Home made food...

so as of lately Apollo has had a great appetite  but we have been noticing that he throws up dog food and mixed vegetables.  Dr ladue who is our Oncologist says that its not the effect of the chemo but that he possible has a food allergy... I was like what?  Dogs have allegies?  I guess so.. so he has been on a diet of rice and chicken brothe to calm his stomach.. seems to be the only thing that stays in.

well we are realizing that he is getting a bit thin now.... we wanted to him to drop a little weight because a front amputated tripawd carries 60 percent of his weight in front and being a great dane weighing 160 is a lot.  but now he is getting to slim  so here is my bright idea:  why not make home cook food since he can't eat dog food.

so I research recipes for cancer dogs online... its a shame that resource is so slime...  I found all of 5 sites that had a recipes.  so I am trying one out.  went to publix and  bought some of the key ingredients...  not sure how he is going to take to it  but it does kinda look good once i put it together...

I will keep you posted...

a new day...

Apollo had his first chemo treatment on friday.  so far he is doing wonderfuly. I start back at work tomorrow and i know i will be so worried.  but i will leave that for tomorrow.

Today was spent lounging around the house.  after  a long fun night, i couldnt take much activity.  All four of us catnapped for the first half of the day.  then kochice decided that it was time to play with the toys.... that in turn got Apollo up and about and poor Koa jsut tried to stay out of the way while the giants played tug o war.    So far Apollo isnt showing much signs of side effects from the treatment.  he still has his appetite as well as dringking plenty of water.  He likes it ice cold so my icemaker gets quite a workout. 

Since the treatment Ive been trying to notice abnormal things...  yesterday he would vomit after eating and I would notice a little blood.  Started researching the medications that the vets have prescibed for him...  he recieved an antivomiting med as well as a med that would protect his stomach in the case of an ulcer.   I started giving him that as well as finding out when the correct way to give it and how it works. so Im going to be getting up earlier to make sure i shake it up and give it to him befre I leave for work.

Im so amazed at how he is fighting through this.  I pray to god that we both continue to fight this disease. Apollo is my hero and the soource of my strength.

the beginning...

Spent all day at home..  trying to cat nap in between Apollo gettin gup and trying to stand.  Im so proud of him.  He is taking the chance even when he's scared to learn his new walk. he is such a special dog.

last night was the longest of my life.  The meds were starting to wear off and he was getting more restless and want to get up.  I knew that he needed to go to pee but i couldnt lift him alone.  I was so scared and he looked so helpless.  Kow had left me to go out with friends.

well after getting him out to the patio we just stood there.  he look scared to take a step and i was afraid he would face plant into the concrete and i think he knew that.  Im trying to be stron g and patient.  I am doing my best to be encouraging cuz he needs it so much.

well today he finally peed...  i was so excited... now all he needs to do is poop.  i was amazed to see him hopp around his crate and  get up and down.  Im so proud of him.

home...

just brought Apollo home.  he is heavily drugged and missing a leg. We tried to get him to the cage but we got as far as the hallway floor.  so we left him to enjoy the coolness because i know his body had to be hot from the trip and the exertion that he made to get there. 

it took 3 people to but hin the that back of a scion.  but he made the initative to jump in which resulted in a face plant because his front leg is missing.  I was so proud and scared.  his surgery was so fresh.  i didnt want him to tear open his stitches.  on the ride home i was terrified he would turnthe wrong way and lay on his hurt side.

He looks so helpless.  I wish i could fast forward and see him up and hopping around.  or if I could take his pain as my own I would.  I am hoping the healing process will get easier.

scared...

Today I looked into the trusting brown eyes of Apollo.  I wondered if he knew why he was at the vet.  Its amputations day... step one in giving him a longer life.  Osteosarcoma is not an easy cancer to treat but veteranarian medicine has found a way to slow the cancer down.  Apollo and I are in this fight together so we arent alone.

The next few weeks are going to be long.  In 14 days he will start the first round of chemo and will have that every 3 weeks. I know that it will be costly but I know it will pay off in the end.  God has told me so.

  Im anxiously waiting m y the phone to hear that everything has come out great and that he is recuperating....

Day 2

Today was filled with a bit of running around... I had to pick up Apollo's medicine for the vet..83.00..  but im not suprised.  Everyone at the vet's was so happy that I took ver the care of Apollo.  Our great danes are celebrities over there.  Even Kochice with his big goofy self.  My poor Koa who is a min schauzer just takes a back seat  but i think he knows that hes my baby.

Just gave Apollo his meds.  I put them in pill pockets and he just sniffed it and walked away.  So I tried a piece of leftover steak...  sliced a slit in the middle and tucked to pill right in and gave it to him.. he took it with no problems at all  but hey come on it was steak.  so Im hoping the the meds will take affect and reduce some of the swelling in his leg.  I hate seeing such a beautiful animal go through all this pain... but I am going to do my best to make the rest of his time with us the best for him.  here at the house he is surrounded by love and gets tons of attentions.  His tail doesnt stop wagging  unless hes asleep.

I just pray the God continue to bless me and allow me the means to do all that I can for Apollo.

Day 1

Today is the first day that we have had Apollo in our home...  its been a little strange... spent the time being a referie.  even though Apollo and Kochice are brothers  you would never know with the way they act.  Apollo belonged to my brother and his fiance... last week we all found out that Apollo had a serious type of bone cancer.  I cried and I prayed. Apollo is a young and strong great dane.  he deserves a good life and If we have the means to make that happen, we will.  So we picked him up yesterday to bring him to his new home... our house. Apollo spent the day walking around on a leg that is liable to break with just a quick turn. I was so scared that he would get hurt in the roughhousing.

Wednesday we will be visiting the oncologist to see what can be done for this beautiful Great dane.  I am hoping that our prayers having been answered and it is not what people think it is.  As I sit here looking into the brown eyes that is trusting me with his life  i know that I cannot  give up with out a fight. I m going to start getting ready to pick up his xrays and his pain meds for the week.

I will keep you posted..