Author: Denise Hull

Today we celebrate week one of bring Ellie the Great home from her amputation…well at least to the hotel near the hospital as did not want to make the long trip home until I was sure she was stable.

The week has been filled with timely medications, trying new diets, short walks in the yard (no sling needed), cold/warm compresses on the incision, and REST!!!  At least for Ellie we TRIED to rest.

All seemed good until about 2 nights ago…she seemed to get very anxious at night.  As a nurse, kept trying to think of why this might happen.  The quiet of the evening no longer a distraction from pain was most likely.  So, took to giving her trazadone at night along with her gabapentin to let her rest…seemed to work.

This morning, though, she did not want to eat after taking her meds.  This worried me as one of the morning meds is carpovet and needs to be taken with food.  Her temperature was at 102.4; high end of normal.  Sent an email to and called the vet hospital in Virginia, as well as sending pictures of her incision (which looked pretty good).  Made an appointment with her local vet, too.

Virginia got back to me and thought things looked good.  Was okay with me going to the local vet.  Glad I kept the latter appointment as Dr. Dan put my mind at ease.  Felt the incision looked good and that we were doing everything we could for her…KEEP IT UP!!!

Boiled her some liver for dinner.  That did the trick.  She not only ate the liver but also her snack from earlier in the day!!!  We reserved the liver water to put over her other food.  Figured if the liver water is good for ailing puppies it would be good for her.

I guess the week ended not so badly…actually it ended great as our Ellie was here another week!!!

Ellie and I, mom Denise, started that long trip home from Virginia mid-morning on 3/12/21.  She was walking on her own power, but still wearing the brace with which I could help if needed.  How I lifted Ellie into the van, I will never know.  Just where there is a will there is a way.

Ellie got very anxious at the start of the ride.  Not a surprise.  Every time she had been in the car the last 3 days it had ended with her being poked and prodded…and losing a leg.  A little trazadone quieted her down and the 12 hour trek (normally about 8 1/2 hours) began.  We stopped twice to get her out of the car to walk, take pills, and ice her incision (still had not seen it as left the dressing on for the ride).  She loved the hamburgers I gave her with her meds and stayed calm when icing the incision.

We finally arrived home at 10:30 p.m.  Everyone was up and waiting…dad, Charlie, daughter, Lauren, and son, Lucas.  She did not recognize dad at first and growled at him.  But, almost immediately recognized Lauren and wagged her tail for the first time!!!  Our small enclosure in the front yard was just enough for her to walk around and relieve herself (no poops yet and I was a bit worried).  Then she climbed the few stairs to her new room and the hugs and kisses of everyone.

I finally took the dressing off her incision.  It did not look as bad as I expected.  And, for some unknown reason, I was not as upset as I expected.  Just so hopeful that this will make her life better.

Ellie was up at 5 for a walk outside (she finally pooped!!!) and her medications.  Then we both fell back to sleep until after 10…we NEVER sleep that late.  She is able to negotiate the few steps on the porch and to bark again.  Most of the day, though, was spent sleeping.

Post-op instructions included no playing with others…basic solitude for 2 weeks.  A bit tough as we have other dogs and chores.  But, Ellie became very anxious and pulled computer equipment down when left alone…the first anxiety I had seen since returning home.  No more alone time for Ellie!!!  She also is trying to lick her incision…e-collar at all times when someone is not with her.

But, all in all, given what she has gone through she is doing well and I am so proud of her!!!

For information on the study in which Ellie is involved, you can look here:

http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/clinical-trials/current-studies/histotripsy-osteo.asp

You can find other trials at:

https://ebusiness.avma.org/aahsd/study_search.aspx

There are also new vaccine trials that pharmaceutical companies may be doing…those you can find through a web search.

Next up…pathology reports due end of this week, follow-up visit in Virginia on 3/26, and oncology consult on 4/1…and each one just a testament to one more day with us!!!

 

February 18, 2021, a date I dreaded.  The date we got the word that our beautiful Great Pyrenees, Ellie, just 7 1/2 years old, was given a diagnosis of probable osteosarcoma of the left distal tibia.  The day when a new journey began and we would learn how great Ellie could be.

Our lifetime journey actually began, though, on the evening of August 6, 2013…the date of Ellie’s birth.  We are a small show kennel and Ellie’s mom, Luna, was gifting us with our first homebred litter.  Ellie was the 6th of 9 siblings, the first and smallest of 3 girls, all but one of which were born not only in our home but on our bed!!!  Ellie was nicknamed “Jitter” as she was the active puppy.

Luckily, Ellie turned out to be the best of the lot for “show” purposes as she, early on, chose my daughter as her person.  My daughter, Lauren, and Ellie, Ch Chadensall Acres the Book Thief, had great fun in the show ring.  The won several Best Junior Handler awards, including Lauren’s 5th Best Junior Award at the Great Pyrenees Club of America’s National Specialty show in 2016.  That same year Ellie became our first homebred champion and defeated 2 National Specialty winners in the process.  But, I think my favorite memory of Ellie’s show career was in the Owner Handler Best in Show ring in Wheatland, Ill, in 2016…she came trotting around the ring with this huge smile on her face…thoroughly enjoying herself and the attention she was getting on her way to winning Owner Handled Reserve Best in Show.

In December 2016 Ellie delivered 13 beautiful puppies.  She became ill after the babies were born, but battled back and all survived.  Ellie can boast of 2 grand champion children and a Canadian National Champion…Ellie also has 25 grandchildren!!!

Through all of her challenges and adventures, Ellie’s favorite activity seemed to be playing the role of house dog and companion.  She loves to cuddle on the couch, tear through the yard, and bark at the window.  All things that I noticed had started to change over the month prior to diagnosis.  Since Ellie’s mother had died of throat cancer and an uncle had died of a brain tumor, both around the age of 8 years old, I was worried that something might happen to her.  So I did take note when she began cuddling more, running a bit less, and barking as much but not jumping to it as quickly.  Was hoping it was just age.

But, on Saturday, 2/6/21, she started limping.  I noted a swelling above her left hock.  We took her to the vet’s on Monday 2/8/21.  He thought Ellie had lyme disease.  I asked about a tumor, but the vet felt it very low on his differential.  Blood work was done and Ellie was put on antibiotics.  The blood work came back normal and negative for lyme disease.  Next was the xray on 2/18/21.  I knew before I even saw the vet’s face.

What next???  An acquaintances’ girl had gotten into a new treatment trial.  So, I started investigating, hoping we could find something that might help Ellie live longer and better.  Also touched base with an oncologist and got a surgical consult while waiting to hear from the trials.  Luckily, her chest xray was negative for metastasis.  The surgeon was hopeful that if we chose amputation Ellie would do well.

At the same time, we heard from the trial in Virginia.  We brought Ellie down for the consult and she was accepted into the trial.  The trial has two parts:  an ultrasound treatment called histotripsy followed by limb amputation.  Soft tissue tumors in humans have been treated with Histotripsy.  Now hoping it will translate to treatment for bone tumors in animals and people.  The histotripsy ultrasound basically liquifies the tumor and, hopefully, stimulates the immune system to kill the cancer cells.  The hope is that this will present a limb sparring treatment in the future.  However, the dogs in the trial are required to undergo amputation.

Which brings us to today…Ellie had her amputation yesterday, 3/10/21…another day that changed us all and presented her 3rd great challenge.  She is doing well…but the journey has just begun.  We have chemotherapy to undergo and follow-up appointments once over the hump of surgery itself.  Praying our girl will handle this challenge in the manner she has handled all others and comes out on top.  More to come!!!

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