It has almost been three weeks since we first bought our Hazel home after her right front leg amputation due to an osteosarcoma tumor.
All I can really say is….WOW!
Dogs are truly amazing creatures in every way. Every minute, hour, day we noticed Hazel getting more comfortable with moving around on 3 legs. She has over come obstacles we thought were mile stones, and not to mention how fast her body is healing from quite the incision.
During this emotional roller coaster ride for our baby girl she has made us 100% sure that she will be able to be her playful, stubborn self after what she has gone through. From not allowing her to play fetch, or run while she had her tumor to not thinking she ever would be able to, to at last playing small amounts of her favorite game with her just so she can prove to herself that she STILL can.
It was difficult to keep Hazel on bed rest in order to heal that first week and a half as we noticed she was becoming depressed. We know that it could have been due to the medication she was on that was making her feel sedated, and the fact that she just had a major surgery and was just pooped from it all, but it was bothering us to the point where we had to think about what Hazel loves to do. That’s it, Hazel needs to go outside and outside Hazel went.
Hazel loves nothing but to be outside in her big yard, chomping on a new tennis ball. This we knew would cheer her right up, and it did. After a little bit of playing with some dog toys in the house, seeing her pounce at her human dad we knew she was on the right track to being herself again.
We found that putting a shirt on her worked best than the cone.
Hazel lounging with her brother Brady.
It has been 5 days since Hazel’s first chemo treatment. If you guys did not know we enrolled Hazel into a chemotherapy clinical study at Tufts University in Mass. This study is to try a new combination of chemotherapy drugs that could potentially help people/children with an osteo cancer and other animals. Hazel is given a common chemo drug for 5 session with three weeks in between and then may or may not be chosen for the clinical trial drug.
Hazel is responding to her first treatment quite well. She has had no nausea and no change in appetite. She hasn’t showed any signs of being lethargic either. Hazel will have her second session the day before Thanksgiving with some blood drawing in between.
At this point I can say that we did the best thing we could for Hazel and her situation no matter how much stress and heart ache it caused us. There is nothing like seeing your dog recovery so quickly back to her old self wanting to play and being able to run again!
I apologize for not keeping up with the blog as often as I wished I could!
Life has been very busy these days! Until next time fellow Tripods!!
Love Hazel and Fam <3
Omd she is beautiful, what a trooper! She’s showing her papa that she is finally feeling better. Watching her play ball like that just warms my heart and makes my eyes fill up with happy tears. Wishing you all the best.
Jackie, David, and Huckleberry
I’m glad Hazel is recovering well!
Hazel is looking and doing great. I’m glad she could do the trial. We are in Texas, Bailey’s vet school is involved in a trial, also. We were sad Bailey’s liver count prohibited her from participating. Hopefully, a new drug will be found to kick osteosarcoma! Thanks for letting her be a part of research.
Super DUPER hoppy to hear Hazel is doing so well! And she gets to be in the trial too? BAM! Look out cancer, here comes Hazel!
Keep us posted, we’re cheering you on 🙂