What a crazy two weeks this has been, for both Shelby Lynn and us. In some ways its hard to believe its only been just two weeks and on the other hand it seems like its been longer. Tomorrow Shelby goes to have her stitches removed, I can honestly say I am not looking forward to that. I worry how bad it will bother her again after finally, today, just starting to seem like it is easing up. She is getting around really well, though she does tire very easy still. I am really hoping that with time and some weight loss, she won’t tucker out so quickly. The weather has been on and off again as far as temps and rain, and tomorrow they are calling for snow and ice, so I don’t know how much she will get to go outside for fresh air. She and her cuddle buddy, Yoda, generally just lounge all day 🙂
On Monday we begin chemo with her. Last time I talked to the doc, he said we will be doing two treatments and the course will take 13 weeks. Monday, she will be given, Doxorubicin, and he said in total she will get 6 doses of that one. Then two weeks later she will be given Carboplatin, which will be off set from the Doxo weeks. I will say, as i am sure many of you here can agree with me at some point, I am very scared. I will fight for her every step of the way, but I find myself questioning which poison running through her body is worse, the chemo or the cancer itself. My only “light at the end of the tunnel”, is knowing that we could very possibly beat this nasty illness. Only time will tell, so while I have time with her, I am going to enjoy every minute of it <3
On good notes though 🙂 She is walking on her ramp, albeit only flat right now, but that’s because I am not ready to risk her at any elevation just yet. With not being able to have her harness on her full time or still worrying about her stitches, I am worried if she would fall. But she does walk on it with it laying on the floor, so baby steps I guess, lol. It took a few tries but she does well with it. She was really good about letting me try her harness on her and semi fit her with it. She walked around with it on and it didn’t seem to bother since it has a bottom and a top to it.
We also went outside for a bit and she was finally able to go to the front yard!! YAY!!! You could tell she was happy to have all her normal smells back again. We have been taking her to the backyard only so she didn’t overdue activity, there are 12 steps to go out the front door and only 3 out the back. Its a little bit of a walk for her from the back yard to the front, but she was more than satisfied when we got there 🙂 Of course, she decided to lie down for a bit while there, but the weather is nice today so she loved the sun.
Well, just wanted to give a little update and post a few pics since she is doing well. Hopefully the news continues this direction after Monday!
Way to go Shelby!! She’s beautiful and looks amazing! I have a pug who is now 3 days post op. He is a right front amputation just like Shelby! We brought him home yesterday and I am very happy how he is progressing. He’s a bit groggy from all the meds but he is standing, turning, and hopping around. He gets tired easily too. I look forward to seeing Shelby’s progress! All my best for a speedy recovery <3
Looking good Shelby!
Don’t worry about the stitches – it’s going to be a relief for Shelby and sometimes they even perk up a little more afterwards. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you sail through chemo just as Manni did, with little to no side effects!!
all the best,
tina & Manni
Shely Lynne is muat BEAUTIFUL!! Really! She’s a beautiful gal!!
She’s doing really well this early on…..and it IS still very early! Yes, walking on three legs while recovering from major surgery is very tiring, especially for front leggers at first. Sounds like Shelby Lynne is a very smart gal a d k kws to take rest stops when she gets tired. Her stamina will increase slowly but surely.
Just curious avout the chemo protocol. And I am certainly not a Vet and certainly don’t knkw Shelby’s specific medical details, okay? But it seems as though many Oncos on this site go with four rounds of Carboplatin, or maybe even six. It would be interesting to hear why your Onco is going with that treatment plan. I think the Carboplatin is generally thought to have THE least side effects too. And please, in noooo way am I trying to muddy the water or raise ANY concerns whstsoever…just curious, okay?
And yes, THE most important thing on this crazy journey is to make every moment count!!! Stay in the present and make everyday SHELBY LYNNE DAY!! Pretty sure you are already doing that 🙂 🙂
BTW, keep these pictures coming!! Her gentleness comes shing tnrough! And Yoda is an excellent cuddle nurse!
Hugs!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Hello 🙂 I am sorry for just now getting back to you as far as why the doc is using this course of treatment. The vet we go to is a normal vet, so no real oncologist there unfortunately. He is talking with other emergency vet hospitals as well as onco docs though, and when I asked that same question, why the two different treatments, he said that is the current course most cancer docs are using right now. I was really kinda hoping for a more definitive answer, like this one goes after this type or this particular thing while this one will take care of this type, but unfortunately I didn’t get that 🙁 All he told me was this was the most recommended type of treatment. I have been giving myself a headache trying to find where this is the best possible scenario for her though, lol.
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, Shelby lynn is a big ole teddy bear 🙂 I don’t think we could have picked a better furbaby to fit in at our house than what we got with her <3