12/27/2006 - 07/01/2018 Cherry Berry 07/21/2009 - 07/01/2018 Believed to be a stroke
Cherry Berry (left), her mama Layah
Made the decision to let Layah go peacefully at BAVS.
The sparkle left her eyes, she stopped eating, and refused to walk. She took naps on the spot where Cherry passed away on my bed. Layah was curled next to Cherry's head when Cherry died.
Thank you to Dr S for giving me 5 extra months with Layah. She was a fighter.
Same day as her daughter, hard to wrap my mind around that. Both gone same day.
Snuggled in blankets
Pepcid's cut in 1/2
Layah had a "spot" on her left hind leg for several years. Didn't look like much. Was told to leave it alone unless It grows. It grew and It grew fast! End of December 2017 it started to grow and look angry.
November, 27, 2014
Below is a snap shot of what is going on. I have photos of the tumor 'It' (yes I named it) different stages. Not for the squeamish. You can use the links in the bullet list or scroll down.
Surgery to remove the tumor was out, can't get wide enough margins w/o amputation. (another tumor was found near lymph node) That would leave her with only 2 good legs. For now we are working on shrinking the tumor. Since it ruptured there is a chance she will always have hole even if the tumor dies (not enough good tissue to remove most of the tumor and then close it up). Hoping the radiation treatments shrink IT and she heals well. Edit: it has healed! * Layah's Leg Story
Locked Layah, keys and purse inside Yaris this morning. Just before I left, told my Dad, who was eating breakfast, not to open the door for anyone! Use your imagination on that one. Tow service text said 12 noon. Vanessa said 15 mins. Let's see who gets here first.
Layah finally stopped crying, but still shivering. Called BAVS to reschedule for tomorrow.All is good Vanessa came to the rescue! She has a Yaris key. Thank you V!!!
New e-collar
Layah was a little confused..no car ride..I needed to de-stress my self. Funny dogs recover faster then me.
Her leg swelled up. Don't know if one of the dogs stepped on it when they were re-positioning themselves. It's bruised and swollen. I held her till pain meds set in.
Took blood and urine samples will call with results in a few days
Continue with same drug treatment
Layah can now have a bath!! happy dance!
She can also get some Sun Beams! Sonko and Cherry have their Spring/Summer colors on already.
Next check up - 30 days from today.
testing blood, urine; ultrasound and chest x-ray.
March 26, 2018 - And since she lost a few ounces since last week..we went to McDonalds for burgers. Yep Layah got a plane one. She devoured it! I ended up with hamburgers, they gave me the wrong order. No patty for Layah! Went inside and was given correct order and got to keep the wrong one..more to share with the 4 legged kids.
.March 27, 2018
Dr. S. Called with the blood and urine test results.
Blood looks good
Urine - Elevated protein could be kidney failure
Running a test for creatinine levels and the results will determine next step in Layah's treatment.
High levels of creatinine is an adverse reaction of Pallidia
Layah had her spa/bath tonight. Pure Paws Bare Essentials. She is wearing her slinky made by California Dogs!
March 28,2018
Benazapril ready to be cut
Waiting for Dr. S to call - trying to be upbeat.
March 29, 2018
Missed Dr. S's call, she left voice message
Looks like Layah will have to be on another Rx
Calling BAVs in the morning (Dr. S is off on Fridays so will be talking to another Dr. who has been informed.
March 30, 2018
Layah started Benazaprill 5mg tabs - 1/2 tab every 24 hours
for protein in urine
urine check in 7 days
Requested copies of Layah's lab results
Will email when they have permission from the oncology department
Called BAVS - Said to email Oncology and the Emergency dept. They were swamped with emergencies when I called
Didn't give Benazapril
Feeding small amounts of canned food every couple of hours. No vomiting.
April 2, 2018
No vomiting this morning
Called BAVS - gave information - will get back to me after consult with Dr. S
April 2, 2018
Got call back from BAVS with new instructions
Let Layah's stomach settle
Wednesday April 4, 2018 start back on Benazapril @ 1/4 of pill with food
waiting for any vomiting
April 3, 2018 - diarrhea - might be from switching her food to canned RedBarn (she stopped eating all of her reg. food - Honest Kitchen and Nulo canned turkey)
April 4, 2018
Kept all food down since Sunday.
Also switched her back to Honest Kitchen and Nulo (doesn't clean bowl with HK but will beg for more of the Nulo)
Gave her 1/4 of the Benazapril at 12:05pm
1:52 pm still waiting to see if she keeps it down
5:00 pm all good. Almost dinner time.
April 4, 2018 - 23 days post last radiation treatment
April 12, 2018 - Missed Layah's appointment, woke to a nasty headache, stayed in bed most of the day. The Critters didn't like that idea. I was able to take care of my Dad's needs and now this late afternoon sit in front of the pc.
Appointment rescheduled for Tuesday April 17, 2018 at 12:30 with Dr. S. (Dr S will not be in the office on Monday).
inner thigh of left leg
another view of inner thigh
left leg
April 16, 2018 - Layah's last dose of Palladia
New lesions are not responding to Palladia. Cancer cells can mutate and become immune to a chemo drug. I opted to not do an ultrasound on her organs. She has been having intermittent diarrhea. Could be from Palladia, Denazapril, or mass cells attacking her intestines.
April 17, 2018
Blood - CBC/Chem panel
all clear for new chemo drug
Urine tested - results in a day or two
checking protein levels
needle aspirate of lesions - left leg inner thigh.
Positive for Mass Cell
1st dose of CCNU (Lomustine) (oral)
given in hospital every 21 days
New Rx Denamarin
Protect her liver from the CCNU
Next appointment: April 24 for post CCNU check -& CBC/Chem panel
Waiting to be seen
New Rx
April 17, 2018 - about 9:30 pm Layah jumped out of bed and into the laundry basket of clean folded rag/cleaning towels that I had set on the floor. She puked there and a minute later puked on a reusable floor pad. And now she wants more food.
Enjoying Sunshine
April 24, 2018 BAV's visit
Weight: 9.4 lbs (an increase of 0.4lbs)
It was noted she was losing weight with each visit
Mixture of results today. Kidneys are holding good.
White blood cells are low.
Put on Baytril 22.7mg. antibiotics for 7 days.
Take temp daily and closely watch.
Lowered dose of CCNU for next treatment.
Dr S and I both agree the mass on her leg looks smaller
But not the ones on her inner thight
April 26, 2018
Dr. S. From BAV's called and said she had Layah's white blood cell count check by another lab to confirm what their in house lab saw. It was confirmed. If she got an infection now (any type) it would be life threatening.
CBC confirmed profound neutropenia
Asked for copy of recent blood panel
Wbc: 0.93 Neu: 0.16 - Grade 4 neutropenia post CCNU
inquired about other means to raise the wbc.- Dr. S said it wouldn't work and might upset her gi
Pickup up Neupogen tonight at 7 pm. Will be 3 injections I can do at home, starting tonight.
4/26/18 helping with her blog - I love her sweet face.
May 7, 2018
The mass cells are growing fast
Giving her Tramadol HCL for pain
Layah has her 2nd treatment of CCNU May 8, 2018
If her white blood cell counts is good.
May 7, 2018
May 7, 2018
Early afternoon
May 7, 2018
9:30 pm
May 8, 2018 - BAV's 9:30 am No CCNU treatment (see above photos)
Weigh 9.3 lb (a loss of 0.09lbs)
Blood count good
organ function good
Mass Cells are CCNU resistant
May 8, 2018 New Drug regiment:
Started Vinblastine, every 7 days (or 14 days, depends on her blood counts)
Intravenous
6-8 treatments
Increasing Prednisone dose 2 tablets every 24 hours for 14 days
then 1 tablet every day
Continue Denamarin 90mg until box is finished - empty stomach (early morning)
Started giving May 7, 2018 when the tumors got angery
Cerenia tabs 16mg for loss of appetite, nausea and or vomiting (as needed)
Vinblastine can cause the above.
My rambling thoughts
May 8, 2018
Today was very emotional for me.
The Palliada stopped working and started causing kidney damage. The radiation did what it was supposed to do but the mass cells are aggressive and back. The CCNU dropped her white blood count dangerously low, thought it was working with check 7 days after. That was short lived. They are growing fast and are angry.
Caught by cat trap box
Had a good talk with Dr. S. I am coming to terms that my spunky sassy, yappy little one is on limited time. We all are but it's not easy when you know its coming sooner than one would like.
I asked questions.
What if we just treat with the drugs she is on but minus the chemo? Layah would probably have a
few good weeks before we notice her organ and body loosing the fight.
What if we do the Vinblastine? Layah could do as she did the CCNU, her white blood cell count dropping dangerously low, where even her own natural bacteria could kill her. The Vinblastine could also cause her GI upsets. If she tolerates the Vinblastine AND the mass cells shrink, Layah could have a few - several months. Dr can't really say, cancers react differently, mutate, become immune to the drugs. And no two patients will respond the exact same way.
I have decided to go ahead and do the treatment with the Vinblastine. If it works I will do 1-2 more treatments afterwards. ($400-$500) per treatment and usual is 6-8 treatments. I will be honest, I don't have that kind of money and it breaks my heart to say/think that. . I have one credit card and it is almost maxed out. Sometimes I wonder where my gofundme account is or winning the lottery. But God is good.
May 9, 2018 - 24 hrs after Vinblastine treatment.
May 10, 2018 2 days post Vinblastine
May 10, 2018 2 days post Vinblastine
May 10, 2018 2 days post Vinblastine
May 10, 2018
Layah is still enjoying life. She wants to be near by. And if not, she will let all of us know, including the neighbors!! She loves her food (and keeps it down). Loves snuggles under blankets with me and or her doggy or kitty friends. She still dances for treats. Loves to get some Sunshine. Smell the poppies growing wild in the backyard. Even the gross. She likes to hunt for the cat poo that was left by Cricket. (Cricket has for years gone outside with the dogs to go potty or just hang and then come back in with them). Loves to chew on chew sticks. Sonko can't have them anymore, he "eats" them, even though they are "veggie sticks" they didn't digest and he got rid of them by puking all over my bed and Cherry Berry. Layah was under the blanket so she was spared a 2 am bath. Life is going on here.
Getting ready for nap time
May 15, 2018 - BAVS vist
Blood cell count good
Tumors looked better than last week.
Bruising gone
Gave 2nd dose of Vinblastine (upped the dose)
Layah napped in her papoose for about 2 hrs.
May 16, 208
Layah is still in good spirits
I will take photos of her leg and underside a little later tonight.
May 16, 2018
May 16, 2018
June 1, 2018 -
Been quiet over here.. flu type bug hit me, 102.7 temps, lots of coughing and aches.
Layah is still as sweet as ever. Good appetite, poops normal, urinating normally.
With very heavy heart and tears, May 15 was Layah's last chemo therapy. It seemed it was working. But I just couldn't do it anymore. More tumors just keep on showing up. And the worst part is I can't afford the cost anymore.
All the dogs are feeling my mood and don't know what the heck to do with it. At night they are snuggling closer to me.
One of my other dogs, Sonko has had the most dramatic change. He doesn't want to leave the back of the house and/or yard. Not even to eat. I am sure it's a combination of situations that happened all in a short time. He is very very very sensitive.
A cat startles him - he cries
the canned air to deter cats from an area..terrified him. (it went off while he was eating in the kitchen) that is when the not eating started.
Sometimes it gets loud with raised voices (my dad's hearing seems to be going), Sonko hates loud voices. Plus the TV ..well its loud. And when my Dad is having a bad day..he yells.
I'm not spending time with the dogs. I have tried, but its soo hard and with Layah's special needs and my Dad's it hard.
Having to round up the dogs quickly when there is a "big" mess to clean up so they don't add to the spread of the mess.
and so much more
The Chinese Crested dogs seem to take things in stride. The PIO's are very sensitive.
The above is part of the combinations that I think have affected Sonko.
To get him to eat, used different flavors of canned, raw, kibble. He will eat if I hand feed him. tried different bowls and different rooms. In a crate/with door open and closed. Cold food, warmed food.
I will add photos later...
TTFN
June 7, 2018
Layah vomited her snack last night
I will not ever be giving those to my dogs again. They don't digest.
June 8, 2018
Layah vomited up her breakfast.
June 14, 2018
Layah vomited early before the sun rises.
Refused to eat breakfast
Vomited again
Gave her pills hidden inside French fries. Also gave her something for her nausea.
Not a good day.
Photos from the outline above
Tumor that grew fast
Measured just before first Chemo Treatment 1/30/2018
Getting ready to rupture
Tumor getting ready to rupture
Partial rupture of tumor
Partial rupture
Tumor ruptured 2/15/2018, painful. Hobbles on 2 legs.
Don't know where to begin... I'm tired and sore. Today at work (my 2nd day of setting up a new store) I was working in a two person team, setting up shelves. Never mind that I or my Team member never used a hydraulic lift (we learned on the fly). Now the pallet of 13 in wide, 4 ft long shelves stood taller than me and had a slight lean to it. Anyway...I hate when someone asks or tells you something and when you try to answer or explain another person jumps in and sorta kinda chews you out in a nice way...why are you doing it that way?? duh...never mind..getting tired of trying to defend/explain myself to this person. So just nod and look dumb. Someone else jumped in and moved the pallet across the store for us. Thank you! I really don't know how to explain the next of what I saw. Here is the picture...74 year old woman on her knees putting together endless wire baskets, putting in the dividers etc. She also has osteoporosis. This woman usually works 3-4 hours shifts.
Zara is on my Sh*t list today...This morning I heard a scraping sound (I'm still 1/2 asleep) thinking it was Kat's cat playing with her toy. When I finally realize it's not the cat, I get up, open my door (it was ajar), I see Zara chewing the wall!!! She put a hole in the wall!!! These PIO's are costing me way too much! Literally eating me out of house and home!!! Sonko thinks I am beating him up!! He is so clumsy! I leaned over to pet his side at the same time he decided that he needed to inspect his underside real quick. He ended up smacking his muzzle into a door! He cried out a tiny bit while taking off running. I found him and tried to check his mouth, of course he has to cover all his teeth with his lips!! So there I am on the floor trying to pry his lips off his teeth in his open mouth. His mouth looks ok..but he gives me this look like "why?? what did I do???" Sigh...Got love them! I went to work today at Happy Tails...took Sonko with me. He sure whi
Today is my Dad's 85th Birthday! Had carrot cake with his breakfast (he loves carrot cake). DoB July 24, 1934 He is doing well. No Rx pain pills since yesterday morning. 2 extra strength Tylenol are keeping pain away. Keeping him hydrated. He had first glass of Kevita Sparkling Probiotic (Dr.s orders). Not a fan, but will drink it. Says the bubbles are weird. HATES yogurt of any shape or form. Doctor also wants Dad to drink lots of Gatorade but mix with water (watching the sugar content). Dads likes the Gatorade/water mix. Dad has been good about leaving the bandages on his head alone. I see him start to touch it then he quickly pulls his hand away. There is a little fresh seepage today. Another note: I purchased a "baby" monitor. Dad's voice is weak and very hard to hear him. What is nice about it: 2 parent monitors. I can leave one plugged in and take the other outside with me (still Sun drying laundry, n
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