Back to the familiar settings

So, we went back to VERG on Wednesday. First, traffic was horrendous. Second, what were we doing there? We have an 11-year old dog whose been in remission for 2 1/2 years. What do we do? What are the options?

I would like to say I went in there with a plan, but that's really over stating things.  I went in wanting to save Leo, to fix him, to make him better.  Funny enough, he'd just done a 7 mile hike on Saturday, and done hikes almost every weekend before that with no ill effect (actually, he's usually got more spring in his step than I do when we get back!). So he wasn't really feeling all that bad - although he's been getting noticeably slower, but most folks do at 11 (dog-years, anyway).
Dr. C was very optimistic about his chances for another round of remission - and a long one (a year, maybe?) - with treatment, of course.  And of course we were opting to treat. I'm not ready to say goodbye and give up just yet, and he's in decent shape, and the drug that tried to kill him last time is one that we're not going to use.  So, yes, it's a modified protocol.  And yes, it's probably too much money and time and effort for little gain. But if I don't at least try, I'll never forgive myself.

So, yeah - Leo had treatment #1! He came out of it like a champ - seriously, bouncing around, jumping, really happy, and no worse for the wear. So, we shall see how he takes it.  It was usually day 2 and 3 that were the bad ones, and this drug wasn't all that bad - plus they are taking specific precautions against his GI tract shutting down, like giving him anti-nausea medicine right away.  So, we'll see.  Technically, we'll just be alternating 2 drugs - Vincristine and Cytocin (sp?), first every week, then every other. It is supposed to go 16 weeks, but even last time we only did 14 treatments - i think it was treatment 12 or 13 that nearly killed him.  I'd be surprised if we go beyond 12 treatments, just knowing how much it took out of him last time.  I think that, for an 11-year old large dog, that will get him well into old-age.

This is really, really hard - Leo is really everything to me (and to L), and now that this is back, well, it brings up a lot of really uncomfortable thoughts about what would be like after Leo. And that's a thought I have a hard time entertaining. So we'll treat. Because he's my boy, and I'd do anything for him.