Honestly, every day that Raven still has an appetite, is not uncomfortable, and remains his perky self is a complete miracle. This mass inside his abdomen is so extensive. I don't even want to take xrays, it would probably be alarming. His belly is a bit distended and his ribcage is popped out a bit when he lays down. He has to eat several small meals and drink small amounts of water at a time. He has to pee every few hours. For weeks, I have had the routine of getting up at 2am and again at 4am to let him out to potty and feed him, he is always happy to get up to eat! He gets two kinds of antibiotics to control infection inside and some gastro meds (prilosec and metoclopromide) to keep things moving. And I have syringes of Dexamethasone (steroid) and BVitamins to give sub-q as needed, which is about every 7 days when he starts to feel a bit lethargic, and it perks him right back up again.

This is basically all hospice care, and working! We never expected him to do so well for so long. I am loving every single moment that my boy feels good and wants to continue to be with me.

Here's a video of him begging for his bone chew in the morning...he points me to where the Bone Snacks Live and waits:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twO_8GBwTTk

And just now, a siren went by on the nearby highway outside...he cannot help himself but to howl. He seems so embarassed at his lack of control afterwards. People's Court's theme music has the same effect on him. You can see Betty on the couch sort of like: "Whatever!"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKKO-3KoPG8

And here's a video of Betty with her Christmas knuckle bone. She doesn't realize I am there because I'm on her blind side and she's deaf. But when she notices, she makes her Ugly Face:



And a happy Raven with his:


He wants to take it outside to bury it in the dirt:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SX8M_Z1Pnc

Here's a video of the two of them when I arrive home from work. They both bounce for their dinner and Betty barks.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP8Z053-Mok

My Happy Boy:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc40T7ZxFR8

Thanks for looking!
Dawn



"Little Miss Betty Cuteface"
Toofie on the left, eyeball on the right.


Raven (prior to tripawd surgery) and Betty