Update on animals

[deborahjross]

Thanks so much for everyone's good wishes. They must have been powerful, because both Oka and Cleo are not only still with us, but are doing well.

Cleo's report is easier. I tinkered with her meds and she started eating. And eating. And eating her fool head off. She's noticeably heavier and more muscular, also stronger and steadier on her feet. She's due for her annual vet visit next month and we'll get a proper weight for her then. Meanwhile, she's moving about, sleeps on the pillow next to me, purrs (despite her deafness), and seems to be enjoying life.

Oka had a bad reaction to the first round of chemo maintenance (goal being to keep him in remission as long as possible). Vincristine, the agent, sometimes produced a condition called ileus or partial bowel obstruction. Poor puppy, he ended up severely dehydrated, then on IV fluids and a special diet. He's mostly bounced back (and is certainly eating well and has regained the weight he lost).

We saw the oncology vet yesterday and switched to vinblastine, in the same class of anti-mitotics, but with a much lower risk of ileus. So far, so good - we'll know by the weekend. The interesting thing about vinblastine and vincristine is that they're vinca alkaloids - from the periwinkle plant. You know, that ground cover with the pretty blue-purple flowers?

Comments

[lingster1.livejournal.com]

So hard when animals are sick, because they can't tell us where it hurts. We have to reach way back inside and find that old "intuition" -- the language we used to use to talk to animals back in the early days of the world.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... getting story ideas...

[tcastleb.livejournal.com]

Good! Glad they're hanging in there and doing well.