Raven had a very peaceful night, but I should have known something was wrong as she slept all night with her head on my shoulder.
And today started out well, because she came on the walk with us and went further than she's gone in a couple of weeks.
At first I thought she'd just overdone it on the walk and was in pain, but I couldn't get her to eat anything at all, and if you give her pain meds on an empty stomach it makes her very sick. But she really wouldn't eat a thing, not one bite. I forced some Reglan into her (thank heavens the pills are tiny), and some herbal drops for nausea that usually work very well, and about half an hour later was able to get her to eat enough that I could give her the pain meds. Still, she was unhappy and sick all day long.
I have no clue if this is the IL-2 or the disease or something else. I think that not knowing has been the worst thing about this, other than seeing her suffer. My brother and sister-in-law and my beautiful little baby nephew were here today, and fortunately they are big dog lovers so were very wonderful with Raven and my preoccuation with her during their visit. It made it a little easier on me to give the meds a chance to make her more comfortable.
It is possible that Raven really did overdo it and this is pain, and has nothing to do with the IL-2, but it seems to me that her abdomen has fluid in it and she's just very slightly edematous all over body. I suspect this is the underlying disease or a side effect of the IL-2. If it's the first, it seems to me we are too late with the IL-2, and if it's the second, we can't continue with the IL-2. Both of which leave me with nothing at all up my sleeve.
We'll see what tomorrow brings. She has a vet appointment on Wednesday but of course, if she's still uncomfortable tomorrow we'll go right in. Job? What job?
Just reading some of your posts about Raven. I am so sorry that you had to let her go. I can relate... somewhat. My dog Foster (almost 8 yr Bernese Mtn Dog) had his leg amp'd Aug 28 due to OS. We completed chemo at the end of December and just 2 weeks ago, we found 3, possibly 3 small-ish sized mets in his lungs. He is breathing a little heavier, his activity is decreased, but his enthusiasm and spirit (and all bodily functions) are awesome. We are currently doing the Metronomic Protocol (NSAID, low dose cytoxan along with Doxycycline) in the hopes that the met growth may slow down. Wish us luck.
Thanks for your info about Raven. It is helpful to read how things progressed in her.
Posted by: joanna | 15 May 2007 at 01:43 PM