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OK so it’s been a while since my first blog!
2 tumours are growing on Pepper’s nerves, they haven’t travelled to her spine luckily but they have grown since the amputation 4 months ago 🙁
She’s also developed Horners Syndrome where her eye droops.
We were offered radiotherapy but decided against this………she’s been through enough and hates being manhandled and pulled around (and sedated!) and it won’t be a cure, so we’ve opted for steroids to help with inflammation and control of tumour and pain relief when it becomes necessary.
And I thought the amputation was the hardest decision to make!!! This is the scariest roller coaster I’ve ever been on!
Christmas was tinged with sadness as we realised it would likely be her last one but she got spoilt rotten…to the point of helping everyone open their presents in case it was for her lol
We noticed she was drinking a lot and consequently getting us up every night, panting more and had become obsessively hungry…..our walks were a nightmare while she went off into the bushes hunting out anything (and I mean anything!!) edible and completely ignoring my calls – she’s always been pretty obedient! Also her fur has stopped growing back 🙁
We were starting to think the tumours were spreading fast and had gone to her brain but then I found the discussion on tripawds about prednisolone side effects and it all kicked into place.
Unfortunately there is nothing we can change to and if we stop them we will have less time with our loveable pooch but now I know there’s a reason for her behaviour it’s become a little easier to cope with….and she’s got a new coat to keep her warm!
So have tucked the tears away for now and will try to ‘be more dog’!!!
Following on from that here are some more pics, past and present
- You gotta love those ears!!
- Yep…..we are friends!!!!
- My nice new coat!!
Oh Niki and Peppy, I’m so sorry you’ve been having such a rough go of things. So unfair!
But you know, with an attitude like the one you’ve got, I know that you can face this with all of the gusto and spunk in the Universe! You’ve been dealt some pretty bad cards but I love how you are making the most of your time together, you are an inspawration to all of us. Please keep us posted OK? We are thinking of your pack, always. xoxo
I love how she looks so proud in her new coat prancing around with that big stick!
And she and the bunny…..so cute! I remember the picture from the previous blog where she’s laying by her food bowl with the bunny…amazing!
The close-up mug shot…..melting hearts over here!
Yo and Pepper jave a wo derful attitude and that IS important and it IS great “medici e”! Yeah, pred. has side effects vut, like my vet always says, there’s a time andplace to use steroids and, when you do need them, the good they do outweighs any negative effects!
NO ONE knows time frames! No dog has a time frame stamped n their butts! There wasa great quote a member posted awhile back…..”when your missing what isn’t gone…you lose what’s left”.
It sounds like you are doing an excellent job at beng more dog!! Stay in the moment, stay present, stay in the NOW! Let NOTHING rob you of your tme together…and may it be a very, very long time!
Just throwing this out there……has your vet mentioned Piroxicam? It can NOT be used until the Pred. is out of Pepper’s system, but it has so e of the same anti-in flammatory, as well as tumour shrinking capabilities. And it won’t cause thinning hair and hunger!
Thanks soooooo much for the update AND the great pictures! We are cheering for Pepper and keeping al paws crossed over in tripawd land! Pepper is a strong and determned pup surro ded by a lot of love and that goes a long way on ths journey!
Sendingyou lots of love and healing hugs……
Sally nd Happy Hannah