WonderDog's Chemo: Week Two

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

It might be hard to imagine a dog being EXCITED to go to chemo treatments, but Penny is.  Well, not so excited about the chemo, but thrilled to see her technician, Tony, and then Dr. Hillers.  Talk about a stress-free environment!

 

Tony came out to the waiting room to get us, and Penny started thumping her tail right away.  She has gained back 1 pound of the 5 she had lost.  Today's blood work came back in good shape, and Dr. Hillers said that her lymph nodes are smaller this week, which is GREAT news!

 

Thanks to the steroids, Penny is eating like a goat - anything and everything she can get her teeth on.  For a dog who's been one of the finickiest eaters ever, this is like having a completely different dog.  A bit of nausea, but we have pills for that.  Lots of drinking water - I have to put out a new bowl of water about every hour.  Thus, she pees.  And pees.  And pees.  But she's sleeping through the night, which is great.

 

I'd say the real side effect of the chemo is that it wears her out.  She's very lethargic, which is difficult for Biscuit (our mad-dog wrestler) to understand.  But I think Biscuit's getting it.  They've been spending a lot of time sleeping together and just hanging out.

 

This week, we add Palladia to the chemo and steroid treatment.  This is a pill that I have to give her every other day.  I must handle it with rubber gloves, lest my skin absorbs it!  Apparently, Palladia has been around for a couple of years.  It's job is to shut down (destroy?) the little "communicator antennae" that stick out around the edge of each cancer cell.  It is supposed to stop the cancer cells from talking to one another to encourage growth and spreading.  We'll see what happens from here.

 

All in all, Penny is still a happy dood with so much love to share.  Her lunchtime treat (straight from the doctor's Tupperware container) was some chicken that had been cooked in a crockpot.  I wanted to beg for a sample treat, too!

 

Penny sends her love to you all on DK.  On with the week!

 

 

 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Sounds like Penny's Doctor is wonderful and that must make things a little easier for all of you. We are keeping Penny and all of you in our thoughts.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Two of the sweetest faces ever!  It sounds like your Dr should teach a class at Vet schools on bedside manner and hiring compassionate staff ....... what a blessing to have such wonderful people taking care of Penny!  We think of you guys daily!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

What a wonderful picture you paint of Penny''s progress through her treatment.  Penny is in my thoughts daily and this is good news for this week.  The photograph of Penny and Biscuit is a lovely one too.  Two pals hanging out together.

[Jodi and Stella]

Bless her heart. This sounds like wonderful progess!