Ozzie National Canine Cancer Foundation
Ozzie's Lymphosarcoma Blog for Week of September 8, 2006 (chemo protocol week #2)






Ozzie went to the vet's Friday morning to get a blood test to make sure he could have chemo this week. The blood results showed his PMNs (aka polymorphonuclear leukocytes) were in an acceptable range, so we went in the later afternoon for the second week's treatment of the Wisconsin Protocol, which consisted of an injection of Cytoxan (with a saline injection before and after the Cytoxan). He weighed 37 pounds this week, and his prednisone dosage for the coming week was slightly reduced from last week's daily dosage. Now that we are getting into the routine of the weekly blood tests and chemo injections, the two visits to the vet's office went smoothly, though it is easier to muzzle Ozzie for the blood draw and the injection since he isn't totally comfortable with these processes.

Ozzie's blood tests showed he was slightly anemic (the number should be greater than 38), so our vet gave us a bottle of Lixotinic liquid vitamins and supplements for him to get a teaspoon of twice a day. We also bought a case (24 cans) of the Prescription Diet n/d Canine which we would start to introduce into his food. For a dog of 40 pounds, a dog can have 1.5 - 2.0 cans of it a day. Our plan was to gradually introduce it in his food to see if his body could handle it and its high calories; if so, then we would give Ozzie a can of it over the day (in four small meals) and augment the rest of his meals with the dry dog food he had been eating. Ozzie seemed to tolerate the n/d canned food, so after several days he was getting a quarter of a can of it at each of his four daily meals.

Ozzie had a little nausea on Sunday from the chemo, but there was no diarrhea or vomiting; either he was getting used to the chemo, or the smaller meals helped, or whatever. His eyesight was getting better every day. At two weeks after the first chemo, his eyesight seemed normal, and he could go into the backyard without being chaperoned. We were so relieved that the stress was gone now from having to watch him almost constantly. We were pleased that all seemed to be going as planned.

Link to Week of Sept 15th Blog