She was very impressed with how Raven looked considering her review of his case and the ER and ultrasound reports 6 weeks ago. 🙂
He has taken another turn for the better yesterday. We have a theory that we think makes sense:
He was doing GREAT last Friday, his bloodwork was normal and we removed the Baytril (he is still on Amoxi antibiotic) as it’s so expensive. His belly distended and he felt worse over the weekend. I put him back on as a last ditch effort on Wednesday and he was better by yesterday (Thurs). So, she thinks that the infection in the liver was never quite kicked, and quickly came back. That’s all.
Regarding the corticorsteroid treatment we’ve had him on (dex), he would always worsen on the 7th day and need another injection. She said that she thinks that is the withdrawal, not his need for it due to the cancer. I’ve been weaning him over the last 1-1/2 weeks wanting to reduce his reliance on it, and he’d gotten so bad last weekend I thought that may be why. She said no, the timing was just a coincidence that I had stopped the antibiotic last weekend, and that I am doing the right thing weaning him off the dex. Not only will it cause weakness (which he has been becoming very weak) it also is immunosuppressive, so that may be why the infection wasn’t quite killed.
SO, I am not giving him any more steroids, yay! He feels great today, back to normal, past the withdrawals, got the infection back under control. WHEW. The last few nights he was having the dreaded night pants and was restless…but last night he slept quiet and soundly again. 🙂
She confirmed that he does have lung mets in the xrays from 6 weeks ago (vets all had differing opinions on that). She would like a new chest xray, which we are doing tomorrow. If the lung mets have progressed, there’s nothing we can really do. But if they haven’t, then she said he’s definitely a candidate for biopsy and treatment of this liver mass, rather than just doing nothing.
Either way whatever the xray shows tomorrow…I’m just happy he feels better, I have some answers and clarity on the drugs…these were my two main prayers!
Here’s Raven doing his happy upside down roll on the rug:
Raven is such a fighter!!! And so are you Dawn.
I am glad you got some answers- we don’t always get the news we want to hear- but having the knowledge always makes me feel a bit more in control.
Karen and the pug girls
Amazing Raven is my hero! 🙂
I am so glad to hear that you finally got some answers on Raven and I think it sounds mostly like good news! Hopefully the lung mets will not have grown.
Give Raven a hug for me. Still praying!
Debra
I’m so happy to hear that Raven did a turnaround again!! Thank God!!!! You’ll be receiving your power mushrooms on Tuesday… I really hope it helps him!!!
Give your big baby a big kiss from me!!!
Angel Jake’s Mom
Raven~ We are glad you feel better. You are definitely a fighter. You have been through a lot and you just keep proving that you aren’t ready to leave your mom. We hope you continue to feel good! We are praying for good news on the lung mets.
Dillon
Thinking of you Raven. Give him a hug and kiss from me and Mitch.
Have you heard of Essiac tea? Our Rottie Niki was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in late september 09, which had spread to her lungs. She had 6 mets in her lungs and we were told she would be gone by Halloween, or Thanksgiving at the absolute latest. Upon researching osteosarcoma online we found a website on an herbal tea called Essiac, and although we never beleived in the hollistic approach we though we would try it. Amazingly enough it did work! We took Niki in for xrays in late dec 09 and 3 of her mets were gone and the other three were the size of the tip of a ball point pen. I believe this stuff works! We just had her left hind leg amputated on January 4th 2010 and she is doing great. I guess we will never know for sure if it was the tea or if God just wasnt ready to take her but here we are 4 months later and our beautiful baby girl is still with us and back to the way she was before she was diagnosed. I dont know if you have already tried this or how far along the mets in the lungs are but I just thought I would let you know about this tea in case you wanted to try it out. Our thoughts and Prayers go out to you and your beautiful Raven!!
I hope you know that my prayers will be with you as you go in for Raven’s lung x-ray’s and that you get the best news, that both of you deserve. I am so glad that Raven is feeling better.. As many others have said you are an inspiration, and Raven is truely a fighter!!!
Alisa
Rooting for Raven!