How is she getting on? What are we doing for her? How am I coping?
- Sometimes it is hard to believe she is sick and has cancer. She looks great, her coat is soft and thick, her eyes are bright and she has all her usual energy when she sees you have brought a ball to chase. We went for a walk today for example and when she realised I had not brought the all important ball, she raced off and found a pine cone and dropped it at my feet, teasing me with her eyes, inviting me to play.
- Sometimes she looks worn out and tired. One of her eyes is weepy and irritated. Her body can feel hot and she drinks a lot. There are nights when her tummy is gurgling and rumbling for hours and she can’t get comfortable in her bed. She gets up and plonks herself noisily on the floor, only to return to her bed a few minutes later.
- So as you see, it is up and down. But right now it is more up. Last week for about 4 days she had terrible diarrhoea. The kind that you don’t want to happen in the middle of a busy street. She was drinking lots of water and seemed uncomfortable. We travelled back to Granollers and I took her straight to the vets at Veterinari Lauro. They are very nice there and all our checkup visits are free. After taking antibiotics, a white gooey medicine to coat her stomach and some special digestive tinned food, the next day she was almost totally recovered.
- I have joined three dog cancer groups on the internet and spend a lot of time trying to sort out which dog lives with who and what kind of cancer they have. There is so much information out there and so many people devoting themselves to caring for their sick dogs. If not for these sites I wouldn’t know what to do for Bonnie now as the vets here, wonderful though they are, don’t know anything about alternative treatments.
- Chinese mushrooms, parley, tumeric, wheat germ extract, Krill fish oil, artemesia, broccoli and brussel sprouts, sunshine, lots of hours of sleep in total darkness, learning new tricks, love, happy times, more love……..these are her medicines.
- It is almost 7 weeks since the diagnosis. I find it impossible not to count the weeks even though I know that there are no accurate survival times. It was good to get past the 4 week mark, then the 6 week and now I am looking at the 8. The vet said that she probably wouldn’t still be here in three months but who knows? There are stories of great survivors and these herbal pills are strong allies in the fight to slow down the growth.
- The major change for us is that we now spend a lot of time at Sant Nicolau. I booked one of the cottages for a month and now will take it for January too. It is really wonderful to have it as a haven of peace and healing. We came back to Granollers for Christmas. I wouldn’t want to wish away any of Bonnie’s precious days but I have to say I am glad those ones are over. There was nothing bad but I just wasn’t in the mood and had to go through the motions. Now we can go back to the countryside and I am looking forward to seeing the mountains again and to watch how happily Bonnie races through the woods chasing scents, and rolls in the grass in a doggy ecstasy. Here she is peacefully watching the birds beside Blue.
The skies were amazing on our morning walks. Would you ever tire of this?
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Glad to hear that Bonnie is doing well so far, and that you are all out at Sant Nicolau again, seems a lovely place indeed.
Keep us posted, please.
O xx
So glad of the update on Bonnie and to know there is support out there on the internet from people in a similar position. That must be a comfort.
Happy New Year to you and yours, K, and a big hug for Bonnie.
Kate I’m so sorry to hear about your dear dog Bonnie. It sounds like you are doing the best possible things for her. It’s a hard time.
Susan