Ozzie's Lymphosarcoma Blog, Week of Nov 3, 2006

Ozzie's Lymphosarcoma Blog for Week of November 3, 2006 (chemo protocol week #10)

This week is a chemo off week for Ozzie. Every fifth week is a good time for reflection. Ozzie seems very healthy, he is eating and drinking as much as whatever "normal" used to be. When he is back to being a "puppy" of over 11 years of age, it makes us smile to know he is still with us. Had we not taken him in to the vet's in late August when we realized he was sick, he likely would not have lived another week (in our non-medical opinion). Each week of having his companionship is a gift, we are grateful for Dr. Ogilvie and our local veterinarians.

Ozzie had a good week; he is just such a happy dog, he reminds me of the Dale Evans and Roy Rogers' song (with new spelling) "Happy Tails to You." On Saturday evening Ozzie was invited to raid his toy closet, and out came a bunch of toys which he happily tossed and rolled around with. He's felt good all week; he went for a short walk to a nearby park, and he got a r-i-d-e to the recycling center when I went there. His fur is still a little thin, and his whiskers are short, so maybe they are growing back. He still has a good appetite, eating a can of Science Diet "n/d" canned dog food over the day along with a little dry food, accompanied by a teaspoon twice a day of the Lixotinic multivitamin mixed into his food. He eats four small meals a day, at 10 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM, and 7 PM, or rounded to those times if we're busy.

On Thursday Ozzie got his weekly bath, and late in the day we went in for a blood draw to see if Ozzie can handle tomorrow's chemo injection of Vincristine. Ozzie gained a pound since our last weigh-in two weeks ago, he's now 40.6 pounds. The Hills's Prescription Diet n/d canned dog food is high in calories, and Ozzie isn't getting a lot of exercise.

Link to Week of Nov 10th Blog