Ceilidh's Journey - Week 14

Two weeks ago, we were over the moon when Ceilidh and I ran one of her best runs ever and it was in Snooker, no less. It felt almost like her first Masters Jumpers Q where I felt we were connected by an invisible band while at the same time having the feeling I was watching the run a split second before it happened. It was a really cool feeling that I never told anyone about for months, thinking they might think I was crazy. I've run every run since then to have that feeling of being completely at one with my canine partner. This Snooker run at Morning Star was almost like that, there were a couple of moments when I thought she was going to spin in front of a tunnel, but for the most part we were totally in sync with each other. We finished our opening and the close all within time, crossing the finish line at just over 57 seconds, a Qualifying score and first place. This was Ceilidh's second Masters Snooker. Since returning to agility after her surgery in Jan, she has given me some wonderful memories, her second Masters Standard, her first Masters Gamblers, her first Masters Team and that beautiful Snooker run. She is only 6 qualifying scores from her Agility Trial Champion Title.

Last Sunday we were at Dream Fields, no Q's but Ceilidh still enjoyed some wonderful moments on course. But late Sunday night, I noticed her licking herself and found what I thought was another tumour in her groin area. I was flying out to Washington D.C. the next day so I could do nothing about it until my return. On Friday afternoon, I was able to get her back into see Dr Bravo at Alta Vista. It was worse than a tumour, the swelling I felt was a lymph node; the cancer is now in her lymph system. Dr Bravo recommended surgery to remove the lymph node and to start her on the other chemotherapy. Tomorrow, 19 May 2010, we see Dr Liptak for a surgical consult, if I go ahead with surgery, Ceilidh will have the lymph node removed on Thursday, 20 May 2010 and then will begin another round of chemo ten days later.

I'm not sure whether I should put her through all of this. I thought once we stopped the Palladia, her appetite would get better. It's gotten worse, yesterday and today all I could get her to eat was ice cream, some white bread, and baked beans, she won't even eat the highly favoured chicken hot dogs something she's always wanted even with all the pills I've stuffed in them.

I withdrew her from Ontario Regionals which are being held two weeks from now as well as from the All Dogs trial in June. I had hoped to get her Masters Agility Dog title but now it seems as that is not to be; my wonderful crazy Ceilidh has become an old tired girl in front of my eyes.

And on top of dealing with Ceilidh, my older Sheltie Tucker was in to the vet's office four times today, 18 May 2010, for blood tests for hypothyroidism and Cushings. The results of those tests will be in tomorrow, hopefully we will get some good news there.

Sometimes life is just cruel.

Ceilidh's Journey - Week 10

Tomorrow, 21 Apr 2010 will mark 3 months since Ceilidh's surgery to remove a mast cell tumour from her left hind inner thigh. Not a great anniversary to recall but so far she is doing well, although she has some issues with the medications including some diarrhea, some appetite changes and at times seems very fatigued.

Last Thursday 15 Apr 2010, we went to see Dr Beltran, a holistic vet at Blair Animal Hospital. A 90 minute consult, that was very overwhelming. He took a complete history of any medical problems she has had, did a complete physical and an acupressure physical. He also did a mini-Darkfield, a live blood analysis. He said that she was quite strong except for some stress in her large bowel. The Darkfield test indicated that she had eaten and she hadn't so he thought perhaps she wasn't metabolizing food efficiently.

He put her on a vitamin supplement, L-glutamine and arginine for her GI tract . He also gave us HMF powder, a probiotic, which is supposed to help with the diarrhea. The diet that was recommended was vegetarian (root vegetables) with high quality protein preferably turkey, lamb or fish ( but no tuna or tilapia). Ceilidh also got a B12 vitamin shot.

Dr Beltran also asked me, if and when I'm comfortable to talk to Dr Bravo, our veterinary oncologist about taking her off prednisone and possibly reducing the chemo drug, Palladia. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with that, I wanted the holistic treatment to complement the standard protocol but not to replace it. If Ceilidh has severe side effects to the drugs, I would consider just holistic treatment.

But despite everything, she still seems happy and, for the most part, very energetic especially in the agility ring. I sent in her entry for the 2010 Ontario Agility Regionals this week. I only entered her in the warm-up games and the Regional events. I don't want her to be overly stressed by the event. She ran well this past weekend despite having some diarrhea. We didn't get any Q's but had a good Jumpers run with only 5 faults and two good openings to her Gambles.

Last weekend, she was in five events and had a wonderful opening in the Gamblers getting 36 points including the mini Gamble which was a teeter out to a tunnel followed by the chute. She also got her first All Level Team Q with a Golden named Tessa. She also had a great time jumping off the teeter in Standards which came before the Gamblers event.

Hopefully the next month will see her remain happy and healthly. Enjoy every day, life is just too short.

Ceilidh's Journey - Week 9

I missed updating Ceilidh's Journey last week as I was home for Easter visiting with my parents. All of my dogs stayed with my sister. I am so blessed to have family and friends that will help out with my dogs. I know, especially now, that it is a big responsability to accept.

Ceilidh had her two month recheck today. She has lost a kilogram (2 pounds) since January. She weighed 9.6 kgs (about 20 lbs) in Jan and now weighs 8.6 kgs (about 18 lbs). So even though her blood work came back normal, that weight loss is a concern. Ceilidh's next recheck with Dr Bravo will be in three months unless the weight loss continues.

We have an agility trial tomorrow . Ceilidh is entered in five events but we'll see how things progress during the day as she seems quite tired today and I don't want her to over do things. Not sure now if we will enter Regionals. It will depend on how things go tomorrow.

We have our appointment with the holistic vet on Thursday, 15 Apr 2010. I hope he'll be able to give us a diet and supplements that will support her immune system and protect her gastro-intestinal system.

Memories

I was just looking at old photos of my first Sheltie Duffy and my first bi-black Gryffon. I thought I would post their baby pictures. It's funny how it's the little things you remember, I remember the first time I saw both of my boys. Duffy was only 5 1/2 weeks old and the breeder was just getting them accustomed to the outside. All of Duffy's brothers and sisters trundled off to explore the world but Duffy stayed and pulled on my shoe laces. I hadn't picked a puppy at that time but that made my choice, Duffy picked me.


Gryffon was one of two pups in his litter that hadn't been yet adopted; his sister was more outgoing but Gryffon had markings I had always dreamed of, a full white collar and blaze. I picked Gryffon.

No matter how long they are with us; it is never long enough. I had Duffy with me for 12 1/2 years but I lost Gryffon at only 7 1/2 years as result of an abdominal wall infection. They are never far from my thoughts and are always in my heart.

My friend Colette also lost her first Westie, Darcy unexpectedly. She recently lost her second Westie, Bogart (Bogie) at 14 1/2 years old.

Duffy and Darcy were the best of buds. They were both great dogs and they were bilingual, too. Colette even brought Darcy to visit with Duffy in Moncton NB while I was posted in England.

I wish that we had them with us longer but at least we have such wonderful memories. They are such a big part of our lives, those who have never loved an animal cannot understand the place they have in our hearts.

From the first time you hold them, they steal a piece of your heart.

Ceilidh's Journey - Week 7

This week I had a scare when I came home on Wednesday to find that Ceilidh had had diarrhea and had vomited bile. The diarrhea had some blood in it. I cleaned everything all up and called the animal hospital, the vet tech advised me to take her off Palladia and she would speak to Dr Bravo the oncologist on Friday. On Thursday, Ceilidh again had diarrhea but there was no blood in it and she hadn't vomitted. Ceilidh is now on an anti diarrhea medication and if she doesn't have any diarrhea over the weekend, she will have her next dose of Palladia on Monday. Her stomach must have been very upset as she didn't want to eat much at all, even the poached chicken that I had made. Today, she ate much better. I bought her some high protein kibble and some high protein wet dog food. I also bought a bunch of stuff to entice her to take her pills or to eat a bit for the next time anything like this happens, canned salmon, sardines and pate.

Today, I started to get my agility equipment out of the shed. It was a bit nippy today so I didn't get it all out and I really want to rake the lawn first. And in any case, I'll be going home this week to visit with my parents for Easter so there wouldn't be that much time to use it before I go anyway. I hope Ceilidh is alright while I'm gone and that Juanita and Joe don't have any problems. I hate the idea of missing any time with her each day is so important now.