Month: January 2010

First of all – 2 weeks to the day of her amputation Maggie went up the stair to the bedroom.  3 weeks of sleeping in the dining room appear to be over.  Hurrah!!!

Met with the oncologist Wed for her 1st treatment.  The Dr recommended Carboplatin every 3 weeks for 4 treatments.  We had a scare because the blood work came back with elevated liver numbers.  He did an ultrasound and looked at most of her organs and did not see any issues.  Recheck her liver in 1 month.   Since there is no visible spreading of the cancer – he expects her to have about 1 year.  We’re doing everything we can to give her that at least.

She had no side effects from the chemo.  Eating normally, wants to go for a walk, goes up and down the stairs with no problem.   Life is getting closer to back to normal.

Today was a great day!  For the 1st time she went up the stairs.  A little hesitant at first, but then fine.  We helped her down though.  Not sure if i will every feel comfortable with her going downstairs alone.

Then she went for the longest walk so far – about 2 blocks.   We let her go as long as she wanted and when she was tired i ran home to get the car.  She was sleeping very soundly after her walk.

We left her inside sleeping to do some chores and left the doggie door open for the 1st time.  When we got home she had gone out and was sitting in her favorite place outside.  I am so glad that we decided on the surgery now.  For the 1st time she seems normal again.  Hopefully this is the 1st of many good days.

Maggie on You-Tube

On Dec 29, 2009 our 11 year old lab/pitt bull mix broke the radius and ulna on her right from leg after a bad fall.  After the xray, it was clear that the break was in bone that was not quite right.  She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma on 12/30 and on 1/5 had her leg amputated.    Since then she has done really well.  Loving to go for a walk, eating well, etc.  The staples were removed today and even the incision looks great.  We meet with the oncologist next wed to decide what the next steps are.  I am going to look into different diet options for her.  I’ve read things about BARF and cottage cheese/flax oil that sound promising.

I am “happy” that she broke her leg and we found this before she had any other symptoms.  Before this she was acting normally, not limping, not acting as though she were in pain.  The chest xray was clear and her lymph nodes were good.  I know that doesn’t mean it has not spread.  But i think these things are a good sign that we will have her a good while longer.