Biopsy Results for Silver

Silver has cancer.  An aggressive form that attacks the ducts of the mammary glands.

We are opting not to operate to remove tumor as there are too many risks, the cancer is in a tough spot to get, and more than likely would come back even more aggressive.

For now Silver is doing well.  You wouldn't know she is sick at all.

She is still wearing a cone because of her stitches from the biopsy and will have to wear it until she has them out a week from now.

Please pray for us.

Thank you.

Silver's doing better today.

Silver is doing better today.  Her mood has picked up and is a little more perky.  She was so miserable yesterday.  I think she is starting to get used to the cone and her frustration level is coming down.  Silver is so much like me, she doesn't want anybodies help, she has to figure it out for herself.  And she is doing just that.

She was excited at dinner time, jumping around and barking with the rest of the 24 Paws and even though she hesitated for a minute whether to eat or not, she did eat all her food.

That girl has such a strong will, stronger than Brut ever had.  If she doesn't want to do something she's not going to do it.  I forgot how bull headed she can be, now I remember where her kids got their stubbornness from.

Just witnessing the after effects of Silver's recovery from the biopsy, has made both Mark and I think twice about having the tumor removed, regardless if it is cancerous or not.  Since the tumor is so large, almost running half the length of her body, we are talking about a serious incision and a extensive surgery to remove it.  Our vet already told us that they can not get a 'clean' scrape because the tumor runs down to her pelvic bone.   Which means if it is cancerous and they can't get it all, it will probably come back more aggressively. Her recovery if she survives the surgery at 13 years old, will be lengthy and slow and miserable.  That's when I have to think about quality of life.  I don't know that I could do that to her just for a little extra time and my selfish needs of not wanting to lose her.  I don't think I can do that to her...

Silver is the dog that we've had the longest out of all the dogs Mark and I have had together.  We got her at 7 weeks old and she just turned 13 this past summer.
I wish dogs could live forever!
 
Thanks for listening.  

Helluva Day So Far!

It all started Sunday night.

First there was no evening snack.

Then there were no bedtime treats

Then no breakfast...

Then next thing I know...

A trip to the V-E-T!

Where I was drugged, poked and prodded.

Finally they came to get me,

SAFE!

That is until the cone, the shirt and the leash came out.

All at once.

13 years old and a cone virgin.

Will this ever end?

Silver had her biopsy for her mammary gland tumor.

We should know the results by the end of this week.

Power of the Paw!

A little POTP for Silver

What was originally thought to be a cyst in Silver's mammary gland has turned out to be a tumor. In two months time it double or almost tripled in size.  It goes from her rib cage down to her pelvis region.

We will be scheduling her for a biopsy soon then weighing our options.

We will keep you up to date.

Please send some Power of the Paw for Silver.

Thank you!

Pssst...

We interrupt this nap for an important news break,

we will be taking a little blogging break...

Now back to your regular nap schedule.

Thankful Thursday-Thank goodness for blogging

I am so grateful that my husband talked me into blogging about the dogs.  I can't believe it has been over six years since we entered the dog blogging world and I'm so glad I did.  

I've gotten to know so many wonderful dogs and people over those six years.  I have laughed and cried as well as loved and lost so many precious dogs.  Rejoicing in new life, sending crossed paws for illnesses and just enjoying every day life together.  

I am ever so grateful for having a place to share about being dog crazy.  I never had so many friends that were just as dog crazy as me.  It is wonderful. 

And I'm so truly grateful for what blogging has given me, a record of my dog's life, especially now after losing Brut.  I wrote about happenings that I would have never had down before blogging.  Every post is priceless.  

I'll never be able to thank all of our readers who have stuck by us.  It is support and encouragement that has carried us through and post are few and far between now you are still there and we want to let you know how much we appreciate you from the bottom of our paws!

I can't believe how blogging and all of you have helped change my life. 

Thank you so much! 

God bless.

Is it Friday yet?

Warm fall and Zappa bonding

It's been so warm the trees are barely turning color.

We have been having fabulous fall weather as of lately, especially for living in Northern Lower Michigan.  Sunny skies, 60ish degrees, walking around in a sweatshirt and jeans.  Love it!!  It has been great weather to finish getting ready for winter.  A chore that never seems to end.  Hubby, Mark and I started quite early this year and yet here we still are trying to tie up all the loose ends.  It takes a lot of prep work living in a northern climate with lots of snow and cold for the winters.

Because of the wonderful temperatures and being so busy, I haven't spent as much time on the computer as usual, other than to stay up on your blogs.  I feel like I've got stories popping out my head with no time to write them down.  :)

I took Zappa to the park the other day.  I haven't been to the park with a dog in a couple of years, so we were due.  I wanted to take Zappa because we are really beginning to bond and I thought it would be special to take him first.

It was a fantastic experience!  With such beautiful weather and having the whole park to ourselves, it was the serenity I'd been searching to find.  I love everything about this park and walking its trails, it was so calming.  It is actually a sports park, with soccer and baseball diamonds, with trails that lead to state land.  I don't know what it is about this place but I would love to relocate it to my backyard.  :)

Maybe it was just the peace of walking through the trees with Zappa and Brut's spirit.  I felt Brut's presence all around us.  In the air, the trees and the sky.  I have so many good memories connected with Brut at this park, from the time he was a wee little thing.  Zappa and I walk like two little kids when we are together as we are on a strange and wonderful relationship after the loss of his dad.  Both of us living in the shadow of Brut, now we are taking on our center stage and we are doing it together.  Sometimes he gives me this look that says, "I can't believe this is happening!"  Honestly neither can I.  Zappa has always been Daddy's dog and Brut was mine.  Zappa and my love was kind of under the table.  And I'll be the first to admit that I've been more than upset with Zappa pushing Brut to the limit, egging him on to fight.  Not that Brut needed a reason to fight...and Zappa isn't no dummy.  I haven't always liked Zappa because of his behavior with Brut and his big mouth, barking about everything, but I've come to great peace about all of these things and each day we get a step closer to each other with the wonderment of a child's heart.  We are on a whole new journey of discovery and that is just awesome!