Month: September 2012

Day 12: C-Day Delayed

Friends:  As occurred many decades ago while thousands of brave souls readied to cross the English Channel as part of D-Day had to stand down due to inclement weather, my C-Day had to be delayed because must have picked up the stomach bug that plagued Izzy Lou over the weekend.  The oncologist does not want to start chemotheraphy while I’m feeling under the weather.  As you can see, I’m not feeling so hot:

So, the start of the chemo party has been delayed somewhat to Tuesday.  While not ideal, at least Mom and Dad will be around for a couple of days before they head to Europe for Uncle Andrew’s wedding, and my Grandpaw will be in town from Ohio to hold down the fort.  Izzy and Henry are helping me sleep it off (and I think Izzy is feeling guilty for passing this on to me).

But I’m already feeling better.  I just lounged in the sun for a while, rolled in the grass, and then hopped up the new deck stairs all on my own!  I also tried to eat part of my Mom’s chicken sandwich.  That beagle appetite can’t be defeated by a stomach bug.  Harumpt.  My surgery scar has healed up nicely, and I was so looking forward to getting the sutures out today but I suppose a few more days won’t be too bad.

I also want to thank my Auntie Shannon for my get-well-soon collar, so now I can show off my heritage.  I always enjoy new couture.

And with that, I’m back to my dog bed to sleep off this bug.  I’m hoping I can talk my mom into some rice and chicken out of this (always looking at the bright side of life, as the Monty Python boys like to say).

William Beagle

 

Day 10: Top 10 Good Things About Being a Tripawd

In honor of my 10th day post-amp, I’ve put together a Top 10 List (Letterman-Style) for the Tripawds Community:

10.  Breakfast in Bed:  My pawrents have been kind enough to bring me breakfast in bed every morning.  I think this may be coming to an end soon as I’m more than capable of eating standing up, but I’m going to roll with it for as long as I can.

9. Ease of the pee:  I don’t have to lift up a leg anymore to pee!  It’s very handy.

8.  Muscle Tone: Because of the core strength I now need to get around, my little beagle body is getting ripped!

7.  Walks!  I can go on walks again!  I wasn’t allowed to go on walks when we were trying to get that paw pad healed.  But now I get to go out on walks several times a day, and Dad even let me climb the hill on our street so I could enjoy the ocean view.

6.  The Park and Beach!  I haven’t been to the park yet (Mom says no until I get my sutures out), but I get to go to the park and beach again with Izzy and Henry with our pawrents and on Tuesdays and Thursdays with our dogwalker, Roxy.

5.  Free Rides:  Even though I can get around just fine, people feel compelled to carry me.  I am inherently a lazy dog, so this is a great development (although again, I suspect it is coming to a close).

4.  Attention:  Everyone loves a tripawd.  Period.  I am getting so many bellyrubs, and it only strengthens the power of my Beagle Mind Tricks to obtain more snuggling or treats.

3.  Feel better without that paw pad:  While the fourth leg was handy, I’m so glad that the painful paw pad and its infection is off of my body.  I don’t have any pain when I walk, and I have more pep in my step.

2.  Closer snuggling:  I don’t have that extra leg to come between me and a human.  Instead, I can snuggle right up to them as close as possible without that pesky extra leg getting in the way.

1. King of the Pack:  Izzy and Henry really haven’t cared that I have only 3 legs, but they know I’ve been through something tough and are showering me with attention and kisses.

Other updates.  I probably should have been more clear before, but I was diagnosed with histiocytic sarcoma.  I realize sarcoma is more general.  We have an appointment on Thursday to get the next steps started.  Keep those paws crossed!

My pawrents worked on making the house WB-friendly over the weekend.  Dad put on carpet runners on the stairs down to his man cave so I can hang out with him while he’s working from home, but he isn’t letting me try it out until the surgeon gives it the thumbs up.  He found instructions for easy installation on This Old House’s website:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20616418,00.html

I probably won’t post again until after the Thursday appt with Dr. Burke at Veterinary Specialty Hospital, but stay tuned!

Wilhelm III

Day Eight: Sarcoma. Boo.

Well, all, the verdict is in.  My mom talked to Dr. Aiken at Veterinary Specialty Hospital and the biopsy results indicate that my tumor was sarcoma.  Next step, chemo.  It’s an odd case – either I had the sarcoma for years and it didn’t go elsewhere, or it’s a recent development.  I continue to be a medical marvel, so hopefully that trend continues to a successful recovery.  I have an appointment on Thursday with Dr. Aiken to get my sutures removed (whoot whoot!) and to get ready for chemo (boooo!). Dr. Aiken said that my pawrents absolutely made the right choice to amputate my leg in light of the sarcoma diagnosis because it would have been hard to ensure full removal of the tumor with just a paw pad removal.

After receiving the news, we decided to have a lazy morning and watch the Buckeyes get a win (albeit a sloppy one) in bed with Mom.

There have been some positive developments, though.  Last night, I woke mom up by standing up on my one back leg, and put my two front paws on the mattress.  I hadn’t been able to do that before!  Mom brought me up on the bed and I got to snooze the rest of the night with my pawrents.  I also attempted my first hand stand while going to mark on my neighbor’s tree so I could lift up my back leg.  My cousin April (a Boston Terrier mix) does it all the time even though she has both back legs, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.  I didn’t stay up for too long, but I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it soon.  Also, very little panting or shaking and Henry Beagle is able to put his head on my incision without it hurting me.  Nearly all the bruising is gone too, which is lovely.

Now we’re off to go watch UCLA, which has fallen behind to Oregon State.  Mom went to UCLA for law school, and we’ve had several years of football misery, so it would be nice to have a good season for UCLA.  Ahhh, college football Saturdays.

 

 

Day Seven: No news, but staying positive

Hello Friends – No news so far on the tests on my paw pad, unfortunately.  But we’re keeping up those positive thoughts!   I slept through the entire night last night, and even got to snooze on my pawrents bed for a few hours before mom moved me down on to the dog bed on the floor.  That was neat, as my favorite place to snooze is snuggled between mom and dad.  Ms. Izzy has been getting that privilege since my surgery, but I hereby provide notice to Queen Isabella that I will soon be reclaiming my royal rights as the senior monarch to have the prime position in bed.  As you can see, she likes to push the boundaries on my sleeping domain.  Also, as a side note, I can’t wait to get out of this bloody cone.

We’re continuing to enjoy the new deck, and Mom let us head out to enjoy it a bit and lounge in the sun.  Louie and Charles are putting in an extra step for me so it’s easy for me to get in and out of the doggie door.  We’ll call it King William’s Stair.

I still was having some panting/shaking fits even without the patch, probably from the tramadol.  From my paw pad struggles, we had some leftover gabapentin, so my mom tried that instead of the tramadol based on suggestions from other tripawd blogs.  So far, I’m calmer and able to sleep more soundly.  I may get some leftover shakes, but we sorted out that if I go on a short walk/potty break, I settle down quickly and take a quick post-walk snooze.

But so far, almost one week out, I have to say that I’m doing better than expected.  While the extra fourth leg may have been handy from time to time, I’m getting around just fine.  As my favorite rastafarian, Bob Marley, sings, “Don’t worry about a thing, ‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right!”

Day Six: Who needs the fourth leg anyhow?

Hello all – My mom got the camera out today to show everyone my progress, so this will be a visually heavy blog entry (even with its first movie!).

First, I’m doing so much better without that bloody patch.  I’m much calmer today, and have slept like a champ.  When Izzy and Henry went to the park with the dog walker, I got some QT in the backyard alone under the watchful eye of Louie and Charles while they were working on my deck.

When Izzy and Henry got back, we all decided to take an afternoon snooze.  I’m sleeping much better now that the patch is off,  and the pain is diminishing.  As you can see, Henry likes to sleep with me, which hurt right after the surgery, but today I didn’t mind it as much.

When I wanted to stretch out, I kicked Hanky Pants off my bed and he went over to snooze with Izzy with a brief stop to shread an envelope.

After our snooze, we got dinner (and I’m doing just fine eating it on all three legs), and then we went out to inspect our new deck.  Mom took advantage of the chance to take a video of my new strut (which is turned to the side because my mom can’t figure out how to change it – she’s technologically challenged sometimes).

WB Post Op

All together, a smashing sixth day post-surgery.  We may find out the results of the tests on my offending paw pad tomorrow.  I’m rather nervous, but I figure it’s best to know what we’re up against and get the chemo party started.

Until tomorrow,

HRH WB III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Five: Sun, Glorious Sun

I nearly slept through the entire night!  It felt great to get some solid snoozing in.  I only woke my parents up at 5am because I had to go outside to use the restroom.  Mom took me for a few short walks  – one was down the street, around the corner, up the alley, and into our backyard!  I visited Louie and Charles who are building a tripawd friendly back deck for me, complete with a ramp up to the doggie door – woohooo!  Mom let me lie in the grass and sun myself for 15 minutes, and it was glorious.  Lying in the sun is one of my favorite things to do  in the world (along with snuggling and food!)

I’m starting to get the hang of getting around with only three legs.  I am zipping around the main floor of the house, even over the hardwood floors.  I stood up tonight for the first time while eating dinner.  And, the most exciting thing is that I got that icky patch off my leg this evening, so I am less anxious and I am not panting as much, which is nice.  My bruising is going down slowly on my belly, but there is still quite a bit of red and some old fluid rolling around in my belly.

I’m also jumping up and down off the couch without any problem whatsoever.  Mom tries to discourage me when she can catch me, but I don’t really have any difficulty with it at all.

Unfortunately, I think I’ve developed a phobia of my kennel with everything that has happened lately.  Mom and Dad left me in the kennel for just a bit over an hour in the living room so I could be near my sister and brother, and I panted the entire time.  It was not fun.   We’re going to have to figure out a different way to keep me in one place and separated from my siblings in case my pawrents need to leave me for an hour or so.

While I wouldn’t say that this experience has been fun, it’s brought me even closer to my pawrents.  If that’s even possible.  They are with me 100% along this journey, and I think we’re all valuing each day to the fullest just in case the tests on the tumor come back with bad news.  We should hear by Friday or so.  Keep those paws crossed!

Signing off for the day and off for a nice, patch-free slumber.

Hon. William Ferdinand Beagle

Day Four: I think I can, I think I can . . .

 

WB here.  I am starting to feel more like myself as the haze of pain and pain killers are starting to recede.  I only woke my mom and dad up once last night, when the pain got a bit too much.  Mom laid down on the ground next to my dog bed and we snuggled for the first time since the surgery, and that was great for both of us.  I soon went back to sleep for the rest of the night.

I am still panting a bit, but my dad noted that I don’t really have “the crazy” in my eye as much and look more like myself – more John Lennon, and less Marilyn Manson.  I am also less restless, and am enjoying a good snooze (and I hear my “drunk truck driver” snore is back in full effect).  My stitches are starting to get itchy more, so my pawrents are putting that stupid cone back over my head.  I’m all too familar with the “cone of shame,” as I had to wear it often when I had that icky paw pad injury.  Mom tells me to hang in there because I only have to keep it on until my incision heals and I won’t have to wear it nearly as regularly as I used to (knock on wood).  Luckily, we have the Comfy Cone, so it’s not as bad as it could be, I suppose.

As a treat for my progress, my mom gave me a lift up on to one of my favorite chairs, which as you can see made me very happy.   I of course wanted to show her how much I had progressed by jumping up on the couch in the evening, which I did successfully, but she quickly told me I shouldn’t do that anymore without her help until I feel a bit better (but I admit I was happy to see that I still had it in me).   I’m getting a bit sick of lying down on only one side because it hurts too much to lie on the other side, but the bruising on my belly seems to be going down slowly but surely so I’m looking forward to some day soon sprawling out on my other side.

We are taking very short walks along our block as I get the hang of going to the restroom on one leg, and also to help me gain my balance a bit.  For the most part I have no problems, but sometimes when I want to turn quickly I forget that I have only 3 legs.   And, I had my first number 2 since leaving the hospital!  I was getting a bit worried about that, because I think the pain killers were backing me up a bit, if you know what I mean.  But I sorted out how to stand all on my own, with only a bit of help from my mom (how embarassing).  But walking around on three legs is really tiring!   I’m going to cut this post short and go catch some zzzzzzzzzzzzzz’s.

Peace out,

DJ Willy Will Beagle

(Ok, yes, the pain meds are still making me a bit loopy).

Day Three: Sleepy Time for Will Beagle

Hi everyone, this is Izzy Bella reporting for my big brother Will Beagle.  We were so happy to have him home last night, but it is clear that he is out of sorts.  His back leg disappeared, but that’s ok because we love him regardless.  The hardest part for us is that we love to snuggle close to him, but it hurts him too much if we get close to his hip.  He yelled at Henry Beagle one time when Henry tried to sit on him.

He had a rough night last night.  Mom and Dad were up with him several times in the evening, as WB was whimpering in pain and seemed restless (something probably having to do with his pain meds).  He seemed to calm down early in the morning, but started panting quite a bit in the morning.  Fortunately, after a nice little stroll in the front yard, Will Beagle settled down and slept most of the day away in the study, keeping us company.

On the upside he is walking around well, especially on carpet.  He’s eating (but then, he ALWAYS loves food), and is drinking plenty of water.  But he’s staying calm, getting plenty of rest on his favorite dog beds.

Henry Beagle is oblivious, but I think this is hard on our pawrents to see WB in such a state.  But he’s been struggling with his paw pad for so long that it’s important to remember that he’ll be able to come with us to the park and to the beach as soon as those stitches come out!  That will be great as he hasn’t been able to come with us for so long.  Hopefully he’ll be able to calm down tonight so we can all get sleep.  A girl needs her beauty sleep afterall.

 

Home Sweet Home

Hi everyone,  Will Beagle is back in action.  Wow, it’s been quite a weekend.  Mom and Dad took me into the Veterinary Specialty Hospital here in San Diego, California, and met with Dr. Aikin, and he went over all the options.  There was an outside shot that removal of the paw pad might have been enough, but we talked about it and I just wanted it done.  I didn’t want the possibility of being back in surgery in a few weeks and I wanted as great of a chance as I could to kick this cancer out of my life.  Mom and Dad left me in the good hands at the hospital.  Mom kinda lost it a bit, but Dad kept it together and I felt better that Mom had Dad, Izzy, and even Henry.   They took me into surgery, and overall, I don’t remember a thing.

I stayed in the hospital overnight.  I admit, I’m not a fan of the kennel at the hospital and was pretty unhappy there. By the morning afterwards, I was bouncing around in my kennel, ready to go home.  My left hip is quite sore, so they sent me home with some pain medicine and a patch on my arm.  Mom and Dad came to pick me up, and I was ready to go home and sleep in my own dog bed.

In fact, I was literally sprinting out of the hospital on my three legs.  I walked down a step at the front door and headed right over to our car.  On the drive back to Point Loma, I passed out in the passenger seat, so happy to be in the car and on my way home.  It was great to see my fellow hounds when I got home, but I admit I’m now tuckered out and ready to go to sleep (well, as soon as I eat my dinner).

But I wanted everyone to know that I’m a-okay, although I admit I’m a bit bruised up near my incision and the stitches are kind of a pain in the rear.  I have some pretty bad brusing around the incision, but it should go away over the next couple of weeks.  We have an appointment for October 3 to get my stiches out, and it can’t come soon enough because I’m basically confined to the house until they are out.  Once we sort out what type of cancer I have, we’ll start on chemo to zap as many of those nasty cells as we can.

I can barely keep my eyes open, so signing off for now.  Thanks to everyone for all your support, both old friends and new tripawd friends.  My pawrents have really appreciated the friendly words.

Where R U, Bro?

Hey Will!!! Missed you for the game yesterday! Did u hear, the Bucks beat Cal!! Mom and dad told me about your foot, what a bummer!! Since you won’t have a foot, that means I can’t eat your bandages any more 🙁  You’ll still make me Scooby Snacks right??! Come home soon buddy, Izzy’s going totally wacko without you!!

~ Henry Beagle