Oz has lymphoma

[ParNone]

Hi Guys,

Been awhile since I've posted. Interference of life and all. Not sure how many people are still around that remember me and Oz, but I thought I'd post to let'em know that Oz has lymphoma. It's a very aggressive cancer, but it seems like there's a high success rate with chemo, if certain factors don't exist. We're still waiting for some test results to ascertain that, but they went ahead and gave him a first round of chemo yesterday.

I can already tell a difference in the size of the lumps and his breathing. He was just outside, barking and chasing Gull all over the yard, and wasn't panting heavily, like he has been this last week. So that seems like a good sign. I'm trying to hold onto a positive outlook at this point, so I won't be a blubbering mess. He's only 7 and a half. Way too young for me to even have to be contemplating life without him yet. I'll try and post updates as they happen.

Couple of recent pics of Oz and Gull experiencing their first snow. Quite a rare occurrence here in Southern Texas, especially in Dec.

http://nothinbuttdogs.com/OzSnow4.jpg

http://nothinbuttdogs.com/GullSnow2.jpg

http://nothinbuttdogs.com/OzSnow3.jpg

Les...

[Karen]

Awww, poor Oz, but I hope the chemo helps, I know it can work wonders. Give him a hug from me, okay? And of course we remember you!

[Freedom]

As Karen says, Of course we remember you! My heart sank reading your thread title.

Lovely pics of Gull and Oz! Prayers for Oz and for you, from us here in Rhode Island.

[ParNone]

Hi Karen, Oz is always up for a hug. He sends a nose nudge back. :)

Hey Freedom, Thanks for the prayers!

[Cataholic]

Course we remember. Really sorry to hear this about Oz. As Karen said, chemo can be the super drug of all drugs. Here's hoping it works magic on Oz.

Keep us posted.

[Karen]

Hi Karen, Oz is always up for a hug. He sends a nose nudge back. :)

Hey Freedom, Thanks for the prayers!

Hee hee - nose nudge accepted, belly rub offered in return! ;) Of all our family's dogs, Gracie the Great Dane was really the only one to nose-poke us!

[Cinder & Smoke]

*HI* back at'cha!

So sorry to hear that Oz is under the weather. :(
But the Feelin Better after the first chemo is a GOOD Sign! ;)

We'll send some PrayerPup Prayers up to The Big Guy to help things along.

Tell Oz ALL the PT Buds are rooting for a great recovery!

:love:

[K9karen]

As an *oldtimer*, I certainly remember you!
I'm so sorry that Oz is ill. I hope the chemo does the trick! He's still a good lookin' pup!!! I'll take my nose nudge please (sticks out chin) :love::love::love:

[MonicanHonda]

What gorgeous dogs. :) I hope Oz does alright with Chemo. I hope he still has many years ahead of him.

[Bonny]

Good Thoughts & Prayers sent Oz's way. There has been so much improvement in the treatments of kemo for our pets of today along with humans.

[ChrisH]

I well remember Oz and Gull, dear McMurphy too, what a character he was. :)

So sorry to read Oz is ill. The result of the chemo he has had so far look very promising though. Prayers and positive thoughts on the way for your gorgeous boy.

Please give him a big hug from me and a hug to Gull too.

[ParNone]

Hi Everybody,

Thanks for all the prayers, positive thoughts and hugs for Oz. He sends nose nudges back to all of ya:


http://nothinbuttdogs.com/OzNoseNudge3.jpg

So far so good. Only side effect is some gas that could clear a room, but if that's the worst of it, we won't be complaining.

Les...

[lizbud]

I remember you & your pups too.:) I'm sorry that Oz has to go through
this, but as you said, chemo treatments can work miracles nowadays.
Prayers that he recovers fully. Hugs to all your gang .:)

[pnance]

Sorry to hear about Oz's diagnosis but glad he seems to be handling the chemo well. Nikka has a different cancer, but did 5 rounds of chemo, so I know how stressful it is..... best to you both....

[anna_66]

I was just thinking about you guys the other day and wondering how everyone was.
Very soory to hear about Oz, but so far it sounds like good news. I'll be saying prayers for him.

(((HUGS)))
Anna

[k9krazee]

I'll definitely keep Oz in my thoughts and prayers. Such a handsome boy :love:

[Alysser]

I LOVE Oz and Gull, I remember their little "Odd couple" video and "Wicked" music video, I am so sorry to hear this is what has become of Oz. Hoping for the best for your handsome boy and you...(((Many Hugs)))

[cyber-sibes]

Of course we remember you & the whole pack! I think our pack has changed since you last saw them -- Star left us last Sept. after a long summer of declining health. Moo is our newest pack member, she joined us 2 weeks ago.
We will be keeping Oz (and you) in our prayers. It sounds like he's responding well so far, paws crossed this keeps up!

~Pat, Jack & Moo

[ParNone]

Hi ya'll

Thanks for all the well wishes. Oz had another round of chemo yesterday. He's a lil' weaker now. I had to give him a boost up into the back of my Jeep, which would be normal for athletically challenged Gull, but not for Oz. The lumps have gone down significantly since the first treatment last week, which the vet says is a good first sign, but not a guarantee of anything. They must have had a lil' trouble taking some blood. I heard him whining and now he's sporting a blue bandage. Well least blue's his color. He looks so cute in it, I took a pic fore I removed it.

http://nothinbuttdogs.com/OzBandage.jpg

Pat, I'm so sorry to hear about Star. She was a beautiful girl. I was going to say maybe she's been playing with Murph and Maddie up in Heaven. But knowing MooBoo, he's probably too busy staking his claim on every inch of Heaven to play and Maddie was a bit snooty where other dogs were concerned. Your Moo is quite the gorgeous girl too. :)

Alysser, can't believe anybody remembered those vids. Your new lil' guy is cute as a button too. :)

[bckrazy]

Oh no... Oz! :( I am so sorry to hear that you're going through this, Les. I love Oz. His sweet eyes and his adorable Collie schnozz just made me tear up.

Oz is very lucky to have the best Mom in the world, who gives him all of the love and care that he deserves. I know he'll get better! :love: *hugssss*

[ParNone]

Thanks bckrazy! Hope Fozz and Gonz are doing well.


Well I'm having Maddie deja vu with Oz being on steroids. He's gotta potty every couple of hours, so I've said goodbye to a good nites sleep for now. I went back to bed during one potty run last nite and it was over an hour before I woke up to let him back in. Lucky I don't live somewhere cold and snowy.

[wolf_Q]

I'm very sorry to hear this. :( Oz is one of my favorite PT pups, he looks like such a sweet guy. I hope everything will go well with his treatments. Love the pic of him with the blue bandage, there's just something extra special about those blue eyed dogs isn't there? ;)

[Moesha]

I hope that the chemo works well for your Oz. I have a friend that has a 3 year old Basset that was diagnosed with lymphoma a couple of months ago. Last week they got the news that Wilson was in complete remission. He still has a few more chemo treatments to go though. Keep us posted!

[ParNone]

No new news on Oz. Still no bad side effects from chemo thank goodness. Go back for next chemo treatment this Friday.

Thanks Amy! Yep there is definitely something special about the blue-eyed ones. I've never spent so much time looking into one dog's eyes as I do with Oz. The window to the soul those dog's eyes. I'd do the same with Gull, but he turns his head away, if you stare at him for too long. He must be hiding something. :)

Thanks Moesha! Success stories give me a lot of hope.

[Catty1]

That pic of Oz with the blue bandage...the look on his face with those sad and puzzled eyes and the ears turned back a bit just makes me want to hug and hug him and say "It's all right baby, mommy loves you!" :love:

What an expressive face! I am sure it has been used to his advantage before the this illness. ;)

Hopefully the chemo will keep doing its thing, and Oz will be bouncy in no time.

[Alysser]

No new news on Oz. Still no bad side effects from chemo thank goodness. Go back for next chemo treatment this Friday.

I'm glad he hasn't had any bad side effects yet, this thread is so upsetting, I wish you guys didn't have to go through this. Keep strong, Oz, we love you! :love: He looks handsome as ever in that picture, even with the bandage. :D

LOL, yeah I remember things no one else would. But I really enjoyed those, they were very cute.

[Bonny]

Oz looks handsome with his blue bandage. It is good the kemo is shrinking the tumors. Good thoughts & prayers being sent Oz's way.

[ramanth]

Oh lovely OZ! I'm so sorry he's sick. I hope the Chemo works. Fingers and paws crossed. :love: Lots of love, prayers, and healing vibes for the handsome boy. *hugs*

[KYS]

I am sadden to hear about Oz, but thankful to hear he is not suffering ill side effects. I hope he will be remission soon and have a long life ahead of him.
Hugs :love:

[anna_66]

Oh what a gorgeous picture. He's such a handsome boy. I'm very glad to hear he's not having any bad side effects. Many hugs!

[Genny]

Hee hee - nose nudge accepted, belly rub offered in return! ;) Of all our family's dogs, Gracie the Great Dane was really the only one to nose-poke us!

You had a great dane named Gracie? So did we!! What color was your great dane?


And I'm sorry to hear about Oz. I think he's very pretty. I like collies... How is he doing now?

[ParNone]

Thanks for the continued hugs and prayers ya'll...

Well not so good news today. We finally got the results of that one blood test and Oz has t-cell lymphoma. This one is more resistant to treatment over time and has lower remission rates, once it does go into remission. They started him on a new treatment so I guess we'll see.

While the back room of this vet clinic is a bit scary for him, Oz has decided the waiting room, where you get to meet and greet with other puppers and kitties, more then makes up for it. That Oz, if there was a beauty pageant for Dogs, he'd win Mr. Congeniality. :)

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear about Oz.:( I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care. (((HUGS)))

[Karen]

You had a great dane named Gracie? So did we!! What color was your great dane?

Our beloved Gracie was almost all black, shiny as can be, with a white Taj Mahal shape on her chest and white toes. She was a rescue from a stupid couple that didn't feed her good puppy food, and she had rickets when we got her, poor thing/ So whenever she did something really lunk-headed, we'd mentally blame the igjits for any brain damage she might have ended up with!

[Cookiebaker]

Oh no, not OZ!! My heart sunk so low when I read the title, and this thread makes me feel so sad. :( Keeping you in my thoughts, and pray the treatments will do their work. {{HUGS}}

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Bless his heart. Keep fighting Oz!

[ParNone]

Thanks for all the well wishes everybody. We just got back from the vet and he's doing good on the new medicine... Gaining weight, less lethargic and his blood work looked good... So all systems go for the moment. Maybe a miracle will happen and he'll have a better then average result, as far as response to the medicine and remission time.

Tiz a beautiful day here today. I may come back later and update with an Oz pic enjoying the sun.

[ParNone]

Oz enjoying the spring weather in Texas. Looks a bit more like Fall, with all the leaves falling off the trees.

http://nothinbuttdogs.com/OzSpringLeaves.jpg

Gull catching a few rays too, surrounded by a pile of springtime fall foliage.

http://nothinbuttdogs.com/GullSpringLeaves.jpg

[ParNone]

Vet visit for Oz today. His response to that new med is still good. Blood work came back fine and the lymph nodes are still normal.

He had a lil' bit of an altercation with a Boxer and then a Beagle in the waiting room. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why they were growling at him and giving him the evil eye, so he compensated by spending our time in the waiting room, draped across my lap. Apparently there's no place safer then Mom's lap.

There was the most gorgeous Blue Merle Aussie and adorable Cavvie that we saw on the way out. If I ever get my Android phone, I'll start taking pics of the dogs in the waiting room and share'em with ya'll.

[robinh]

It's good to hear that he's tolerating the treatment well, it means you've made a good choice. He is such a handsome-boy. Love to see pictures of him

But I believe the power of prayer is unbeatable. When we found out my Carly had cancer, my friends and I prayed every day for her continued good health and she outlasted what they predicted by double the time.

Robin

[ParNone]

Thanks Robin! The prayers and positive energy headed Oz's way definitely can't hurt.

Oz is still doing a-okay. Another vet appointment next Friday. I think we've got another 3 and a half months left on this treatment and hopefully the cancer is in remission by then and stays in remission.

[Karen]

We'll hope so! Oz will remain in our prayers!

[RobiLee]

I've been keeping track of this thread and following Oz's progress. I'm sending out lots of positive thoughts and prayers and I know that Oz will soon be in full remission. Your furkids have always had a special place in my heart, Les. Hang in there!

{{HUGS}}

[ParNone]

Thanks Karen!

Hi Robin! Just saw your message or would have posted back sooner. Thanks for the well wishes. Tomorrow we go in for another check up, but Oz seems to still doing good. He pees more often, but that's the worst of it so far.

How's your three doing? Love your three too. :)

[ParNone]

Welp Oz is remaining status quo on the treatment, so all's still well. Although he gained another 3 lbs. That's 11 lbs in about 3 mos. Due to the steroids, because he's not eating more then usual. At this rate, he's going to catch up with Gull, before the treatment's over.

When the Vet tech first weighed him, he didn't have his back feet on the scale. So she accused him of trying to cheat. He looked a lil' chagrined, but after he weighed in at 83lbs, she was telling him, "see, you didn't need to cheat". He looked happy again, so I didn't have the heart to tell him, he was in fact overweight. Ah well on him it looks good. :)

[bckrazy]

Yay Oz! I'm sooo glad you're feeling better. :) What a sweet boy... he deserves to meet n greet as much as his heart desires.

Is Oz really gaining weight from the steroids or from all of the yummy treats you're giving him, be honest? haha. The weight is a good thing, I think. If he isn't feeling well, it won't be a biggie if he loses a couple of pounds, which it would if he was lean.

[ParNone]

Hiya bckrazy! Well I can't swear to it :), but I'm pretty sure I'm not feeding anymore treats. He just seems to be ravenously hungry since he started on the steroids. Thought he and Gull were gonna have a dog fight over a plastic TV food tray the other day, just cuz it smelled like gravy. There wasn't a drop left on it. That's all very unlike Oz. So I'm going with the steroid excuse for now. :)

Went to the vet last Friday and everything was still status quo and he finally maintained his weight without gaining anymore. 3 more treatments and we're done. Yeah!

Saw the most gorgeous Rough Collie in the waiting room. I think he and Oz recognized they were Collie cousins, cuz it was love at first sight. Wish I had a camera to video tape the Rough bouncing up and down with his front paws like a horse cuz he wanted to play so badly with Oz.

[Karen]

Tell Oz that steroids sometimes do that. The few times I have been on prednisone I feel hungry enough to eat the whole world ... even if I have just eaten! Glad he's doing well, though!

[dukedogsmom]

I hope Oz continues to do well. Give him some lovin from me.

[ParNone]

oh wow I haven't visited this thread in awhile. Everything was going good with Oz until yesterday. I noticed that his lymph-nodes felt swollen under his neck again and his barking was really horse this morning. I have an appointment for this Friday at the vet. Thanks again for all the well wishes and prayers for him. Hopefully this won't be as bad as I think.

[lizbud]

I was hoping you were posting with some good news on Oz. It's been
a awhile since we heard about your boy. I hope Friday's appt. goes well
for Oz.:) Let us know when you can.

[cyber-sibes]

We'll be keeping our paws crossed for Oz.

[ParNone]

Thanks ya'll! I'll post tomorrow about what the doctor says.

[captain]

I too have not been on PT as much as I would like, so imagine my SHOCK when I caught up with this thread.

Hugs and kisses to Oz ........... I hope the medicine take care of him for a lot longer :)

[ParNone]

Saw the vet this morning. News is very bad. Oz has only 2 wks - 5 mos to live. Didn't want to leave everybody hanging, but probably won't be back to talk about this right away.

[shais_mom]

I'm so sorry to hear this.
They are so gorgeous!
((hugs))

[RobiLee]

I am so deeply saddened by this news. My heart aches for you. {{{HUGS}}}

[lizbud]

Saw the vet this morning. News is very bad. Oz has only 2 wks - 5 mos to live. Didn't want to leave everybody hanging, but probably won't be back to talk about this right away.


Awww, I am so very sorry.:(:( (((Hugs)) for you & Oz.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear this.:( I'll continue to keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care. (((HUGS)))

[Catty1]

Oh no...I am so so sorry! Hugs and prayers going out to you and your precious Oz. :love::love::love:

[captain]

My thoughts are with you. BIG HUGE hugs and love to you and Oz.

Michelle

[Cincy'sMom]

Although I haven't posted I hav been following this thread. So sorry to hear the bad news :( Thoughts and prayers for Oz and the your whole family.

[robinh]

I am so sorry to hear this news. My prayers are with you both.

[K9karen]

Oh my God, I'm SO sorry about the sad news. How heartbreaking. :(:(

[ramanth]

I'm so sorry the news isn't better. :( *HUGS*

[Cataholic]

This hits too close to home for me. I hope you and Oz are enjoying the time together, no matter its lenght.

[Karen]

Saw the vet this morning. News is very bad. Oz has only 2 wks - 5 mos to live. Didn't want to leave everybody hanging, but probably won't be back to talk about this right away.

Par, you give that boy of yours a good hug from me, okay? Every day is now to be treasured, and I hope all his days are good for as long as he is with you. Praying for Oz to prove them wrong, and for comfort for him in any case.

[dukedogsmom]

I am so very sorry. Things like this can tear our hearts apart. Make sure you give Oz some hugs from me.