Fun at agility, CBC & plans for chemo

The last few weeks have been great for Trapper--I spent a day working at home, so Trapper got to hang out with me on the couch :) Plus, we had 2 super fun days playing agility together!!

Cozy little pup

Oh, Trapper, you're such a good boy!

Someone is ALL LEGS!! He's so funny when he folds himself up like this!

My awesome friend, Janelle, ordered me a gluten free PACH cake. It was delicious, and Trapper even got a little bite :)

At the PPAC agility trial, there was a celebration of old dogs hosted by Trapper's agility instructor and her dog--it was so cool to take time to give thanks for our old dogs who ROCK!! We are so thankful to still have them with us, and I'm double thankful to still be playing agility with Trapper.

Trapper waiting patiently for his piece of cake :)

This is a photo from one of the two agility trials we entered--we were 4 for 4 and had a great time!!
Love seeing Trap sail over the triple jump!

Dog walk!! 

My most awesome boy--2 2nd places.

On April 30, Trapper has a final, high dose chemo treatment, and then stays in remission for a long, long, long, long time. That's our plan!! It will be really tough on him, though--his platelets will be wiped out, and he'll spend 24-36 hours in the hospital. After he gets out, he'll have to avoid physical activity, as he can't risk being hurt. They checked his blood yesterday in preparation, and his values were "beautiful". Just one more thing to be thankful for!! I am anxious about the treatment, though. Given his underlying autoimmune disease, wiping out his platelets is kind of scary..... but, I know he'll be in good hands, and should bounce right back in true Trapper style!!

Give your pups a hug........

Completion of the Wisconsin-Madison Protocol, hiking, and more

Huge celebration today--Trapper completed Week 25 of the Wisconsin-Madison Protocol!! Since my last update, he had a Cytoxan treatment on March 5, a Vincristine treatment on March 19, and today, April 2, was his final Adriamycin treatment. I am so, so, so thankful for the vets, nurses, office managers, and everyone else at Southern Colorado Veterinary Internal Medicine for taking such good care of my Trapper boy! He even received "graduation" presents today when he finished his chemo protocol! :)

Trapper with his "I Am Loved At Southern Colorado Veterinary Internal Medicine" bandana,
his squeaky toy and peanut butter sandwich creme cookies--WOW!

Here's Trapper right after I picked him up from treatment--doesn't he look happy
to be finished with this chemo protocol??

I wuv my squirrel....

After shaving my head for St Baldrick's Day (and to raise money to find a cure for childhood cancer), I couldn't resist taking a couple of pictures with my favorite canine cancer patient!!

                   

Over the weekend, we went for an hour+ long hike, and Trapper had a blast, including scrambling over lots of rocks. He never ceases to amaze me with his energy and zest for life, even at 12 years old and after 6 months of chemo!!

Me and my mountain goat :)

So, what's next? Well, in the immediate future, Trapper has agility trials this Saturday and next Saturday. I'm super excited about it--after earning his Championship title and doing so great at Nationals, all the pressure is off, so we just get to go do what we love most--play agility together!!

We've also decided to do a final, high-dose Cytoxan treatment in a month. It's a really intense treatment, and though it's not a standard next step, initial indications are that it may significantly increase Trapper's  remission and survival time. He will have to take a couple of weeks off from agility after the treatment, so we'll enjoy the next few weeks of agility even more!

Every day is a gift.........