About Gaby and the beginning of her treatment for Lymphoma

March 5, 2008

Gaby is a 10 year old Golden Retriever who has always been in generally good health prior to her chemotherapy treatments. Dr. Bowden our vet has a 12 week protocol for chemotherapy that involves Elspar, Vincristine, Cyclosphosamide and Doxorubicin.

Gaby got home on March 5, 2008 after her first visit to the vets to start her chemo treatment for lyphoma. She had the following drugs:

IV Cath
Benadryl Injection
Elspar 10,000 IU Vial
Vincristine 1MG

After getting home from her first treatments she used the bathroom normally, drank normally. She was dosed with 20MG of Prednisone the next morning. She seemed in a good mood and played with us in the yard. She went for walks outside. Her stool was normal and not running like some have reported. She seemed to have a good appetite.

The Elspar is one of the big gun drugs of chemotherapy. She gets one more dose and then gets just the Vincristine for 3 weeks until the Dox. We are worried about the dox because it is said to have a cumulative affect on the dog’s heart.

My wife did not agree but to me she just seemed different. Maybe it was my paranoia but the life behind her eyes are different. They don’t seem to have the same sparkle as even 2 weeks ago.

Gaby has turned to an old dog right in front of my eyes.