Merry Christmas To All

"They" said I might not make it to see Santa arrive. BUT I DID! And this morning I went out for my morning ritual and came in to eat breakfast just as normal as these days have become.
Now I'm resting in my trolley until I have recovered my strength to move into the living room and settle on my mat by the heat vent.
I had a wonderful Christmas day with my family. After my morning out, I snuggled back down on my mat to open my Christmas package from Nan, who's over in England. Thank you Nan those treats are DEEELISHHHH!
King and Molly and I munched away, MMMM YUMM! They are so good. Mom said I could only have one because they are very rich and might give me the ... well you know.
We have snow on the ground so it's basically a white Christmas. I love the snow and am so happy I got to see it this year. Im making it through day by day and my pain seems managed just fine.

I tire pretty quickly when I'm out in the snow to play so when I have had enough I simply lay down to let mommy and daddy know it's time for me to go indoors.

My leg is swelling a bit now, and it hasmom worried but it really doesn't seem to bother me any more than it did before.

I've included a few more snow pictures and I'll get mom to upload the christmas pictues next blog. Merry Christmas Everyone!

I'm Being Kept Comfortable and Well Loved!

These days I have a happy, simple, quiet life. I love my favourite place to be, it's in front of the heat vent on my fluffy warm mat. I still take my Deramax to manage my arthritis every day twice a day. My bone cancer pain is under the control of Tramadol, three times a day. I still try my best to walk every day to keep my muscles as strong as they can be given my condition.
I love to cozy in my day bed that daddy built for me. On days when I don't want to walk mommy or daddy putme in my trolley and roll me to the outdoors. I just cozy down and enjoy the ride now.
A few weeks ago my mom received a message from a generous person on facebook who had recently gone through the pain of loosing her beloved companion. She was full of compassion and comfort for my mom which then transferred over to me. After the passing of her sweet Daisy she was left with several suppliments and pain pills. She sent these to my mom through the post for me to benefit from.
Thank you so much for them Wendy.
I have days when I don't want to go outside except to do my business and come back indoors again. The growth on my shoulder is about the size of a small football now, though it's not noticable unless you feel my shoulder blade. I don't use my right leg at all but rather just let it hang limp while I walk.
I'm still very alert and eager to head out doors to find my toys and have a snack on the Mountain ash berries with King and Princess MollyDawg. I have a healthy appetite and still drink my share of water each day.
Mom says I'm still "Ole Roly Poly, Moany Groany, Sloppy Jaws" :-) Although she says, I've trimmed my waistline down considerably. Good thing cuz I don't think my ole leggies could carry that extra wieght this time in my life.

If you want to take some time to go have a look at my current photo album please visit this link. Duchess Sammy's Ramp and Trolley
Mom is adding new videos regularly on my youtube channel HERE - www.youtube.com/DuchessBelongs

My Ramp and Trolley are Complete

Yesterday my dad finished my ramp and trolley and I love him even more than I thought I did before.
I'll be posting a few pictures that I think will tell the story with out my having to.
Mom is just uploading them and they should be available later this afternoon.
You'll notice in a couple of the pictures. Its not me in the Trolley but actually King and Princess MollyDawg. Can you believe it?? The minute my back is turned they hop right in and tried to claim it. Well I guess it's okay after all we always share everything around here. Besides I was busy getting a drink of water. Oh, and isn't it neat that the Trolley can come right into the house?
Yea cool eh?
Mom and dad say I can use it as a day bed when I dont need to ride around in it. It's helping me get used to it. I've been rolled around the house a couple of times and I even went down the ramp already! I KNOW WOW EH!
Mom didnt take a picture thought because both her and dad had their hands on teh trolley and sort of getting ready to guide me back if I should get spooked and try to bolt out of it. Phhhhffft ! AS IF! There is no way Im going anywhere by right down on my comfy cozy foamy and uilt when I'm in there. I love it. Mom will get some pictures soon she says. :-)

Im so happy

I had to remove this SLIDESHOW It wasn't working properly. I'll fix it later but for now you will have to click on this link to go see it. Im sorry about that!

How Am I doing?

Before I begin this post I need to say a resounding Thank you to two of the strongest women Ive ever had the pleasure to speak with. I admire them both,and I hold the deepest respect for them. Carol Hines from S.A.I.N.T.S. and Yvette Labatte from Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue. You have given me strength to cope with this and I plan to FIGHT!
Thank you!

I was feeling at a loss and wondering how I would ever manage to carry on with the results of my last tests.
Bone cancer and arthritis. What a combination!
Apparently it will be over by Christmas time. Or so my Dr. thinks.
My plan is to prove them wrong.
I plan to be here to see the new Spring come in. I can beat this.
Mom and dad have started me on Tramadol combined with Deramax. Twice a day, once in the morning once at night. I'm sleeping way better.
I'm very hungry by morning and can't wait for my dinner. Mom has altered my diet to oinclude more veggies, more protien and vitamins. I'm getting an increase in fish and Omega 3. Vitamin A, D and E. Carrots, Sweet potatoes, Beatroot and way more broccoli.
I'm getting even more fresh lean meat and my kibble is being cut back to reduce carbohydrates. So those are my recent changes in my mental state and my diet.

How's it working?
I'm very sore first thing in the morning. Still able to pull myself up with the help of mom or dad lifting the corner of my mat to give me a boost. I walk to the door where mom or dad carry me down the 3 steps to the lawn for my morning business. I'm a bit wobbly but still able to support myself. I still like to walk over to the Mountain Ash tree with King and munch of a few of the fallen berries. I can't usually make it back to the house so dad comes to carry me back. I can walk from the doorway to the livingroom and onto my mat of choice. Whew! that's a big event in the morning. Mom makes my breakfast and I eat it very eagerly. Mmm I still have one healthy appetite. Sometimes mom or dad brings me my breakfast or dinners instead of me walking back into the kitchen to eat it. I'm a bit wobbly on the kitchen floor so I wait on my mat for it. They bring me my water as well, which I still drink by the gallons.

I sleep all day while mom and dad are at work and King and Mollydawg don't bother me at all. When dad come homes for lunch they run outside toplay and I wiggle and moan and groan with happiness to see him. He carries me outside for a pee and I like to show him how happy I am to see him. I wiggle and bark and do little jumps of joy. When Im done after about 10 minutes, dad carries me ack into the house and I sleep for the rest of the afternoon until mom comes home and we do the same thing over again.

Yes I'm in pain but it's not unbearable as yet. I can handle it and I will continue to. I am still a happy girl who loves my family and I know they love me. We are fighting this and will not give up!

There are new videos on my youtube so you can see how Im doing. Please feel free to go have a look.

Im Okay!

http://www.youtube.com/user/duchessbelongs

What Do We Do Now?

October 23 2012 My semi annual vet appointment. I was scheduled to have my bloodwork done, and an x-ray to look at the arthritis in my front leg. Mom asked if they woudl please schedule an x-ray for my shoulder as well. She has been watching a lump grow and thinks the arthritis has spread up to my shoulder. I've been very sore but can easliy endure it with the NSAID's (Deramax). Im taking 75 mg a day, half at breakfast, half at dinner. My wieght, according to the good doc, is at a stable and acceptable 36.2 kg For the most part I thought I was doing okay. The x-rays showed otherwise. The large lump on my shoulder turns out to be a cancerous tumor. Im devastated! How can that be? I was just fine 6 months ago! I can beat arthritis. It won't get the better of me. My mom and dad can easily support me through a life of stiffness and arthritic pain. I get good quality food. High in protein, subsidized by extra nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Omega 3 oils, Glucosamine Chondroitin, veg and meaty bones. This is unbelievable to me. Not only is there a tumor on my shoulder . . . my lungs show cancerous spots on them as well. It's so hard to write about this. I have been told I may not see Christmas this year. Will it really happen so fast?? I know my mom and my dad will continue to give me as much of their support as they can. I know they are doing whatever they can to make me as comfortable as I can be. For now, Im in pain when I lay in the wrong position. I am in pain when I try to move to quickly. I can still play with my ball and I still love my breakfast and my dinner time. Im drinking well and still have regular bowel and bladder control. How long will this last? Today my mom will write a letter to ask for any information she can get from a well respected Animal Seniors advocate. I will write again when I know more or when something changes. October 12 mom and dad and King and Princess Mollydawg and I all went camping at Rogers Creek. It's about an hour away from home, Southwest of Lillooet. I am so happy I was healthy enough to enjoy it. Here are some photos and videos of the weekend.
Limpin But Happy

Time To Lay Down Big Girl

My Bloodwork came back

Yesterday was a good day for me. Dr. Richards from Cache Creek Animal Hospital called to talk to mom about how good Im doing! Yep, the NSAID Im taking has shown no affect on my liver or kidneys. YaHOOOoo I can take them for as long as things stay the same. They really help me feel better.

I've also lost another 2 kg so my weight is slowly getting down to perfect for me as well. I'm now at 38 kg. (83.7 lbs)I still need to lose a couple more and I know I can do it!

Carrots and cauli and broccoli oh my!

Now its just my weight

I think I have my pain management under control now. Yes I still have some very SORE days. I haven't quite figured out what makes those days. It might be a change in weather, as some people say. My new meds are working!
It might be the day after a bout of good days where I felt less pain and so engaged in fun filled days of frolicking and playing with my toys.
Or perhaps it's after a night when I've slept in a particularly complex position. Who knows?
At any rate, I seem to be having more, less painful days now. It's a good thing for a couple of reasons. One I'm sure I needn't mention. The obvious meds taking affect. I now get them in the morning instead of bedtime. Two, I can use the 'good' days to get my much needed exercise accomplished.
Doc says if I cant get my weight to a more manageable number Im going to continue to have health issues for the rest of my life. I know that's true. It's just that I feel like I'm caught in a vicious circle. I can't seem to get my wieght down if I can't get the exercise I need.
So Im committed to using as much of the "GOOD" days as exercise days. My mom and dad are committed to keeping me on a STRICT healthy foods, non cookie diet. Oh my! Tha's the hard part.
My new cookie treats are cut up bits of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Mmmm they really are good and mom says I can have as many of them during the day as I want! In the words of a very famous lady.... "How cool is that!"
Mom keeps a big plastic bin in the fridge full of them and I can ask for them at any time. I do too! I love to moan and whine and wallow by the fridge untill I get some. HEY! Whatever works! Mom says she'll put some pics up on my site soon, so you can see how Im looking.

Oh btw King got a brand new snow suit this year and we have some pictures on his youtube of us playing. so you can go have a look at that if you want to. www.youtube.com/user/kingsurvives2008 and mine will be added soon at www.youtube.com/user/duchessbelongs