Zeus

Just thought I’d give a little update on Zeus’s progress, he is scheduled to have his 2nd round of chemo tomorrow which we dont see any drama with pending his blood work results tomorrow morning.

Since his amputation he has been going ok, even able to get in & out of the doggy door now, also still keen for a walk although we only get 2 doors up the road & he realises he cant do it which is heart breaking as he was always really keen for a big walk.  So now we go for little walks & long trips in the car which he always enjoyed but seems to enjoy even more now.

I hate to say it but I still catch myself asking if we have/are doing the right think, I know Zeus is still the same dog & his pain is now gone but my heart breaks every time I see him stumble or doubt himself when he tries to do the things he used to do so easily.  Zeus is till sleeping a lot but is still always interested in what everyone is doing & where everyone is, his stomach seems to be a little bloated at times & his breathing is more audible, his appetite has change a little but always wants what everyone else is eating.  We have a little list of questions for the oncologist when we visit.

Christmas day was enjoyed at my Mum & Dad’s, Zeus had a lovely day with Dex eating all the left over turkey, pork etc.  We also had a 2nd Christmas Day during the week when my brother & his family came to visit.  Zeus managed to create a bit of commotion just before we were going home, Seth, my nephews cat, must of forgotten Zeus was visiting & decided he wanted to go out via the front door, so here he comes down the stairs, across the front of the lounge where Zeus was asleep (or as was he??) & babushka Seth was clinging to the top for the fly screen door & everyone diving for Zeus & the front door to let poor Seth escape to the outside world, I don’t Seth will ever forgive me.  Everyone was very surprised how easily Zeus managed to leap off the lounge.  When all had settled down everyone wished they had a video of the whole thing to send off to Funniest Home Video’s.

This is Zeus taking it easy on Christmas Day.

Christmas day relaxing

Zeus says a big thank you to everyone for looking after him so well last week while his pawents went on a little trip for 3 days, he also said not to tell Nan but he thinks he has her twisted around his little paw, he had her bringing everything right to him, she didn’t make him get up for anything and he also took naps with his head resting on her lap so she could massage behind his ears, also Alex was lifting him up onto the bed, he didn’t let her know he could get up himself and he also took up most of the room when he was up.

The last two weeks have had their up’s and downs and there have been times where I asked myself if we had done the right thing but I’m glad to say that I think we definitely have.

It’s been 2 weeks today since Zeus had his operation, he stared chemo today as well.  The oncologist was pretty impressed with his process so far, Paul sat with Zeus while the treatment was being done and had to keep him awake to ensure that he didn’t  chase possums etc in his sleep.

Zeus is returning to his old self and is almost always ready to go for a walk or ride in the car and is interested in what everyone is doing.  He also jumped right up into the van today without any help, Paul was pretty amazed.  Hopefully there will not be any side effects but we are ready for them if they appear.

Stay posted for some more pic’s, I will get some over the weekend and thanks everyone for all your wishes and support.

It was my Grumps birthday the other day and I think I’m going to visit him tonight, I’m a little worried cause my cousin Dex will be there and he sniffs my butt too much and it freaks me out.

I didn’t have a very good day yesterday, I was feeling very very sick and I was shivering and shaking all over but my Paul was there with me so it made me feel a bit better. I didn’t want to take my med’s and they made me vomit when I took them,Paul tried to hid them in food but I knew what he was up too.

I laid in the sun for a little bit & my Paul kept taking silly photo’s of me like the one below with a can of beer. I went to do my patrol of the back yard but almost fell into the pool so decided that I should go and rest up for the afternoon on my peoples big bed.

When my Deb came home she cuddled with me for a little while and gave me a nice tummy rub and back massage. She also brought me some silly looking purple balloon things that she put on my paws, when I got up to go for a drink and to spend a penny they helped me not slip on the floor so they are pretty good and will help me till I build my confidence.

Today is a better day, I went out the front to the bottom of the driveway and sat in the sun on the grass so I could watch everyone go by, even went for a drive to see Big Dave, his kids thought my purple socks looked funny too but I don’t care cause they are cool.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

Today, at 5pm Zeus was discharged after his operation, we couldn’t believe our eyes, he came hopping towards us with a big smile on his face, he headed straight for the door, he didn’t want to hang around for a chat with the vet.

All reports so far seem good, the vet said that they were really please with how the amputation went, also said that Zeus was up and about pretty much 1st thing this morning, with the assistance of the nice vet nurses he went out back to relieve himself a few times, even navigated the few steps without much assistance.  After a chat with the vet we were sent home with our brave boy & a few bags of pills.

It’s been a big two days for Zeus and after little sniff around he got up on the lounge for a little snooze, he was dreaming as he usually does with legs running on invisible ground, tail going 100 miles an hour and is still asleep now with Paul right by his side.

We know we still have a way to go and I’m still worried about him getting around but we are just happy to have Zeus home with us and think his happy to be home, more importantly he dosnt have that nasty pain in his paw any more.

I'm back

Last night  Alex, Matt and Kim came to visit Zeus and wish him all the best for his operation, he was happy to see everyone and even went out to chase a possum, which he hasn’t done for a few weeks now.  We gave Zeus his favourite dinner, chicken & stuffing which he lapped up, yum yum give me more.

Tuesday 29th November 2011,  today was the day of Zeus’s operation, Paul took Zeus to the vets in the morning, he said he was fine, wagging his tail, checking out what everyone was doing and saying hello to the staff which is his usual routine when he visits.  Then he realised he was going to be left there and started to cry, Paul was a little sad as he could hear Zeus crying all the way back to the reception area.

This afternoon the vet reported that everything had gone well and as planned and Zeus was doing well, hopefully he will be coming home tomorrow  back to familiar surroundings and his people.

Zeus says a big thank you to all his friends and family for their messages and wishes, we will keep you up to date with his progress.

Zeus has been part of our family for about 9 years now.  I will always remember when Paul, Alex, Tom and I went to the RSPCA to look for a new family member, the kids and I wanted to take home every dog/pup we saw but we knew that wasn’t possible.  Paul and I knew Zeus was the one when we turned the corner and this happy face looked out at us, I think Zeus also knew he had found his people.

A few weeks ago we received the news that Zeus has, what is probably, bone cancer in his front leg, it was a big shock to us all, we all cried on and off for a few days.

Zeus has now been to see the oncologist who gave us heaps of information and explained our options. We have also looked at the information available on tripawds which has been extremely helpful but also makes me cry, sometimes happy/sad tears all at once.

With the help of Zeus’s vet, the oncologist and tripawds we have made the decision to have Zeus’s leg amputated and to start chemotherapy as we don’t want him to have deal with the pain it must be causing.  Zeus will have his operation on Tuesday 29th November, this is when our courageous little mate will become part of the Tripawds family.

We know the road ahead will have it’s up’s and downs and I’m sure a lot of corners but wouldn’t it be a boring journey if the road was flat and straight.

Zeus’s people