Rubi's blood work this week shows that she is now anemic and her liver function is declining due to the affects of the lomustine. Her protein level is high as well as the globulin level. This is expected. She is receiving a supplement for her liver called Denamarin. I don't know what all this means yet, but I got all her blood test print outs and am going to make a spreadsheet to track it and define the categories. I hope to find some supplements to help her blood count improve but won't interfere with her treatment. Her platelet count is low due to clumping but still adequate to take the chemo so she got her dose last week. She is always a little quieter the day or two after the medicine but she got over that quickly.
I did have an issue with her food. I have always cooked chicken, yams, carrots, and green beans for her because she has massive food allergies. None of the prepared foods can match her needs so it has been easier to just do it myself. The dog cancer book I have been reading suggests a similar diet but different veggies and adding garlic, ginger and parsley. So i cooked it all up and she was good to eat it for 5 days or so but it was affecting her bowels a little. Then she refused to eat it at all! That shocked me but I went back to her original diet and things are good again. As the book says, it does no good if the dog is miserable. I feel confident I am providing good nutrition even if the veggies are not the same as the recipe.
Rubi continues to be happy and energetic. She now wants to go on long walks everyday and is ready to go for a car ride at the drop of a hat. She has no lumps anywhere. The incisions have all healed, her hair has mostly grown back so she looks like any other young smiling dog. She has also had what i can only describe as an attitude change. She sticks closer to me and listens better. I can let her off leash at the college when it is empty and she doesn't wander off. She is more attuned to my chatter at her. She seems to have matured. It could be that she is not at the top of her form and this is how it manifests but she will be 5 in August, so maturity could be a factor.
As the title says "and so it goes." We are living la loca vida here in so cal. Its a beautiful day so we are off the the college for a romp. See you all next time.