2 Month Ampuversary!

Today was Spencer’s 2 month ampuversary.  Sometimes it seems longer, sometimes it seems like just last week!  Overall, he is doing GREAT!  Especially considering that without the amputation the vet’s best guess was that he would have needed to be put to sleep a month or more ago!  And really, he is kicking butt right now.  For the last week + his back leg has been doing that strange thing that I mentioned in my last post.  I did find a small sore on the inside thigh and wonder if he fell at some point and poked his leg on a stitch or something, and maybe it is just sore?  The sore is healing fine though, so I’m just watching it.  His oncologist did look last Thursday and didn’t see anything.  Who knows what is up?  I sure wish he could just tell me!

Spencer has finished his second 3 week course of chemo.  This was his first 3 week that started with Mitox.  His stomach has had some issues; but I’m not sure if it is chemo related, or diet related.  I have found that if he gets some bread (or pizza crust) that he almost always throws up.  I’m trying to stick hard to his grain free diet and so far since I  started being more strict he hasn’t thrown up at all.  I also find that he has much worse gas if he eats his chicken dog food than he does when eating rabbit.  He is on Natures Instinct, which they are supposed to be able to swap among the different meats.  Maybe chicken just doesn’t sit as well in his stomach?  I’m kicking myself right now for buying chicken at the house and rabbit for at the cabin; because the bag I bought for the house was a BIG bag.  And he can clear a room sometimes after eating!  I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to finish the bag out.  haha

His appetite is great so far.  His fur is sort of growing back; but he definitely still has his shaved spots (one from the amputation, one from the surgery on the other side to remove infected tissue).  I think he is going to have a bald spot on the right side (opposite side of his amputation).  He pulled some of those stitches out and the vet we had to take him to in FL said to just leave them out.  Now the middle of the scar looks much more severe and like it likely won’t grow fur again there.

Attitude wise, he is doing great.  He is starting to be willing to stay outside for a few minutes at a time without me at the house.  At the cabin he still will only go outside if I head out with him, which I’m fine with since that yard isn’t fenced in.  But it is nice that now I can walk him to the deck steps in the morning (must walk him that far) and he will go down and do his business while I get a few things done to get the kids out the door for school.  He is loving all of his squeaky toys.  We went and ran around the field with the kids this weekend and he wore himself out!

This Thursday he goes for his 7th week of chemo – Mitox again.  almost halfway done!!

Author: justjac

Spencer is our 5.5 year old Doberman. He was diagnosed with an aggressive fibrosarcoma on 8/22. He had his left front leg amputated on 8/24/11. Finished 15 weeks of chemo on 12/22/11 (mytox and vincristine). Lung mets found 12/28/11. Fought hard and lived a full life right up until the end. Went to Heaven 2/28/12.

6 thoughts on “2 Month Ampuversary!”

  1. spencer, congrats on your two month ampuversary!! glad you are again enjoying your squeaky toys and are running around a little outside… you have definitely earned each and every treat you get!!!

    charon & gayle

  2. Glad to hear you’re feeling so much better these days Spencer! When Rio was going through chemo, she could clear a room with her gas, too. We realized her tummy was probably really upset, and so would give her Cerenia a few days post-chemo and that seemed to help with the tummy troubles.

    Micki and Rio

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