specifically helpful for cases of inoperable mast cell tumours, but we felt we could not put her through any more aggressive chemo. We had to consider the bill too (already nearing 1000euro) with other aging canine with problems but the main concern was Paschale's weakness. We want a dignified and pain free end as any owners would. Right now she is comfortable and I will be writing up the progress of her illness on the 'canine cancer' page. This little history contains a catalogue of misfortune, late and/or mis-diagnoses and incorrect treatments alongside some valued excellent veterinary care. Our thoughts now are to continue to build her up and give her medication against any recurrence of the chronic gastric upset she endured twice following chemo. Perhaps then we will slowly re-introduce prednisolone (plenty in the cupboard already) and see if this will give us a short respite in which to better prepare her and us for the end. Update, as and when but we do wish some other owners with similar experiences would contribute their thoughts or knowledge. I will add pages whenever there is enough material. We all want the best for our lovely companions don't we?......
Michael left for a time. when he returned with some lights (offal) he had cooked for her I thought how hopeless that was but miraculously she took piece by piece from him and a drink after. Since then she has slowly regained some of her strength and is now able to walk (or wobble) around the garden and the lane unaided and is eating almost normally. The tumour is still visibly large and ugly but doesn't seem to hurt her. The vet asked again if we wanted to try the newer drug Palladia, specifically helpful for cases of inoperable mast cell tumours, but we felt we could not put her through any more aggressive chemo. We had to consider the bill too (already nearing 1000euro) with other aging canine with problems but the main concern was Paschale's weakness. We want a dignified and pain free end as any owners would. Right now she is comfortable and I will be writing up the progress of her illness on the 'canine cancer' page. This little history contains a catalogue of misfortune, late and/or mis-diagnoses and incorrect treatments alongside some valued excellent veterinary care. Our thoughts now are to continue to build her up and give her medication against any recurrence of the chronic gastric upset she endured twice following chemo. Perhaps then we will slowly re-introduce prednisolone (plenty in the cupboard already) and see if this will give us a short respite in which to better prepare her and us for the end. Update, as and when but we do wish some other owners with similar experiences would contribute their thoughts or knowledge. I will add pages whenever there is enough material. We all want the best for our lovely companions don't we?......
RSS Feed