Valentine is a Tripawd
Valentine is 1-year ampuversary. Hoorah! She just turned 9 on Valentine’s Day and has had a great year after the painful, confusing period of osteosarcoma diagnosis, the amputation surgery, a pretty smooth and brief recovery, and then adjustment as a new tripod.
There were a couple of hiccups along the way, but she has had a very, very good year.
Tomorrow is Valentine’s birthday, she will be 9 years old.
Last year on February 12 we learned she had osteosarcoma in her right front leg. After freaking out, we had her leg amputated and she has had a very good year. She adjusted very well to her life as a tripawd.
Some of you may remember that we could only do one round of carbo chemo because of the outbreak of the Chicago dog flu here. We were too afraid she would catch the flu at the vet while she was being administered a dose of chemo which would lower her immunity. Tough decision.
Lately she has had some weird spells where she shivers and pants and paces and will not settle as if she is in pain. She has also coughed a few times at night over the past month or so. So we are guarded and vigilant and concur that cancer s*&@s.
We have not done a chest x-ray since her amputation almost a year ago. She receives regular chiropractor and acupuncture treatments, we tried a local rehab center but it didn’t really go very well. She is on apocaps and K9 and Chinese herbs. We just started her on 25mg of Tramadol twice a day because we fear she might be in pain.
She has had a very good year, still chases the squirrels out of our yard, still wants to play and wrestle with her pack-mate Frances.
Here she is waiting for an acupuncture treatment. She is gazing up at the table where we have placed her treats. Happy Valentine’s Day!
