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Monday, July 19, 2010

This was the kind of weekend that made all of the chemo treatments, vet appointments, medications, and trips to Sacramento and Davis worthwhile.  Jack feels great!

Saturday morning we decided to beat the heat and head for the mountains and Lake Tahoe early in the day.  Our first stop was in Hope Valley along Highway 88 south of Lake Tahoe.  Jack used to take us hiking there almost every weekend in the summers when he was a younger guy.  The elevation is around 7,000 feet with the Carson River and several natural springs to keep it cool and green for most of the summer.  We didn't walk far, but Jack certainly enjoyed being there and sniffing around his old stomping ground.

Then we headed to Lake Tahoe and drove around the west (California) shore to Tahoe City where the Truckee River flows out of the lake.  The dam is known locally as "Fanny Bridge" because of the people who hang over the side looking into the water.  On the lake side of the dam is a deep water area... perfect for a quick canine swim.  Jack's big sister, Sasha, used to swim here when she grew old and arthritic.  It was ideal for her because she had long legs and didn't have to walk out in shallow water to find a spot deep enough to actually swim.  Honestly, we're not sure if we've been back to that spot since she passed away 10 years ago so it was a little bitter-sweet to come back now with older, arthritic Jack for a swim at Sasha's beach.

He did her proud!  He stomped right in where she always did, and took off swimming!  I could almost imagine her in there with him.  John kept him on the extended leash so he could gently reel him back to shore.  Otherwise, we have no doubt Jack would have headed across to the other side.  He's always loved to swim and we were thrilled to see him swimming more than 9 months since his lymphoma diagnosis.

Wow!  That cold water felt good on a hot day.

He came out of the water exhausted and water-logged, but clearly very happy.  He's been in a great mood ever since, and has been trotting and bounding around the house like pre-lymphoma Jack.

This was the weekend that made it all worthwhile, and the perfect way to celebrate 40 weeks since diagnosis.

Friday, July 16, 2010

A few days ago we mentioned buying Jack a cooling dog bed to help him over the hottest part of summer.  Next to his Petloader steps to help him get in the car, the Cool Bed has moved to the top of Jack's List of Favorite Things!  We only regret not getting one sooner.

This bed is really amazing.  There are a few water-filled cooling beds out there... we selected this one because of the customer reviews as well as the size.  The large is basically the size of a crib mattress, which is the right size for a big guy like Jack.  In fact, although it came with a custom fitted sheet we find that fitted crib sheets work very well and tuck under enough to stay put.  Plus, the sheets are thin so they don't interfere with the cooling effect.

The large bed fills with 6-3/4 gallons of water and has a foam-like pad inside to absorb the water.  When you first put your hand on it, it doesn't feel cool.  But after just a few seconds you can start to feel it get cool.  Apparently the water wicks away body heat and manages to stay room temperature - which is always about 20 degrees cooler than the dog's body temperature.  Polyester fiberfill and foam-filled dog beds can't compare on a hot day.  So the Cool Bed is about the same temperature as a tile floor, but with support and comfort for aching joints.

Honestly, we weren't sure Jack would like it and we were skeptical that it would really work.  He really does... and it really does!  He's feeling good these last few days and is sleeping much better at night.

We haven't taken a picture of Jack on his bed yet, but here's a picture from the manufacturer's website.  This is the Cool Bed III in large.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

On Sunday morning we took Jack and Jenny for a ride in the car, out to the local animal shelter to donate our aluminum cans, then made a couple of quick stops on the way home before it got hot.  After sticking his head out the window and barking at select targets, Jack settled in to enjoy the ride... just as we were almost home.

We put the steps up to the hatch for the dogs to get out of the car, and Jenny happily jumped out and went in the house. 

Jack, however, wouldn't budge.

No coaxing or prodding was going to get him out of the car.  So after going in the house and starting a load of laundry... and Jack still insisting that we go for another ride... we relented and headed out again.

This was Jack patiently waiting while laundry was being started.  Clearly, Jack wasn't done.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Jack did great after his last treatment with Dr. Beebe last week, but on Sunday afternoon he was clearly hurting.  The treatment - prolotherapy - involves an injection directly into the joints of solution that induces inflammation.  As we understand it, the goal is to jump-start the body's own ability to fight inflammation and thereby fight the arthritis in the joint.  He had injections into his hips and elbows.

To make it work, he cannot have his anti-inflammatory medication for several days.  Otherwise it reduces the intended inflammation and the benefit of the treatment.

He did great for the first 3 days, then seemed to "hit the wall" on Sunday afternoon.  The combination of not having his anti-inflammatory medication (Metacam) and getting an injection to cause inflammation... well... let's just say he was a guy who really hurting by Sunday night.

Since then, he's back on his Metacam and is almost back to "normal."  His eyes are bright and he's sleeping a bit better at night.  We'll give it a couple of weeks to decide if there is much improvement from this treatment, but as of today, we don't think we'll do prolotherapy again.  He's such a good sport, but there's no reason to cause him any more pain or discomfort than he already experiences.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

What a day!  Parades, concerts, BBQ, all topped off with awesome fireworks displays around the country…what’s the occasion, you ask?  Everyone was celebrating 38 weeks since Jack’s diagnosis and he’s still here enjoying the life of a distinguished elderly gentleman canine.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Jack had two good vet visits this week.  On Wednesday he went for his monthly check-up with Dr. Schneider.  His weight is stable, temperature is normal, heart sounds good, and all lymph nodes are normal.  Hooray on all counts!  We also checked his blood pressure, which was on the high side, but it is about the same as the last time we checked a few months ago so we don't seem to be losing any ground and she saw no reason to change his medication.

Today he saw Dr. Beebe in Sacramento and had another good visit with her.  She did acupuncture as always but also did another prolotherapy treatment.  She said Jack is one of the best patients she has had for this treatment!  Most dogs fuss, but Jack pretty much lets her do anything without complaint.  He is stiff and still has a "creaky butt" when he sits down, but he walked us all the way around the block on Tuesday night and took Linda and Jenny for a walk to our park this morning before heading to Sacramento.  That's more walking than he had been able to do, so something is working!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

It's been really hot lately. After a cold and blustery spring, summer has finally arrived.  Jack's never been a hot weather guy - he much prefers cooler temperatures, which is one of the main reasons we started travelling to the coast with him years ago.  We often find him on the cool tile floor in the kitchen... which doesn't help his arthritis and stiffness.  At night he only gets comfortable when we turn on a small oscillating fan and aim it at him (and yes, we do have air conditioning!). 

Jack's coat is not long, but it's very thick with a heavy down undercoat that sheds constantly.  When he gets wet, it curls up in all sorts of places until the next brushing.  Linda often calls him a "Little Wooly Mammoth."

We ordered a "cooling bed" for dogs last week and Jack is anxious to try it when it arrives.  Apparently by adding water to the chambers, it will keep the bed at room temperature.  His regular bed with polyester fiberfill warms up as it absorbs his body heat, but the cooling bed won't.  That's the theory, anyway.  We'll see.

Other than the heat, Jack seems happy.  So far his summer allergies are not too bad - they generally are at their worst in July and early August so we're keeping our fingers crossed this year.

Tomorrow morning he will visit with Dr. Schneider for his monthly "node check-up."  On Thursday he sees Dr. Beebe for acupuncture and prolotherapy.  He is a very lucky guy to have two wonderful vets who are very fond of him.

Meanwhile, we are excited to report that his one-year prescription to his chewable heart medication, Vetmedin, has run out!  Dr. Schneider had to renew the prescription.  This is a medication he started taking last July, and when Linda accidentally ordered 4 bottles instead of two back in October, she was absolutely certain he wouldn't be around long enough to go through all 4 bottles (each one lasts 25 days).  Boy, was she wrong!  We went through those 4... and many more!

We forgot to mention in the blog that last weekend marked 37 weeks since diagnosis.  Not only did he make it passed Thanksgiving, but he made it to the Mendocino trip and is about to celebrate the 4th of July.  That's our boy!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Done!  The Summer Vacation album is up.  Please follow the link to the left.

For those of you who have wondered why this site is called Leaningdog.com, you'll find your answer in the last picture.  Jack often wonders why Mom and Dad can only find winding roads, and has learned to lean very effectively into the curves.  Smart boy!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Due to human illness Jack’s Summer Vacation page will not be posted today.  Please bear with us; we will have the page up as soon as we are able.  Thanks again for visiting Jack’s Blog!

Monday, June 21, 2010

We had a great trip to Mendocino this weekend!  There’s a place we have always wanted to stay that is super dog-friendly...The Inn at Schoolhouse Creek.  Here is the website for some really lovely photos:  http://www.schoolhousecreek.com/.  If you haven’t been to Mendocino, it’s one of the more challenging places to reach on the California coast, northwest of Sonoma and Napa and near Ft. Bragg.  Challenging to reach but well worth the effort!  We wish we could have stayed longer.  It was a fitting way to celebrate 36 weeks since Jack’s diagnosis last October.

We’ll post Jack's Summer Vacation page tomorrow when we have more time.  But here are a couple of pictures in the meantime.

Jack enjoyed the trip and was a real trooper, but the real surprise of the trip was Jenny!  The Inn at Schoolhouse Creek is a complex of cottages, and behind one set of cottages was a nice enclosure with two miniature donkeys, Monique and Heidi.  Jenny was absolutely enamored with the donkeys and couldn’t get enough of them!  We thought she might bark or nip at them, but instead she sniffed them like crazy and licked their noses!  They seemed equally interested in her and were spotted a couple of times trotting over with enthusiasm to greet her.  By the end of the weekend it seemed like a new ‘sisterhood’ was forming…

A big THANK YOU to Steven & Maureen and the staff at the Inn for such a wonderful weekend.  Jack and Jenny are already plotting their next trip.

Jenny and her new BFF Monique

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

This photo of Jack was taken yesterday in the car as we cruised around doing errands.  Does this look like a guy who has heart disease, a chronic sinus infection, arthritis, lymphoma (in remission), and 6 months of chemo under his belt?

You might notice a small dark spot under his right eye.  He had some kind of growth there that kept bleeding and was slowly getting bigger and more bothersome.  Dr. Beebe finally had enough of it and snipped it off when he had his two other treatments on our last visit.  She thinks it was a cyst.  It's now the remnants of a scab that is healing quite nicely.  He looks so handsome without that thing growing there!  I'm not sure how she did it... no anesthesia and he didn't seem to mind (much.).

We're getting excited about our trip to Mendocino this week.  If we don't blog again before we leave, we'll be sure to take pictures and post Jack's Summer Vacation Album when we get back!

Friday, June 11, 2010

All is well in the world of Jack. He's handling the daily low dose of antibiotics well (no tummy upset that we can detect) and the nose bogies are still at bay.  He is in a really good mood and ready for pretty much anything... including brief play sessions with Jenny.

It's important to understand that Jenny plays hard.  She gurfs and growls and bites at his legs and feet, and she sometimes hurls herself at him from a running start.  Jack holds his own and comes right back at her.  When he was going through chemo, he would often just sit down if she played too rough, but now it seems to get him "fired up!"

Jack is sometimes restless at night, which keeps everyone up.  Last night was one such night.  Still, he was very animated at breakfast and kept barking at John not to be stingy with the food.  His appetite remains incredibly good.

This weekend we will celebrate 35 weeks since diagnosis of lymphoma back on October 11.  Has it really been that long?  We are amazed and delighted not only that he's still with us, but he's obviously happy and feeling good.  Next week we are taking a family vacation to Mendocino on the California coast.  We made these reservations back in March, not knowing if Jack would be here to go with us.  Not only is he with us, but we believe he will really enjoy the trip!  We have never been to Mendocino on vacation with the dogs, so we're excited that Jack can still have an adventure in his otherwise busy schedule.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Jack is responding so well to his recent treatments from Dr. Beebe that he took us on a big walk today!  The trails in our open-space park form a figure 8, and today we walked the bottom (southern) loop, which included the walk from home to the park and back.  He hasn’t walked that far since Christmas!

You’ve heard of James Bond and Goldfinger?  We’ve got Jack Bond and Goldtoes.

One of the treatments involved implanting tiny gold beads into his feet, which cause long-term stimulation of the acupuncture points for his arthritic hips.  No… we’re not kidding.  You can read about it here:  http://www.integrativeveterinarycenter.com/site/view/159787_GoldBeadImplants.pml.  The beads are tiny and implanted through a syringe.  We told Dr. Beebe that when she tells us he needs a treatment involving diamonds, that’s where we’ll draw the line. 

The second treatment was Prolotherapy to stimulate the natural growth of connective tissue in the tendons and ligaments around his hips, in order to increase the strength in his back end.  It is apparently used with good success in people and is now being done in animals.  You can read about it here:  http://www.integrativeveterinarycenter.com/site/view/159786_Prolotherapy.pml.  

We decided to go ahead with these treatments because neither one would hurt him and there was a really good chance he would benefit.  Based on today’s walk… he has!  Dr. Beebe said he was a terrific patient and let her do pretty much anything to him without argument.  She said he just laid there staring at the jar of chicken treats on the counter next to his head.  Smart vet.  He’s been in a great mood ever since and really acts like his old self.  In our house we like to say “Jack’s Back!”

Friday, June 3, 2010

Jack’s been a busy guy this week!  Not only did he have a big adventure on Monday (see below), but Wednesday he trekked to Sacramento to see Dr. Beebe.  She tried a couple of new treatments in addition to acupuncture and they seem to be having a positive effect.  We'll post more about those treatments next week when we see how he's doing.  We can report, however, that he's been in a really good mood with bright eyes and an interest in everything.  He also slept well last night, which is an improvement over the last several nights of panting at midnight and inability to get comfortable. 

Tomorrow we plan to take a ride up to Portola, CA, to the rescue where we adopted Jenny (www.highsierraanimalrescue.org).  One of their annual fundraisers is called Bow Wow at the Barn, which is on July 10 this year.  We go every year and have a great time.  It includes an excellent dinner (this year it's a luau) and silent auction.  We have a few items to donate for the silent auction, so we'll take a ride tomorrow to deliver.  High Sierra Animal Rescue is an awesome organization with really great dogs and cats rescued from shelters in Lassen and Plumas Counties in CA, and Washoe County (Reno) in Nevada.  We highly recommend them and highly recommend going to Bow Wow at the Barn!   

Monday, May 31, 2010

The swelling in Jack’s cheek is much better – you really have to know where to look to see it.  Jack is feeling like his old self now – well, at least like an older version of his old self…  He was really full of it this morning.  A quick internet search confirmed that Ebbetts Pass (http://www.scenic4.org/) opened this weekend – and that could mean only one thing:  lunch at The Growler in Murphys, CA.  We packed lunch for Jack and Jenny, loaded up the car, and headed for the mountains.  Our last trip to The Growler for lunch was in October shortly after Jack started chemotherapy.  We were optimistic that we would all take at least one more ride over in the spring – and today was the day.

We were amazed at how much snow was still up there, and having only been over Ebbetts Pass in the fall, it was something to see.  Jack really had a great day – he was up and alert for the whole ride, barking at motorcycles and watching for chipmunks.  Everybody was having so much fun, we decided to continue on to Angels Camp, then north on Hwy 49 to Jackson, and back home on Hwy 88.  Sure, it was a big ride, but we made a lot of stops along the way, the scenery was spectacular, and we couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day.

Adopting the ‘free’ dog your co-worker rescued from the desert and picking up dog food, dog tags, and new collar on the way home - $35

Taking him to the vet for an initial check-up and having him neutered - $200

Finding out 9 years later that he’s got lymphoma and taking him for chemotherapy - $5,000

Getting to spend an additional 33 weeks of fun with your best buddy in the whole world - priceless

Friday, May 28, 2010

There is never a dull moment living with Jack.  On Wednesday afternoon, Linda went to scratch his head and face (like always) and he flinched and pulled back.  Huh?  That night, John gave him a scratch before bed and Jack gently nipped at his hand when John touched his face.  Double huh?  By Thursday morning, Jack's left cheek was obviously swollen.  This is not where his old root canal is located, so we were at a loss but all kinds of worst-case scenarious went through our heads.

Off to Dr. Schneider yesterday after work, which revealed an open, draining hole on the inside of his cheek.  How the heck did THAT happen?  She said it looks like it's been there for a few days.  After numbing it a bit and then cleaning it, we went home with instructions to put a hot compress on there 3 times per day over the weekend.  Dr. Schneider also changed his antibiotics to one better suited to such injuries.

Jack was incredibly brave as Dr. Schneider poked around in there.  He's not all that fond of the hot compresses at home, but Linda is undeterred.

Considering all of the scenarios we feared, this is the best case scenario!  Already this morning his tail was thumping when Linda got out of bed, and he's still eating with gusto.

There's a song by a British band that has become Jack's theme song.  The band is Chambawamba and the song is Tubthumping.  Seriously.  The lyrics to the song are: I get knocked down, but I get up again.  You're never gonna keep me down...  That describes our Jack perfectly. 

Monday, May 24, 2010

Jack had another great visit with Dr. Beebe in Sacramento last Thursday. We really like her... it's worth the trip down there!  She said he'd be sleepy for a few days after his acupuncture treatment, and he was.  But all weekend he was very relaxed and happy, and acted like the goofy Jack we love so much. 

We talked with her again about his chronic sinus infection that he's battled since last September.  He's been on and off antibiotics, but most recently has been on meds now for 2 weeks.  The bogies are pretty much gone... but experience tells us that every time we stop antibiotics, the infection comes roaring back.  Although x-rays don't show an abscess, we have always believed that it's because of the root canal he had on his upper right molar about 6 years ago (the sinus infection is on the right side of his nose).  At the time, we were cautioned that it would save the tooth for a while but that eventually the tooth would have to come out.  Little did we know at the time that he would develop heart disease and now cannot handle anesthesia, and so the tooth can no longer come out! 

When Linda said "I think the sinus infection is because of the root canal," Dr. Beebe said "Root canal?  You didn't tell me he had a root canal.  Of course that's it!"  She believes root canals can spread infection throughout the body and cause a lot of problems.  We've read that theory in other places as well.  Darn that tooth!  We wish we could take it out, but lesson learned.  As a result, Jack might have to be on a low dose of antibiotics for the rest of his life.  Needless to say, we won't do any more root canals on our dogs in the future.

After leaving Dr. Beebe we spent the night in Davis (about 30 minutes away).  Jack and Jenny love it there.  Friday morning we took a short walk over to campus and met up with some ducks on the lawn.  Jack took off after them and even tried a short gallop to chase them!  He's definitely hurting and has lost muscle tone, but the interest and enthusiasm are still there. 

The photo here was taken on the way home from Davis, with thoughts of those ducks still dancing in our heads...

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Jack, aka The Big Kahuna, has had several good days.  Last night he enjoyed a spontaneous yet animated play episode with Jenny in the back yard.  Clearly SHE thinks he's feeling better.  We've noticed she won't play with him sometimes and we think it's because she can tell that he's sick and he probably smelled different while on chemo.  But last night she decided he needed a couple of well-timed boddy-blows (she likes to hurl herself at him from a running start... when we see it about to happen, we yell "INCOMING!" to try and warn him).  At one point he decided he'd had enough of her crap... gave her a warning bark... and starting smacking her around. The whole thing didn't last long, but it was delightful to see! 

Tomorrow the whole family is heading to Sacramento for a visit with Dr. Beebe.  In addition to Jack's usual appointment, Jenny is due for a follow-up visit of her own.  Dr. Beebe has an amazing way of putting a positive spin on things and making us all feel better, so we'll be curious to hear what she thinks.

We haven't posted a photo in a while, and to be honest, we haven't taken any good pictures recently.   Here's one from a few weeks ago of Jack happily napping on the bed.  We call this "Canine Sprawl."  That's a king-size bed he's taking over...

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Jack was better this morning than he was yesterday – each day we are noticing a little improvement in his energy level.  This morning he was very alert, barking up a storm and bouncing around while I was fixing his breakfast.  He still has some drainage from his sinuses and we’re not sure why – after seven days of antibiotics it should be clearing up – it’s much better than it was last weekend, but not completely gone yet.  Linda was talking to a co-worker whose mom recently finished chemo – she said that her energy level kept dropping for another month after her last treatment before she started to notice that she was feeling better...and then it was gradual improvement each day.  If Jack’s experience was anything like that, his one-month mark would have been last Friday.  We can’t reverse the arthritis in his hips and back, but if the rest of him feels ‘better’ that would explain why he’s been in such a good mood the last few days. Jack met Linda at the door when she arrived home Thursday and Friday – tail wagging.  After watching a slow, steady decline for so long it’s been nice this week to see some improvement.

Today marks 31 weeks since his diagnosis.  In some ways, each Sunday is a little celebration – when Jack was diagnosed with lymphoma and given 4 – 6 weeks to live we knew if we didn’t try chemotherapy he’d be gone by Thanksgiving.  We’re happy to report that the chemo worked, and as of today he’s in remission.  To us, every week beyond those original few have been bonus time with and for Jack.

So what now?  With the ‘drama’ of chemotherapy behind us, we’ve settled back into a normal routine.  We do most of the things we’ve always done – we just don’t do them very quickly, or for very long.  Jack makes sure he’s included in everything that’s going on around the house and often lies right in the middle of the action.  We’re convinced he’s paying full attention even when his eyes are closed and it looks suspiciously like he’s dreaming…

We learned at the beginning of this journey that the average length of survival for a lymphoma dog that goes through chemotherapy is one year from the date of diagnosis.  Of course, some live much longer and sadly there are those that don’t survive the treatments.  We are blessed that Jack is still here, and this is one time when being ‘average’ will be a good thing!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Just a quick post to let everybody know that Jack seems to be feeling a little bit better each day.  The antibiotics are clearing up his sinuses, and after a consult with Dr. Beebe and Dr. Schneider we have decided to keep him on the antibiotics for two – three weeks.  We can tell by the way he acts that he feels better.  His voracious appetite is intact, he’s much more alert and engaged, he’s quick to follow Linda around the house again, and last night he jumped up on the bed with us for a cookie party.  After sharing his biscuits with Jenny, he jumped down, went to bed, and slept through the night.  It’s the first time in several weeks that he hasn’t gotten us up at least once.

Our strategy going forward is pretty simple – we’re going to do whatever it takes to keep Jack happy and comfortable.  That includes stepping up the pain management for his arthritis, keeping the acupuncture appointments, and working with our ‘Dream Team’ to make sure that he enjoys his remaining time with dignity and respect.

And we’re continuing to plan fun activities in the near-future.  In fact, Jack has been feeling well enough lately that we’ve made tentative plans for Jack’s “Summer Vacation” in June.  If we make it – it’s going to be a new adventure for us all.

Monday, May 10, 2010

We are now at 30 weeks since Jack's diagnosis of lymphoma back in October.  That's 7 months!  We believe he is still in remission - a test is necessary to confirm it and we don't want to put him through it.  In the last 7 months, we have heard about dogs who have been in remission for a year... two years... or more, but they have typically been younger dogs or dogs otherwise in good health.  We have also met and heard about dogs who have come out of remission while still on chemo - or dogs who couldn't tolerate chemo - and we are very sad for them and their owners.  Jack handled his treatment amazingly well.  It has been an incredible journey.

The interesting thing about the last 7 months is that Jack is now 7 months older.  Anyone who has an older dog knows the kind of changes that can happen in short periods of time.  For Jack, his heart disease has continued to progress with the onset of high blood pressure a few months ago  (although he is still not in congestive heart failure... hooray!) and his arthritis is worse. 

Thanks to chemo, the "Jack Clock" didn't stop last fall.  We are here, 30 weeks later, thanks to chemo.  We always said we hoped to know Jack as a little old man... and we do!  We didn't lose him prematurely to anything else.

In the last two weeks, we have really seen him slow down.  Dr. Beebe put him on some different supplements to try and help his aches and pains and we increased his anti-inflammatory drug to the maximum dose for his weight.  In the last few days he seems brighter and acts like he's feeling better.  Still, the unmistakable signs of age are there.

Compounding those aches and pains... his nose bogies became a worrisome color last week and then turned bloody again over the weekend.  We believe this is a function of allergy season.  Nevertheless, he's back on a short course of antibiotics.

It's tough to watch a beloved pet get old and frail and know that it's up to you to decide what is best.  They can't tell you what hurts, and you can only comfort them with a soothing voice and gentle tummy rub (Jack gets lots of those).

We don't know what lies ahead in the coming weeks or months.  Any prayers or positive energy you might send his way, we would be very grateful.  He is our best buddy and a central member of our family, and we will continue to do everything we can to make him happy and comfortable for as long as he's meant to be here.

Whenever someone makes a comment about spending so much time and effort on a dog, we reply that family comes in many shapes and sizes.  This is our family. 

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

We had a good trip to Sacramento on Tuesday to visit Dr. Beebe.  She could readily see that Jack is hurting and wasn’t feeling well.  He didn’t get up to greet her when she came in the exam room. To date she’s been treating his anemia and trying to help him through the chemo and then pneumonia – other than acupuncture, she’s done nothing much for his arthritis.  As of today, we’re switching gears to pain management and to try and stem the tide of his “mature dog” arthritis.

Before our appointment, we stopped by “Squirrel Park” in Sacramento, which is officially called East Portal Park.  We saw a couple of squirrels, but mostly we made a few new friends which pleased Jack no end.  First was a 4-year old male husky named Taylor who was quite full of himself (and off leash) who came over for a very animated “hello!”  Next was an interesting duo of Coltrane (a 3-year old standard poodle without a haircut) who looked a lot like a Muppet, and Chili, a young female Kelpie.  I thought for sure Jenny would take issue with Taylor and Chili, both of whom were off leash, but she didn’t!  She was a very good girl and happily made friends.  She did, however, take a snip at Coltrane.  I think all that fur spooked her!

Interestingly, I talked to the lady walking Coltrane and Chili, and would you believe it?  She’s Dr. Schneider’s neighbor.  That would be Jack’s vet, Dr. Schneider in Carson City who did his chemo treatments, and here we were at a neighborhood park in Sacramento.  AND, Chili the dog is a patient with Dr. Rinehimer for acupuncture in Carson City.  How’s that for a small world?

Here is a picture of Jack, Jenny, Coltrane and Chili (you can just see Chili’s face next to her Mom).

It’s always nice to make new friends, especially ones in far away places who really live only a few miles up the road.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Jack had a good and busy weekend.  The weather finally looked like spring, and we took advantage with yard work and short rides in the car to bark at things.  He continues to surprise us with acting stiff one minute and then dashing out the door to chase birds the next.  We're not sure what to make of that, but we've totally got his number!  If you want Jack to go out, just say "Jack.... BIRD! BIRD!" and out he goes like a flash.

Yesterday marked 29 weeks since diagnosis.  And yes, we remember and celebrate each week!  Without chemo, they gave him 4-6 weeks, so 29 is a HUGE number.  The more the merrier.

He no longer goes for weekly check-ups on his lymphoma like he did when he was getting chemo, so we attempt to check his lymph nodes at home for any signs of swelling or enlargement.  So far, nothing, and we believe he remains in remission.  As we have said all along, his appetite is terrific.  I mean... he'd eat us out of house and home if we let him!  A good sign, indeed.

His energy is down a bit, though.  He doesn't greet Linda at the door when she gets home and now he doesn't always jump up when he sees her walk through the door.  Eventually he gets up and comes over with a wagging tail, but the enthusiasm has subsided a bit.  Still, he follows her through the house and is happy for any and all rides in the car.  He is definitely interested and engaged.  And did we mention his appetite is still good?

Jack has always had really bad seasonal allergies and it's getting to be that time of year, so that might be bothering him.  We're not quite sure yet what to do about those allergies this year.  With all that he's on and all that he's gone through, we're hesitant to give him his allergy desensitization shots or antihistamine medication.  He always has a short allergy season in the spring, and the worst is in July and August when the pine pollen peaks. 

Tomorrow we'll enjoy a nice, snow-free drive to Sacramento to see Dr. Beebe and see if she has any suggestions about things.  At this point our focus is to keep him as comfortable and happy as possible, for as long as possible.  He's still here... we love the big guy... and that's all that matters.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Jack has been off antibiotics for his pneumonia now for a week, and the nose bogies have returned.  We just can't seem to get that under control!  He doesn't seem very bothered by it, but it's frustrating all the same.  His arthritis is also bothering him.  Someone saw him lay down and described it as "creeky butt," which is a very appropriate description.  Although it clearly hurts to lay down, he gets up without much problem.

Jack had acupuncture this week locally with Dr. Rinehimer at Sierra Vet.  He was a very good patient.  The only real sensitivity she detected was in his right hip; otherwise, the points that have typically been sensitive (like the digestive system) were not bad at all.  Next Tuesday we trek back to Dr. Beebe in Sacramento and will talk to her about trying something a bit more potent to help his aches and pains... if there is such a thing.  He's already on an anti-inflammatory, glucosamine, and acupuncture so we're not sure what's left!  Maybe we just need to switch things around.

His appetite is very strong, he follows us through the house, he enjoys his car rides, and he even took Linda and Jenny on a nice little walk the other day.  He also head-butts John in the mornings for his beloved "Flip-It" kibble toy.  Jack is definitely interested and engaged, and appears happy.  Still, we see him slowing down... it's just hard to know if that's the result of 6 months of chemo, heart disease, or "maturity."  We think if we had all those things, we'd be slowing down, too.

A coworker sent a cute e-mail the other day about what life would be like without a dog.  It included such things as being able to walk around the back yard barefoot, not having a stash of poop bags in our coat pocket, and not having to spell out C-O-O-K-I-E, W-A-L-K, or R-I-D-E.  Our favorite was: "Not knowing 6 vets on a first name basis and putting their yet-to-be-born grandchildren through college."  That one got a real laugh. I guess we're not alone! 

Monday, April 26, 2010

Just a quick blog to let you know that Jack is fine.  We had this crazy notion a couple of months ago that we could get out of town for a few days of vacation after his final chemo treatment.  We cancelled our vacation to Hawaii last fall when he was diagnosed with lymphoma and had flight credits that will expire in June.  Silly us... we thought 2 weeks after his final chemo would be our window of opportunity and that Jack would be in the best condition possible to stay with Grandma (Linda's Mom).  So we made reservations for 3 days at Disneyworld (with a travel day on either end).  Little did we know he would come down with pneumonia!

Still, his last check-up with Dr. Schneider last Tuesday gave us the "all clear" so we went on our trip and had a great time.  Under Jenny's guidance, Grandma did a good job dog-sitting and Jack was just fine.  We were grateful for the chance to sleep through the night and not think about pills, powders, and meal prep for a few days.  We are now rested and ready to enjoy having our Jack with us for as long as possible.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Dump Run.  Are there any two words in the English language that stir the imagination of man and dog more than Dump Run?  Jack and John think not.  Finally – a Saturday with nice weather, and did we ever take advantage.  John rented a thatcher from the local Home Depot on the way home from work Friday evening and the fun began…thatching, raking, trimming, mowing, bagging – with Jack right in the middle of it all doing what he does best – supervising.  The result of all our efforts – a huge pile of trash bags headed for the dump.  Once John had the truck all loaded, he put Jack’s blankets in the backseat, and set up the steps.  Jack marched right up and in, and off we went.

We only make a Dump Run once or twice a year (spring always, sometimes fall) – but Jack and Jenny know the way…and they know that the Dump People give out awesome dog biscuits.  As we drove onto the scale, Jack and Jenny were leaning out the window on full alert, working it as hard as they could.  The guy at the window laughed and said they would get their treats on the way out.  Fact – Dump Biscuits are the BEST.

Jack had a terrific Saturday – he’s been active, alert, interested and engaged all day…and now he’s one tired pup.  His appetite remains very strong, and we’re seeing less and less symptoms of his pneumonia with each passing day.  The antibiotic that he’s taking for his pneumonia has also cleared up his sinuses so we’ve been ‘bogey free’ for several days now.  Once again he responded very well to Dr. Beebe’s acupuncture treatments yesterday, and we are well past the nadir of his final chemo treatment.  We don’t want to ‘jinx’ it – but we’re starting to see glimpses of pre-lymphoma Jack.  It remains to be seen how much (if any) of his stamina comes back over the next few weeks.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Jack is doing much better as he continues to recover from pneumonia and the effects of his final chemo treatment last week.  His eyes are bright, the cough is much better, his appetite is terrific, and last night he played with Jenny in the backyard.  He's still a little weak in the knees, but who wouldn't be after all he's been through?

Tomorrow we trek to Sacramento to see Dr. Beebe.  It's been two weeks since Jack's last acupuncture treatment, so we think he's certainly due for another which he will get tomorrow.  We'll also see what other tricks she has up her sleeve to make him feel better and keep him healthy for as long as possible.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

We had a good visit with Dr. Schneider this morning to check the status of Jack's pneumonia.  His temperature is back to normal (100.4 vs. 103.5), heart rate is normal (100 vs. 180), weight is up a little bit (a good sign), and his lung is greatly improved.  She estimates that his lung is about 90% recovered.  We'll do another week of antibiotics and steamy saunas in the bathroom 2 or 3 times a day (John's especially fond of that activity), and re-check next Tuesday.  Hopefully by then he'll be fully recovered AND completely over the final effects of chemo.  Dare to dream!

After our early vet appointment Jack took Jenny and Linda for a short walk on our favorite paved trail around a neighborhood park in Kings Canyon.  That's where he met his horsey friend last month (scroll down to photo on March 15).  He didn't want to walk far, but he really enjoyed sniffing around and posting his own personal blog on every tree and tuft of grass.

Our trip to Dr. Beebe in Sacramento was postpone until Friday, but Linda still has today off.  So we will spend it cleaning the rugs to remove all traces of pneumonia and our last bloody nose.  At the moment, Jack is sound asleep and breathing deeply on his prized futon next to the computer.  Life is good.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

26 weeks since Jack’s diagnosis – six months to the day since we got back the test results telling us that our best buddy had canine lymphoma and only had 4 – 6 weeks to live if we chose not to pursue any treatments.  It’s hard to believe it’s been six months.  Jack completed his chemotherapy protocol designed by Dr. Rebhun at UC Davis on Wednesday with flying colors – he’s definitely in remission…so how should we celebrate?  With a raging case of pneumonia! 

After an evening trip to the vet on Thursday for x-rays and a once-over, Jack has been on antibiotics to go along with his mitoxantrone chemo funk. We are pleased to report that he is starting to act like his old self again.  His appetite is strong (he ‘stole’ Jenny’s pumpkin treat this morning), he is very interested and engaged (barked up motorcycles on his ride to Reno today), and all plumbing seems to be working as designed.  He still has an occasional ‘cough’ to clear his throat, and we are trapping him in the bathroom and thoroughly steaming him three times a day this weekend and that has seemed to help.  This evening we spied him running across the backyard after who-knows-what, so we know that he’s feeling better.

So now what?  To this point, we have been focused on getting through chemo and dealing with all of the various adventures that have come along with his treatments.  Now that he’s completed the chemo protocol, we are entering the next phase of Jack’s lymphoma experience.  We are beginning a treatment regimen under the guidance of Dr. Beebe (http://integrativeveterinarycenter.com) focusing on the use of herbs and other supplements that we hope will extend the time the lymphoma is in remission.  Jack see’s Dr. Beebe on Tuesday.

As one chapter closes, another begins.  When we started out six months ago, we had no idea how it would go, where it would lead, and how it would end.  We know the chemo did its job.  Jack is a happy and engaged member of our family.  The question now is – for how long?  Intellectually, we know that Jack will be with us for as long as he’s supposed to; emotionally, we hope our remaining time together is longer rather than shorter.

The adventure continues…

Friday, April 9, 2010

Jack's chemo went well on Wednesday and we had a very nice trip to Davis.  It was nice to see Dr. Rebhun, his oncologist, who was not officially working that day but came in to see us and Jack.  We also said hello to Dr. Kent (Jenny's radiation oncologist) and Dr. Jandrey (who had seen Jack last year when we were at UCD with Jenny but Jack wasn't feeling well).  Dr. Kent and Dr. Jandrey were the doctors who got us in so quickly to see Dr. Rebhun in October.  It's nice to have such great connections!

Thursday morning Jack was in good spirits with a great appetite.  After lunch, however, he had a really bad coughing "fit" and ended up hacking out some crud.  You may know that he's had a sinus problem for many months with "nose bogies" that we often have to wipe up (clear mucous with a yellow tint).  We've often suspected that if that discharge isn't coming out the nose, it must be going down his throat.  He sometimes coughs and hacks as though he's trying to clear his throat.  Yesterday, however, some of it actually came out.  As Shrek would say in the movies: "Better out than in!"

But by yesterday afternoon when Linda got home, Jack was on his bed and almost unresponsive.  He barely picked up his head and looked really horrible.  He perked up a bit when John got home, but when he tried to stand, he couldn't put weight on his hind legs.  A quick call to Dr. Scheider turned into a trip to the vet hospital at about 6:45 (thankfully they are open until 8).  We saw Dr. Rinehimer (who drew the short straw and worked late last night) and after a few chest x-rays, she found fluid in his chest.  He also had a very rapid heart rate and a bit of a fever.  Dr. Rinehimer couldn't determine from the x-rays if the fluid was from his heart (signs of congestive heart failure) or in his lung (pneumonia), so she sent us home with medications for both until the radiological report came back.

That report arrived early this morning and it appears the fluid is probably not from his heart, but rather in his lung... pneumonia.  So he remains on antibiotics but we can stop the additional heart medication. 

Jack slept well last night and was alert and very mobile this morning with a good appetite.  He's still weak but much improved.  In addition to antibiotics, we're putting him in a nice, hot, steamy bathroom 2 or 3 times a day and doing 5 minutes of medicinal chest pounding to keep the fluid loose.  He's got a deep, rattling cough, but otherwise is MUCH better today than yesterday.  All this while trying to recover from chemo on Wednesday.  His resilience is amazing.

So in our tradition of focusing on the good news, we are done with chemo and hopefully we can treat the pneumonia.  He's more alert and bright today, his appetite is good, and he does not appear to be in congestive heart failure.

And we still have our buddy with us.  That's what matters most.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Jack finished chemo today!!!!!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

This is a blog we've waited a long time to write!  Jack's final chemo is tomorrow at UC Davis.  His blood test today was okay and so we're on schedule.  This week will also mark 26 weeks - 6 months - since his diagnosis.

Thanks for all of your prayers and kind thoughts for our Best Buddy.  We will breathe a huge sigh of relief tomorrow when chemo is behind us, and hold our breath that he remains in remission for as long as possible.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter!

Today marks 25 weeks since Jack’s diagnosis, and this Wednesday he will motor down to UC Davis for his final chemotherapy treatment.  His lymphoma is in remission, and once he completes his chemo protocol the focus of care will shift from achieving remission to staying in remission for as long as possible.  To that end we have learned a great deal about the importance of diet – and we will be working very closely with our integrative veterinarian Dr. Beebe to set up a regimen of herbs and supplements that we hope will keep our little buddy happy, interested and engaged for as long as he’s supposed to be with us.

Friday, April 2, 2010

This week Jack had his acupuncture appointment here at home with Dr. Rinehimer at Sierra Vet Hospital in Carson City.  We took along one of his favorite blankets to encourage him to lay still while the needles were in.  Everything went well and Jack was a stellar patient.

Here is a photo from Linda's cell phone of a smiling, relaxed Jack in the car on the ride home yesterday.

You might notice in this picture that Jack looks a bit thinner.  He is!  But so is Jenny.  I guess the daily "Flip It" kibble-filled toy and his nightly Kong were packing on the pounds more than we thought.  They didn't have either toy all week and the weigh-in at the vet told the story.  Jack is now a svelt 67 pounds (that was his weight for many years before he started gaining last summer and tipped the scale at 72), and Jenny... well, girls don't like to tell their weight so let's just say she lost about 1.5 pounds in the last two weeks.  Since they have both lost weight and we can easily identify a reason why, we're not worried about Jack's weight loss.  He's happy, he's eating well, the blood test numbers are good, and the bloody nose has officially stopped.  That's all that matters!

And yes, this morning, he got his Flip It again.  Life is good.