Saturday and Sunday Oct 22 - 23 Days 5 and 6

Happy Monday! We had a good weekend of progress with Best Girl Ever Princess. Right now she's earning her nick name of Big Headed Bed Sleeper. Since the horrible news, we're committed to spoiling her rotten. Princess handles this well. Hence the name. The last of our worries at this time is breaking bad habits should she live. It will be our pleasure. 

Saturday October 22 Day 5
On Monday after the horrible news I thought of keeping her alive long enough for our kids to see her one last time.  By now we've told them all. From the diagnosis on Monday I figured that that Princess would spend a medicated week and be put down on Friday. So today is a bonus day with her.  Plus, she's improved. Except for the lameness, she's acting normally. Except for the shooting, how did you like the play Mrs Lincoln? She still has the cancer and we can't look inside her leg, but from her actions she's feeling better and stronger each day. I don't know if Navy is curing her, but at least it's making her feel great and strong. Our plan should she keep improving is for Dr C to x-ray her at 30 and 60 days.

She's alert with no sign that she's in pain. This morning she started to test her right leg. I assume that its too painful because she quit that fairly fast. Last night we weighed her and she was 81 lbs. She's gained 6lbs in 5 days. To me that's a plus except when I carry her up the stairs.

 

Princess (L) and Lily Happy Times

I've had to put down two very good pet friends over the years. First was Magic, our 18 year old cat and friend. Magic was a perfect gentlemen that we had since he was 3 months old. The second was Lily our last rescue Rottweiler. Lily had racked up a history of aggression and trouble in her short two and a half years. Like all Rotties, she loved her people and we loved her.  Lily was our dog when we adopted Princess. She was a rescue as well and the two dogs became great friends. After about a year, she attacked Princess viciously causing extensive damage to her face and neck. At the advice of our vet and many others, we put Lily down. Me, K and son B took her that morning.  We all lay on the floor hugging her while she was euthanized., The disturbing part of that whole process of taking your pet to their end - other than losing a friend forever is that they trust that you'll never let harm come to them. I felt that I betrayed her trust and she went right along. Over the years I've rationalized it. It was the right decision. She was too unstable for family life and she betrayed us by attacking a family member.  There was nowhere else to go. We still miss her terribly. 

Princess is the perfect dog. She greets everyone in a gentle way. She's never aggressive. It's 9am on Saturday and everyone's coming and going. She's resolved to chill - alive and comfortable. I left early to do some work away from the house. When I returned, Princess was ready to rock. We walked around the back yard to the front. She went towards the road and amazingly test walked on her lame leg all the way up the driveway around 60 feet. Later in the evening KK came to see her. She went out the door happy and alert. This was a good day for all of us.

Sunday October 24th Day 6

We're not sure of the reason for Princesses good mood and quickly improving condition. Last Monday, primary and second opinion vets told us that soon, Princess would need narcotic based pain medication to manage intense pain. Is Celebrex that strong? She's completely favoring her right leg but starting to test it. She doesn't seem to be in any pain. Me and K have reached a state of equilibrium. We both agree that if Princess stays just like this, moving slowly, having to be helped at times, but in great spirits, we're good for however long it lasts. But she's gotten better since then!