Sydney had his 4th of 5 doxorubucin (adriamycin) chemo treatments yesterday. Last Friday, we had to get some metaclopromide to help him because he was getting severe gut wrenching dry heaves and vomiting slightly. That seemed to help him tremendously, although he has continued to cry and whine and be vocal. But I think he just is spoiled and quiets down as soon as I get around him. Anyway, we took him for his next to last treatment and he did well during the chemo. When the vet brought him out, he ran over to my husband and while I was asking questions to the oncologist, Syd actually just rammed his head into my husband's lap and was just acting goofier than normal! He was just SO happy to see us! I did ask the oncologist if a dog who has had his 3rd treatment with the chemo, if he would have shown side effects before now. (since Syd has been showing hardly any side effects during the 3-5 days after treatment, normally is 6-8 days after treatment this last time, although after the first 2 treatments, he did fine). She said it would vary with the dog, of course. I then asked her if he has been fine until now, if he were on the piroxicam pill (we are in a clinical trial for piroxicam), would he just now be starting to get ill from that? She kind of chuckled and said that she didn't want to think one way or another since she doesn�t know for sure, but she said again, if would be different with every dog. I told her that since I had stopped giving him 2 pills every day since last Friday (and the oncologist's request due to him dry heaving so much) and that he seems to be whining a lot more this past week than he has since after his 1st chemo treatment 9/4/03, it would be interesting to see when I started him on the "P" pills again, if he might be less whiney (since piroxicam is an anti-inflammatory). She told me not to give him his "P" pills for a few days still, then start giving it to him slowly. She told me about Pepcid AC and I told her that some of the great folks on the CBC list had mentioned Pepcid AC so I was familiar with it. She told me to give him 30mg about 30 minutes prior to giving him his P pills and food. Hopefully that will help a bunch. Right now, he is still alert, still eating, still lays down a lot, but if he wants to go somewhere, look out cause you are not stopping him.
When I came home this afternoon, my husband told me Syd hadn't eaten his breakfast. I went upstairs to the couch he was lying on and he didn't act like he wanted to be bothered. I hugged him and he just laid there. I went downstairs and a little while later, I heard him crying and whining. I went back upstairs and his best bud Runt came up with me. I gave Syd some spoonfuls of dog food and he didn't want to eat the first bite and spit it out and when I gave him the second bite, he ate about 4-5 spoonfuls. I asked Syd "Do you want to..." and he perked up his eyes slightly. Runt thought I meant go for a walk and I said "Do you want to get something more to eat?". Runt started getting excited thinking I meant walk and Syd suddenly perked up and got off the couch and practically ran downstairs! He has developed this selective hearing lately. I think he thinks he's allowed to get away with ignoring me since I've been babying him so much since his surgery and all through chemo. We were all out in the front yard enjoying a beautiful fall day and they all saw a squirrel or something. They all took off running and everyone stopped except Syd. He was looking for that squirrel and would barely listen to me. He stood at the edge of the small hill and kept looking intently and would not come back until I started walking toward him, then he did. It's amazing how much they can play with you. I'm just grateful that he has made it through as far as he has and done fairly well. Although right now he is lying in the other room where he can see me working on the computer and is crying and whining off and on. Guess that's my cue to go lay down beside him and hug on him. Hug all your furbabies tonight and pray for those who have been lost
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