blue : tail of the dog

it is a free for all at Pawtrero

Blue gets a $30 bag of freeze dried chicken livers

Hit the internet for some reading on hemangiosarcoma and put together a list of things that i would use to determine Blue's "quality of life". i check out cremation at Pet's Rest. . . it will cost $155.00 make sure to remember that.

Nancy and I go to Safeway. Blue needs things to eat. and i have used the last of the Kleenex. we return with a pair of warm rotisserie chickens, place them on the kitchen floor. well that sure gets a rise out of Blue! Nancy makes a dinner for us and soon after i fall asleep while talking.

John comes over on the motorcycle. we put Blue in the car and drive over to the park. once around the path, then over to a table to sit. Blue won't lay on the towel, sqirms over into the grass and dirt. i'm fussy. the dirt, look she's got all kinds of dirt and grass stuck to her wound. leave her be, John wants. true, whats it gonna do, kill her.

Doug phoned and yes, it is hemangiosarcoma. He estimates perhaps 100 days although obviously this is truly an unknown.

jessica and janet are here! we have much fanfare over blue and we all end up crying.

we walk to Pawtrero for something to entice Blue to eat. venison stew. thanksgiving dinner - turkey stew. a wander up to Farleys for some hot beverages outside, and some fresh air.

back home, i notice the machine blinking, a message waiting. i figure its a friend called, and intend to listen after Jessica and Janet leave. into the kithcen, i open both cans. not as much interest as i had hoped. Jessica hand feeds Blue pieces as she sits curled on her dog bed.

"You have a message" Jessica remarks.

"I'll get it later" i say.

"No no go ahead", she replies.

so i hit the button.

It is Doug Rohn, Blue's surgeon. I know immediately that Blue has the worst possible news.

later i call George. Don't tell anyone, i say.

Nancy, Shady and i drove over to pick up Blue and meet her surgical team.

hello hello!

Thank you everyone for your positive thoughts, calls, visits, prayers, candles, and tremendous support this week.

I am very happy to share the news that Blue is doing well at the ICU, making a strong recovery from her surgery!!

Dr Rohn, Blue's surgeon and newest best friend, was upbeat and positive in conversation following the surgery last night. He offered congratulations and sounded very pleased with both the outcome of the operation and Blue's prognosis.

We spoke in detail about the operation. Dr Rohn removed Blue's right kidney, which was not functioning at all. [Blue's left kidney is healthy, and dogs, cats, humans can live a normal life with one functioning kidney.] He also performed a delicate removal of two masses around the right kidney, and removed her spleen, which had four masses. Dogs and cats seem to have no adverse effects following the removal of the spleen. The cause of Blue's illness is not known at this time, until the cytology and culture reports come back on Friday. We are hoping that these are are due to infection or benign growths/cysts, as their removal would most likely resolve her illness completely!

Tommy and I got to visit briefly with Blue last night. She now has quite the haircut, nearly a doggie mohawk. She is surrounded above and to the right by very audible meowing CATS . . . inspiring, i'm sure! She had just been given a sedative as she was feeling fiesty and trying to get out of her kennel before we arrived, so she was quieting down while I pet her. Tommy pet her and she wagged her tail, and she was relaxing noticeably. When I called at midnight she was sleeping soundly, and there was no report of irregularities in the night.

I just spoke with Dr Rohn's assistant this morning. She said Blue is a great patient. Blue is doing well & eating well - she might even be able to come home this evening!

we will send a picture once Blue gets home!


lots of love,
anne & blue

todaay is the day . . . surgery. we awoke and started the coffee. phoned Tommy first, to wake him up. Then Angela. Tara phoned from VA while i was scooping the coffee into the basket.

Nancy, Charlie and Shady walk over



Nancy heads off to her meeting.

we leave the dogs home Charlie does errands with me laundry, get Thai take out.

at Dr Video the boys ask "where's Blue?"

hello family!

so tomorrow is the big day for Blue to get better! i have really great feeling that everything will go well. we go there at 8AM, and check her in. Dr Rohn is her surgeon. I think they will call me from surgery to let me know what things look like, and also at the end of her surgery too. She is supposed to go early in the day's schedule (Dr Heuter originally said she'd be first of the day), but today they said they won't know exactly what time her surgery will be until tomorrow. I might be able to visit her late tomorrow evening, or certainly on Wednesday. Angela and i will drive to the center together in the morning. Tommy is going to meet me there with Romeo and we will hang out at the town where the center is probably for the day.

that;s the news for now.

love,
anne

here is some info on where Blue is going . . .


Blue's Veterinary Center for surgery


Blue's Surgeon @ BAVS:
Douglas A. Rohn
DVM, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons

• BS Biology – Iowa State University
• DVM – Iowa State University; recipient of the G.G. Graham Award for Outstanding Senior Student
• Internship – Kansas State University
• Combined Residency and Fellowship in Comparative Cardiovascular Physiology – Texas A&M University Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Department of Physiology, and The Texas Heart Institute

Clinical Interests – cardiovascular and lymphatic diseases, thoracic surgery, critical care

Dr. Rohn is a founding member and the managing partner of Bay Area Veterinary Specialists and its multidisciplinary approach to medicine. He is the author of several scientific and medical publications as well as two book chapters. Despite his research training, Dr. Rohn has chosen to focus his career on the practice of veterinary surgery combining the critical evaluation of medical science with its application for the treatment of disease. In addition to his clinical duties, he is frequently invited to speak at veterinary conferences and has served as a consultant for biotech companies. When not working, Dr. Rohn enjoys adventurous outdoor activities.

Blue's Specialist vet at BAVS:
Kerry Heuter
DVM, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

• DVM – Ohio State University
• Internship – Animal Medical Center, New York, NY
• Residency – Animal Medical Center, New York, NY
• Board Certification in Small Animal Internal Medicine

Clinical Interests - nephrology, urology, endoscopy and teaching.

Dr. Heuter has received many awards, but none more important to him than an award for outstanding teacher during his time on staff at the Animal Medical Center.  He finds the large private practice the perfect environment for not only helping as many animals as possible, but also still having the opportunity to teach interns and residents.  In his free time Dr. Heuter enjoys exploring the Bay Area, martial arts, basketball, skiing, reading and movies.

hello friends of Blue near and far -

Blue got very sick last week and it turns out she has a mass next to her kidney which has to be removed. she is getting a lot of rest here at home now & eating well . . . hamburgers and steaks! she will be going for surgery Tuesday morning at a specialized veterinary surgery facility.

she had a biopsy done the other day and no cancer cells were found in any of the samples, however, the doctors just can't say at this time if the mass is removable. keep her in your thoughts, we are all hopeful she will be coming home . . .

i will send an email round with news on Tuesday evening.

love & hugs,
anne