Raichle's symptoms on 3/5/08 were swollen lymphnodes mainly on her throat. There was a cluster of 4 large
lumps. Upon physical exam by the vet, all of her lymphnodes were enlarged. Raichle was given 1-3 mos to live.
2 weeks later the lumps were the size of golf balls causing her to have trouble eating (even though she was
hungry), heavy panting, trouble breathing, not wanting to get up, not able to bark. These symptoms got
progressively worse over the next week. She was being treated with prednisone twice daily which did not seem to
impact her at all.
I could not stand to see an otherwise healthy dog go like this so decided to give chemo a try. It was tough given
that everyone who talked to me about it had a very strong opinion on whether to do it or not. Half said yes and
half said no.
3/29/08 Raichle received her 1st of 6 weekly iv injections. 3/31/08 She will start on pills to be given 4 days a week
for 6 weeks. She will also be on prednisone twice daily.
Wow, 2 days after her first injection there is a very noticeable improvement. The lumps are down to grape size,
she joins the other dogs during dinner time and finishes the meal. She went to the park today and rolled in the
grass, did all her little tricks for treats, barked, chewed on a stick, and even jumped up on me.
She actually continued to improve all week - greeting me at the gate when I came home, doing the teeter totter,
and she even ran a little bit. Her lumps did come back mid week though.
Fri 4/4/08 She received her 2nd iv injection. All seemed ok but Sat she was very depressed and would not eat -
not even a biscuit. She was still depressed Sun. I went out to meet some people for dog adoptions early
afternoon and when I returned Raichle was inside with a bloody nose. It was pretty freaky but hopefully just a side
effect.
Sun pm she seems much better. Gobbled down her cheeseburger and even ate dinner. This is just too hard -
knowing if you are doing the right thing or not. Wish she could tell me.
4/7/08 Had blood work done. Normally in Chemo only the dogs white blood cells are affected. Raichle is enemic
which is not common with chemo. It is possible that the cancer is already in her bone marrow in which case
nothing can be done. This week Raichle will not get her pills and her prednisone dose is being cut back. She will
also be hospitalized daily. Her x rays showed fluid in her chest as well. We took a sample of the fluid and sent it
to the lab.
4/8/08 Raichle was a little better throughout the day. She ate salami and crackers with me before bed. Had I
known what was to come I would have given her my wine too. Raichle stayed on the bed with me all night which is
not normal for her. She has an excessive double coat and gets hot easily. Only problem was that she was not
sleeping. She could not stay in a lying position as she was having trouble breathing. She panted open mouthed
most of the night. In the morning she would not eat anything. I knew she was telling me the chemo was not
working and it was her time to leave me.
4/9/08 I took her to work at 9am. Luckily she already had an iv catheter in place. I held Raichle in my lap as she
received her injection. It actually was very peaceful and she looked exactly the same afterwards. Dr. Rosenaur
was very comforting and so were my co workers. She even peed on me for old time sake (she had an occasional
incontinence problem throughout her life). I sent Raichle with a stuffed sheep touched by me and all my dogs as
we left that morning (no foster dogs!). I trusted that she would be cremated and her ashes returned to me.
Dr. Burch was very kind and sent out her chest fluid sample anyway and even paid for it out of his own pocket. It
did come back cancerous and even said it was obvious she was not responding to chemo - peace of mind for me
at least.
I knew something was wrong when a dog that was put to sleep the day after her ashes came back just a few days
later. I was told that sometimes some take longer. I did not have a good feeling. I have been joking about her
being lost until today.....
4/28/08 I was told that the company who does the cremation has no record of her. How do you fix losing my dogs
body? This is seriously the worst feeling I have ever had. So I get a free empty urn with a plaque in her memory.
Its just not the same. Another dog was lost the same day - they claim they are suing the company but Im sure
they wont get anywhere.
lumps. Upon physical exam by the vet, all of her lymphnodes were enlarged. Raichle was given 1-3 mos to live.
2 weeks later the lumps were the size of golf balls causing her to have trouble eating (even though she was
hungry), heavy panting, trouble breathing, not wanting to get up, not able to bark. These symptoms got
progressively worse over the next week. She was being treated with prednisone twice daily which did not seem to
impact her at all.
I could not stand to see an otherwise healthy dog go like this so decided to give chemo a try. It was tough given
that everyone who talked to me about it had a very strong opinion on whether to do it or not. Half said yes and
half said no.
3/29/08 Raichle received her 1st of 6 weekly iv injections. 3/31/08 She will start on pills to be given 4 days a week
for 6 weeks. She will also be on prednisone twice daily.
Wow, 2 days after her first injection there is a very noticeable improvement. The lumps are down to grape size,
she joins the other dogs during dinner time and finishes the meal. She went to the park today and rolled in the
grass, did all her little tricks for treats, barked, chewed on a stick, and even jumped up on me.
She actually continued to improve all week - greeting me at the gate when I came home, doing the teeter totter,
and she even ran a little bit. Her lumps did come back mid week though.
Fri 4/4/08 She received her 2nd iv injection. All seemed ok but Sat she was very depressed and would not eat -
not even a biscuit. She was still depressed Sun. I went out to meet some people for dog adoptions early
afternoon and when I returned Raichle was inside with a bloody nose. It was pretty freaky but hopefully just a side
effect.
Sun pm she seems much better. Gobbled down her cheeseburger and even ate dinner. This is just too hard -
knowing if you are doing the right thing or not. Wish she could tell me.
4/7/08 Had blood work done. Normally in Chemo only the dogs white blood cells are affected. Raichle is enemic
which is not common with chemo. It is possible that the cancer is already in her bone marrow in which case
nothing can be done. This week Raichle will not get her pills and her prednisone dose is being cut back. She will
also be hospitalized daily. Her x rays showed fluid in her chest as well. We took a sample of the fluid and sent it
to the lab.
4/8/08 Raichle was a little better throughout the day. She ate salami and crackers with me before bed. Had I
known what was to come I would have given her my wine too. Raichle stayed on the bed with me all night which is
not normal for her. She has an excessive double coat and gets hot easily. Only problem was that she was not
sleeping. She could not stay in a lying position as she was having trouble breathing. She panted open mouthed
most of the night. In the morning she would not eat anything. I knew she was telling me the chemo was not
working and it was her time to leave me.
4/9/08 I took her to work at 9am. Luckily she already had an iv catheter in place. I held Raichle in my lap as she
received her injection. It actually was very peaceful and she looked exactly the same afterwards. Dr. Rosenaur
was very comforting and so were my co workers. She even peed on me for old time sake (she had an occasional
incontinence problem throughout her life). I sent Raichle with a stuffed sheep touched by me and all my dogs as
we left that morning (no foster dogs!). I trusted that she would be cremated and her ashes returned to me.
Dr. Burch was very kind and sent out her chest fluid sample anyway and even paid for it out of his own pocket. It
did come back cancerous and even said it was obvious she was not responding to chemo - peace of mind for me
at least.
I knew something was wrong when a dog that was put to sleep the day after her ashes came back just a few days
later. I was told that sometimes some take longer. I did not have a good feeling. I have been joking about her
being lost until today.....
4/28/08 I was told that the company who does the cremation has no record of her. How do you fix losing my dogs
body? This is seriously the worst feeling I have ever had. So I get a free empty urn with a plaque in her memory.
Its just not the same. Another dog was lost the same day - they claim they are suing the company but Im sure
they wont get anywhere.
RAICHLE'S CANCER AND CHEMO JOURNEY
