Explaining my absence from GoY.... please pray for Conker...

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Blog # 18.

For more than 5 weeks now, my “Head Gardener”, Conker the Shetland Sheepdog has been very unwell. At first I tried to keep up with GoY, but as the days have passed, our life has become more stressful and difficult.

Conker is only 5 years old. His birthday was in March. He was fit and happy back then. But by mid-May he had spent a whole day at the vet practice, under anaesthetic, having xrays etc. However, the vets were still puzzled. Various antibiotics etc. were tried but Conker’s condition deteriorated.

I became totally exhausted and run down looking after Conker day and night. It is all too soon after nursing my lovely Welsh Terrier at the end of last year… I have no family, so my pets are my family….

Conker has been referred by my vet to a specialist veterinary clinic about an hour’s drive away. He may need to stay there several days. He doesn’t like being with strangers, but let’s hope they can help him.

When I get more news, I’ll put comments below, or I’ll add information to this top part of the blog.

The Clinic vet phoned lunchtime yesterday to say that sadly he thinks the mass behind Conker’s nose up to his eye is a tumour. I am still in shock from this diagnosis.

The Clinic vet has taken away some of the mass, which means Conker can breathe more easily. Presuming Conker is alert this morning, I can phone the clinic and possibly arrange to collect my not very well dog, with not a very good outlook, because the tumour mass will presumably regrow quite fast.

Clinic vet said he has sent a sample of the mass away for tests which should produce a result in about 7 days from now. He said there is just a possibility that an abscess can produce a solid mass, but he said unlikely.

This is like a bad dream. How can this be happening to Conker at such a young age ? He was so fit up to a few weeks ago. Never had a day’s illness.

Thank God I have Truffle, the Smooth Fox Terrier puppy. He’s now almost 6 months old, and running around with toys. I keep pausing to play with him, even though I’ve tears rolling down my face. Conker accepted the puppy so well and helped to rear him, showing him how to be a good gardener….

Wednesday afternoon and I’m pleased to report that Conker my Head Gardener is back home safely.

The clinic vet says biopsy results of the tumour might be ready by Friday afternoon. Conker is very tired… only a day since his operation…
but his breathing is a little easier, and he has eaten some rice pudding :o)

Sincere thanks to all my GoY friends for your messages of support. Your input is giving me strength and making this difficult situation easier to manage.

Late Friday evening 5th June. 09. The clinic vet phoned about 8 pm and spent a long time explaining Conker’s condition to me. I’m very tired after a long day of waiting, so I’ll give a brief summary now, which I can add to later.

Conker has cancer, but it can be treated with chemotherapy, and about three quarters of the dogs with the condition have a good response, giving maybe another 9 months of good quality life, or in some cases a couple of years…

I reckon the clinic vet is one of the top men in the country in this field, and I decided immediately to give Conker the opportunity to try this treatment, which will be on daytime visits once a week, starting this Monday.

Thanks to everyone for your support during this worrying day. Let’s hope Conker responds well to the drugs and enjoys some more months of happy life.

Saturday. 6th June. 2009.
During this morning and this afternoon, I’ve been reading all of your comments a great number of times. Thank you.They are helping.

Yesterday, waiting all day for the vet’s phone call was very exhausting ~ the culmination of six weeks of nursing Conker, seeing him through two operations, and wondering what could be causing his illness.

Today I’ve been very tired ~ mentally and physically.
I’m sure I’ll perk up as the days go by.

It’s probably better I don’t describe Conker’s current symptoms in detail, but he does have profuse nasal discharge, which needs attention from me every few minutes. He is not at all well, so whether the chemo treatments are going to help him will be very apparent within a few weeks.

Thanks again to all of you. I read your comments and private emails lots of times. If I don’t reply, please be assured everything you write ~ every message, every piece of advice and encouragement ~ is being studied and appreciated.

Since Conker’s operation last Tuesday, his breathing is somewhat easier.
He is definitely better at eating and drinking, so that’s the most positive thing I can tell you right now.

For the weekly clinic visits, the plan is that my friend Mr. C. will do the driving, so that means Truffle the puppy will travel too, and I can walk my young dog while Conker is being given chemo treatment by the vets.

The grounds of the clinic have pretty garden areas, and bushes around the car parking areas, and there is a full time gardener working all day…. When I walk Truffle I’ll get a better opportunity to see exactly what has been planted.

Thanks again.
I’m so glad I joined GoY.
Having support from you is such a help. xxx*

Tuesday 9th June 2009
Conker had his first day of chemo yesterday. He was in the clinic for an hour receiving intravenous treatment. The vet gave me lots of paperwork ~ explanations and instructions about Conker’s cancer and the drugs used ~ side effects, chances of remission. The treatment isn’t successful in all cases.

Vets have a different approach to chemotherapy in dogs, compared to the treatment given to humans. The goal is to give a dose which will improve the dog’s quality of life without causing unacceptable side effects. There might be some reactions to the drugs used, but these are rarely severe. This goal means using lower doses than used in people, and consequently will probably only extend good quality life by a year or so before tumours regrow.
A very small number of dogs go into more complete remission, so I’m giving Conker that chance…..

For the next two weeks, Conker takes tablets given to me by the clinic vet.
These are corticosteroid and chemotherapy drugs. They are strong and I must handle them wearing gloves. Next Monday, Conker needs a blood test at my local vet before I carry on with the tablets, and the plan is to visit the vet clinic again on Monday 22nd June. The courses of treatment could last as far as October.

I hope sincerely that no one reading this ever needs to have chemotherapy treatment for their pets, but maybe by giving this explanation, it provides a bit of an idea of what would be involved.

So far Conker seems to be coping well. He came home with a bright purple bandage on his leg .:o)

While Conker was having his treatment at the clinic, I walked Truffle the Smooth Fox Terrier puppy around the grounds. There is a little garden area with pretty planting. It looks very much in need of trimming of the aubrieta, roses, etc but the gardener seems to have quite a large plot to maintain ~ paths, borders, driveways etc…..
~ I wonder if it will be tidier next time I visit….

Conker is being a brave boy, and I’ll continue to write updates of his progress.
Thanks for all your lovely comments and support, which help immensely.

Here is a picture of Conker in April this year, posing next to a pot of seeds kindly sent by Amy ~

Enjoy your gardening this summer, rain or shine ~ and please pray for Conker… Thank you…

1 Jun, 2009
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Arlene

~praying for Conker and the strength and fortitude you will need to get through this~love to you both!
Arlene

1 Jun, 2009

Gee19

My thoughts and prayers are with you, TT. Hope you receive more encouraging news very, very soon. God bless.

1 Jun, 2009

Explaining my absence from GoY.... please pray for Conker...

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