Home Sweet Home!

What a long day yesterday was! I started off with an altercation with a bush, or maybe it was a cat; it happened so fast....nicked my eyelid and had to go back to the vet hospital for a checkup. Then it was off to the airport with Connie. My canine buddies came along to wish me bon voyage. Dawn and Kelly at Pet Airways in Denver took great care of me until my plane took off. I landed in Los Angeles about 6 p.m. My pet parents were thrilled to have me home, and I'm happy too.

I'm outta here!

Whew!!! I've had my LAST visit here at the Colorado State Univ. Animal Cancer Clinic. Everyone here has been so nice and has taken great care of me with the radiation treatments. Doggie camp at the Canine Health Resort has been loads of fun, and I am so thankful to Connie for all she's done. What a great lady! But I must admit that I'm getting a bit homesick for my pet parents. I had my final exam and am cleared to fly home. Here's a picture of the CSU oncology team and another of my caretaker, Connie, and canine friend, Boone.

Just Chillin' at the Canine Health Resort This Weekend

My treatments are officially over, and I'm lovin' it here at the Canine Health Resort. Just chillin' for the weekend with my canine friends. Monday is my last visit at the Animal Cancer Center. Then just two more days until I fly home. I've missed my pet parents so much but am very thankful to have been given this second chance at life.

Day 3 --- My LAST Radiation Treatment

Well, folks, it's been a very interesting experience for me and also for my pet parents. Everyone here at the CO State University Animal Cancer Center has been wonderful. They've been so nice to me, and they have given me the BEST care possible. If all this works well, I will even get to celebrate my 16th. birthday. All that's left is my final exam and blood tests next Monday, and then I should be cleared to fly home a week from today. I will just enjoy "doggie camp" at the Canine Health Resort until it's time to return home. Here are some pictures of my radiation treatments and my radiation technician.

Radiation Treatment Day 2

Dr. LaRue, my radiation oncologist, said she's very happy with the way the radiation is going, and my other vet, Dr. Beckwith is pleased as well. I think I'm getting a bit spoiled here at the University Hospital. Apparently I am the oldest dog to receive this type of treatment for nasal cancer. Life at the Canine Health Resort gets better every day. Connie is feeding me very delicious food, and I'm getting to like my canine friends more each day. Tomorrow is my last radiation treatment, and then I'll just chill out at doggie camp for another week until Pet Airways takes me home to my pet parents.

My First Radiation Treatment

Well, today was my first SRS radiation treatment for my cancer. I'm a bit tired but feeling okay. My kidneys are acting up a little and I don't have much appetite yet. I'm just chilling with my dog friends and resting up for another treatment tomorrow.

Life at the Canine Health Resort in Fort Collins

I'm loving it here at the Canine Health Resort. Connie is so nice, and she has 75 acres. Plenty of room to roam and romp with the other animals. Every day brings more fun. I've had the whole weekend to rest and play and am ready to begin my radiation treatments tomorrow.

My First Day at CO State Univ Animal Cancer Center

Hi folks! What a long day today! Two exams, blood tests and a super high resolution CT scan....just a bit groggy from the anesthesia, but I am doing well. The staff is nice here, and everyone seems so caring. I get to rest over the weekend and play with my new canine and feline friends at the Canine Health Resort (see pictures) Monday I will begin my radiation treatments. The radiation oncologists are going to be using Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), which is a precise beam that focuses on the tumor. It allows high doses of radiation to be delivered to my tumor with minimum exposure to my healthy tissue. There should be way less side effects and I should be finished in 3 sessions. I'll stay one more week just to make sure I'm fit to travel.

Pet Airways takes me to Denver

Wow, do I feel special! Today I flew to Denver on Pet Airways with 22 other dogs. This whole airline just for pets is pretty awesome. Everyone was really nice, and I bet it is a whole lot more comfortable than being in a dark cargo hold. I'm with my boarder now. Tomorrow she'll take me to the Animal Cancer Center for my workup.

Colorado Bound

Well, all this is happening so fast. Tomorrow I will board the Pet Airways flight to Denver. I'll have the company of about 30 other fellow canines and felines. My boarding buddy will pick me up at the airport and take care of me through my radiation treatments at the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University. From what everybody tells us, it's the BEST in the U.S. I'll have another CT scan and then just 3 treatments with state of the art equipment that's as close as you can get to the CyberKnife.

Hope is in the Air

Well, my photo session yesterday with the professional photographer was superb; we can hardly wait to see the shots! Today my pet Mommy spoke with the oncology department at Colorado State University, and I just might be making a trip to Fort Collins, CO to get the CyberKnife treatments after all. All this is happening at such a fast pace; it's all so overwhelming.

A Dog's Life is day by day

Boy, it’s fun getting pampered! My pet Mommy now makes me really yummy fresh cooked chicken and chopped veggies. No more yucky kibble. I’m taking DHA and another cancer fighting investigational medicine. Pretty much, I’m spending 24/7 with my pet parents now…..going to their office, running errands, going to the local dog parks and for lots of walks. I like all the attention and, especially, the hugs, but it’s tough on me when I see my pet Mommy cry. Tomorrow a family friend who’s a photographer will take pictures of me so my parents will have more memories when I’m not with them.

The past 2 weeks

No one can figure out how the heck I ended up with nasal cancer. My pet parents think it might be because I am a "super sniffer" My diet has been really good quality, my water purifed; I don't live on a high traffic street, my pet parents don't use pest or lawn chemicals, and nobody smokes! Nasal cancer is actually rare with only 1-2% of canine cancer being in that category.

Over the past 2 weeks I've been to see 3 different veterinary oncologists so my pet parents could learn more about my treatment options. So far we've learned about definitive radiation (18 sessions over a 3 1/2 wk period that should keep me alive for one year), palliative radiation 4 or 5 sessions at once a week just to make me more comfortable but will only give me about 5 months, chemotherapy that may keep me more comfortable but will give me the same time, and, finally, the CyberKnife, a specialized form of radiation that might keep the cancer at bay for up to 4 years. All these options are scary, but without treatment, I may only have 2 months left to live.

I'm definitely NOT ready to say good-bye to my loving family and would love to beat this disease, or atleast keep it under control until I am good and OLD and ready to go on my own time! The CyberKnife seems to be the best option.