Re: [PyrNet-L] CHAT, HEALTH: Clondike Aces Tests

[Joy Mccarron <joym@monmouth.com>]

HOORAY for Clondike and please make sure she doesn't read any of the info on
Chemo!!  Glad she is doing so well.          Joy and Maggie
----- Original Message -----
From: David P Kintsfather Jr <kintsfat@kutztown.edu>
To: Great Pyrenees Discussion List <PYR-L@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Cc: <endlesslove@egroups.com>; <pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org>;
<LGD-L@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sent: Friday, September 10, 1999 12:00 AM
Subject: [PyrNet-L] CHAT, HEALTH: Clondike Aces Tests


> Clondike is an 11 year 10 month-old Pyr bitch who has been receiving
> chemotherapy for 15 months for lymphoma.  She is currently 15 weeks into
> remission #3 and today the oncologist confirmed that she is still in full
> remission.
>
> Clondike has had quite a week of tests, and she must have studied.
> Tuesday night we saw our regular vet and Clondike had blood drawn for a
> CBC and chem panel.  We also took in 2 urine samples, first of the day
> and a fresh one.
>
> Over the past 6 weeks Clondike has had a number of urine tests (beginning
> with a urinary tract infection) and the specific gravity of her urine has
> been low (1.012 at the lowest).  This can be a sign that the kidneys have
> lost the ability to concentrate the urine, or it can mean the the dog has
> "decided to flush itself" as the oncologist put it.
>
> We did kidney function blood tests 3 weeks ago and they were in the normal
> range, but at the high end of normal.  The creatinine especially was 1.66
> (1.68 is the top end of normal) which is the highest it has been since she
> began chemo.  We have monitored this because at age 6 she had elevated
> creatinine and we managed to bring it down by reducing the protein in her
> diet.
>
> By further reducing her protein intake (substituting brussels sprouts for
> the beef we had been adding to her Nutro lamb and rice) we managed to
> bring the creatinine down to 1.44 and every other number on the chem panel
> was smack in the middle of the normal range!!  Even better, the specific
> gravity of the urine is up to 1.025 when anything over 1.02 is considered
> OK.
>
> Her CBC would be considered wildly abnormal in a young, health dog, but
> for an elderly dog with cancer treated with chemo, it was considered very
> good.  The oncologist today even said "these are very good values."
>
> Clondike is also maintaining her status as a real character.  Tuesday
> night was a zoo at the vets (the day after a holiday always is) and we
> were in the waiting room with 2 Labs, a young one with itchy skin and a 9
> year-old who had been vomiting for 2 days.  The receptionist finally got a
> minute to come greet Clondike and she tried to explain that she couldn't
> give Clondike a treat because it wouldn't be fair to the sick dog who
> couldn't have one.
>
> Clondike started doing her ear gestures (one forward, one back) and giving
> her the "look."  The receptionist finally told the owner of the sick Lab
> to put a hand over his eyes and then she gave both Clondike and the young
> Lab several dog treats.  I really think Clondike had her hypnotized!
>
> Today I learned something about the oncologist I wouldn't have guessed in
> a million years--she is superstitious!  I mentioned that it looks like
> Clondike is going to extend this remission (#3) to last longer than her
> first remission.  The oncologist said "don't talk about it."
>
> Well, I'm superstitious too, and with remissions #1 and #2 we didn't know
> what to expect, so we didn't count weeks and note milestones.  This time
> we have and Clondike just keeps doing OK--so I'm going to keep talking
> about it :).  In any case, Clondike would never conform to someone else's
> superstitions.  Maybe she'll manage a cure just to confound Dr. Jeglum.
>
> In any case, Clondike hasn't read the literature on chemotherapy which
> would suggest that each remission ought to get shorter, so she just keeps
> bounding along, doing her doggy thing, totally unaware that anything is
> unusual.  There are a lot more interesting smells to sniff and sprouts
> to eat, so we hope she will continue for a long time.
>
> David (for Nancy and Clondike who have very sensibly gone to sleep)
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
>  David Kintsfather              | PHONE:       (610) 683-4497
>  Dept. of Telecommunications    | FAX:         (610) 683-4659
>  Kutztown University            | INTERNET:    kintsfat@kutztown.edu
>  PO Box 730                     |   "We need not think alike to love
alike."
>  Kutztown, PA  19530-0730       |                Francis David
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
>
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