Before….

Tomorrow is the day.

Today was pretty mellow but great!  Wow, he has had a huge appetite today, which is probably a good thing since he has to fast tomorrow for blood work.  He ate lots of veggies and maybe… some steak.  Yeah he’s spoiled.  I’ll own that!

Also I played arround with a treat recipe and came up with my own honey ginger treat.  Bosco hung out in kitchen while I baked and enjoyed the smells.  He went nuts for them and just made my day!

I trimmed his toe nails and Dr. Buzby is on board too.  He is all set to deal with the slip and slide that is the flooring at the vet’s office.

Team Bosco or should I say Hungry Hungry Hippo is feeling cautiously optimistic about tomorrow’s tests!

Below, chillin on the couch begging from dad and generally acting like a lab!

Home made snacks!

In the mean time…

This comming Monday is the big day.  The day that decides if Bosco can participate in the Osteosarcoma vaccine study.  I’m worried because we are about 10 months post diagnosis already, he’s having issues with food aversion, and he’s been groaning.  On the other hand, although he is picky about food, he is eating and he is taking an SSRI which is helping too.  We have to offer a variety of foods until we find something he wants but he is eating.  The groaning might simply be his arthritis.  We manage it with meds, massage, and occasional acupuncture but maybe it’s getting worse.

The cancer may not have spread.  He has energy.  He asked to go for a walk yesterday!  Also no coughing.  His nose is always running due to allergy but it’s no worse than usual.  So these things give me hope.

He ate a ton of Oliver Bentley treats this afternoon.  They are limited ingredient treats with ginger and honey from Savannah bee company.  We bought some when we were in Savannah and he liked them so I just ordered more and they came today.  They sent a sweet note!  By the way, you can take your dog into the Savannah Bee Company which we did the Saterday  before Easter in Gatlinburg!  Why didn’t I take a photo of that though!?

Anyway, these treats are good ones for Bosco who has GI issues in addition to food aversion.  I try to keep a variety of treats arround since I never know what he will eat.

While we wait for Monday, we’re trying focus on having fun (and hide my worries as much as possible) with Bosco.  Hopefully it will all turn out well.  He sure deserves it.  He is the best dog!

Our favorite spot along one of the dog friendly hiking trails in the Smokies.

Hope and Puppy Luv

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Bosco was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma last May.  We were fortunate to have caught it before metastasis and were able to seek treatment.  He went through amputation surgery, 6 rounds of Carboplatin, metronomic chemo, and takes an herbal pill to attempt to delay metastasis.  The herbal pill is compounded by a holistic vet we work with.  As of his last check, almost 2 months ago, there was no metastasis.  We have been waiting months for the Osteosarcoma vaccine study to begin and if the cancer has not spread, Bosco will participate.  I’m working on finalizing some details but he should have his x-ray on the 9th or 10th and then will start the first round of the vaccine on the 13th if the x-ray is clear.

 

I think there is some hope now for Bosco and for all the other dogs suffering with this vile disease.  I hope to have so much more to share soon.  In the meantime, please send us your prayers, good vibes, thoughts, wishes, or whatever your thing is.  Anxiety is getting the better of me right now.  

 

 

These were taken two weeks ago at the beach.  He had a great time and he shocked my husband and I with his energy level!!!