the equivalent of 200 walks in just one night!!!

This post was written by Charlie's friend and sister, Sophie Mitchell.

It’s almost time for what my family call Christmas, and my family have been trying to get me into the spirit by dressing me into this silly red hat and scarf!! I don’t know what “Christmas” is or why it’s suddenly happening but if you could please tell my family that I don’t want to celebrate it by wearing stuff which makes me look weird I’d be very grateful!!!

However, the upside to Christmas is that I’m apparently getting loads of presents in the form of new toys to chew and perhaps even some extra tasty treats! I’ve also been partying nice and hard - the party don't start till I get there!!  As you can predict, my head’s been a bit sore lately!!

I look like the weird big dude in the red suit that everybody gets all excited about! Will this make me more popular with the kids in particular?  Apparently he travels with presents and a reindeer, so I have my work cut out!!  I have to get to all the houses in one night so that all the children love me! That’s the equivalent to 200 walks in just one night!!!  I’d have to sleep for the rest of the week just to be loved by kids!!

I have my old friend Sophie visiting who I’ve missed so much, she arrived last night and is always giving me loads of cuddles and walkies so she makes me very happy indeed!!!  But she’s toughened up on me and is being a lot sterner which has made me sad as it means no more extra treats from the dinner table for me!! 

I’m doing extremely well and other than a funny hair cut around my tail (which is very embarrassing, if I may say so myself!!!) I’m completely back to normal and just as bonkers! Sophie is amazed at my progress as are Mummy and Daddy!  I still love my walks just as much but can get a bit naughty sometimes! I tried to attack a dog called “Boss” today (Serves him right, there’s only one boss here and that’s me!!)

Chemo or no chemo, that's the question

It’s been a while, almost 3 weeks since my operation. I had 2 medical check-ups and lots of fingers up my arse but mum promissed me that is all over now. Both examinations I passed with flying colours. I eat well, I drink well, I wee well, I poo well. I stopped taking medication and I am back on normal food. The scar has healed well. I look a bit like a poodle but my hair is growing back now. The doctors were happy and so are mum and dad.

There’s one more pending thing: the cancer will come back, which leaves us with the question: chemo or not? Mum and dad are not sure what to do with it. 

First of all, they do not give as much chemo to dogs as they do to humans, so the results are questionable. The difference between chemo or no chemo is relatively small.

Secondly, it is quite intensive. I would need a baxter drip every 3 to 4 weeks for 4 to 5 months. There is chemo with pills as well, which mum and dad could do at home, but then I need to go to the hospital to have my white blood cells checked regularly, because the chemo also attacks those, and I need white blood cells to stay healthy.

The side effects of chemo are apparently relatively minor. I could get diarrhoea, I could vomit or lose appetite (Who, me? Never!) They can give more medication to get rid of the side effects.

And thirdly, there is the cost. The drip methods cost 1.500 to 3.000 EUR. The pills will be less. Mum doesn’t know how much yet. She’s waiting for the doctor to find out. None of these medications can be purchased in Belgium so they don’t really know.

So, mum and dad are still in limbo. Chemo would be intensive, costly but could stretch my life (possibly only) a bit.

No chemo would be no hassle, no side effects and more money to buy dog chews.

Mum and dad are inclined not to do the chemo, at least not the drips, but to make my remaining time as pleasant as possible. If the cancer comes back, a second operation is always possible and will be less expensive.

What would you do if I were your dog and if the pill method was affordable?

I’m gonna live forever!

Today Mum and Dad picked me up from the hospital. I thought they’d forgotten about me. Apparently not! I went completely bananas when I saw them.

My doctor said he was amazed at how well I was doing after such a difficult operation. I eat well, I drink well, I sleep well (well duh!), I wee well, I poo well! Mum and Dad thought they’d 

have to carry me into the house. Not!!!!  I can walk, I can run, I can jump, I can sit, I can lie.

It’s just the lampshade. Yeah yeah, very funny, the IKEA joke. The lampshade is quite annoying but I have to wear it for 2 weeks. It’s got something to do with that guy called Willy again. Apparently he’s still around but the doctor said it was not that bad.

And this is the best news: remember there was one more factor determining how much time I’ve got left? The hypercalcemia???? (If you can’t remember, read the first post of my blog). Tadaaaaa: it is gone! The hypercalcemia is gone!!! I am gonna live forever!!!!

I am still very groggy though. I have to take a lot of medication. So I am gonna leave you for now and take a nap.

Next week I have a check-up with the vet in Antwerp and 2 weeks from now, I see my surgeon again. He’s good. 

He believed in me when everyone else thought I was finished! Apart from Mum and Dad. Mum and Dad never believed I was finished…

I also have to see the chemo guy. Don’t know what that’s gonna be like but if it makes me better, then I’m in!

I’m off for a big snooze now… catch you later guys!

Nothing beats the smell of a wet dog

On Saturday Mummy received a phone call from the hospital to let her know that I was doing really well. If I continue like this, I can come home soon. Mum and Dad didn’t visit me because they were afraid I’d get all excited and that’s exactly what I don’t need right now.

Dad is taking himself out every day. He’s old enough now, he doesn’t really need me to take him out anymore. But I do love walking together with him.

Mum prepared the house for my return, to give me a warm welcome. That usually means that she’ll be cleaning like a mad woman. Ever since I was born, she’s been following me with spray bottles. She doesn’t understand that I hate the house all spic and span.

Now I know that the last days before my operation, I weed in the house and threw up a couple of times. And I also know that’s not on, but in these circumstances I really couldn’t help it. Mum agreed with me that that was not my fault.

Anyway, that still doesn’t mean that coming back to a spic-and-span house is my idea of a warm welcome. In my opinion, a warm and welcome house smells of me, preferably wet. Nothing beats the smell of a wet dog.

I try to spread my smell as widely as I can. I love sleeping on the bed but I’m not allowed to. Normally the bedroom door is closed. One day however, Mum and Dad forgot to close the bedroom door and left the house without me. I grabbed that opportunity. I slept on the bed all afternoon. I loved it! When I heard the key in the front door, I jumped up and left the bedroom, closed the bedroom door (yeah, aha!) and ran to my own bed as quickly as I could, pretending to be fast asleep. I didn’t have enough time to do something about my bum imprint on the sheets but I don’t think they noticed!

Today, the hospital called to say that they wanted to keep me a bit longer because apparently something happened to my willy during my operation and it refuses to go back inside. I don’t know who Willy is and what that’s got to do with me but if you know him, could you kindly ask him to go back inside? 

Any day longer in the hospital is a day less at home…

Why we go the extra mile

The boy is slowly pulling through. The operation went very well. In fact, better than expected.

3 surgeons and 4 hours! 2 tumors and 4 lymph nodes were removed. One of the nodes was the size of an orange. There were no complications. 

Charlie is awake and his vitals are steady. He stays in the intensive care unit until tomorrow. With a bit of luck, he can come home on Sunday and his recovery can start.

If you are wondering why we go the extra mile for the boy, take a look at this video.

Admit it! You all watched it more than once! I don’t blame you. Who wouldn’t want to see this positive energy, enthusiasm and joy of living again and again and again…

Thank you Kurt Broucke for sending us this video yesterday.

I know how to open pedal bins, you know

I am hungry. I knew I wasn’t allowed to eat today (apart from pumpkin soup) but it is hard. Now normally, I can find food on the street. “Scavenger” is my middle name by merit! But today, Mum and Dad were so clever! I couldn’t find a thing. And if I did, they pulled me away from it.

But when scavenging doesn’t help, I know what usually does: “the hungry puppy look”! Now I don’t mean to brag but I happen to be very good at “the hungry puppy look”.  Not today, Mum and Dad were ruthless….

I thought I’d wait for the night and sniff around in the house. I know how to open pedal bins, you know! I once stole a whole chicken carcass from the bin AND got away with it! Mum thought it was our Nigerian maid. I was quite proud of that.

Unfortunately, today they have taken their precautions…The bin is empty and the dog food is gone. So pumpkin soup is all I’m getting… Mum said my food bowl was never any cleaner. Where is grandad? Grandad is great! When he cooks, he lets me do the dishes! I love grandad. Mummy promised me a big kettle of pumpkin soup and a juicy beef bone when I am better.

My medical report arrived today. There’s a lot of medical bladibla but the prognosis is “relatively favourable”.  Mum also found out that I have fleas! WTF???? 

I have to go to the university hospital to find out I have fleas? Mum, please, I am willing to fight this cancer together, but fleas???? Really?? Who’s responsible for that? Mum usually treats me every month, but this time she kinda forgot. I usually get a treat after tick and flea treatment. I give Mum the “this-treatment-is-so-painful-I-think-I’m-gonna-die look”. It doesn’t really hurt but Mum seems to fall for it. And she always gives me the “you’ve-been-such-a-good-boy treat”. Not today … It didn’t help today.

I will have a big scar on my tummy tomorrow. Mummy doesn’t mind. She said she’s full of scars and Dad still thinks she’s pretty. For now, I’ll just remember the words “relatively favourable”.

There’s one more thing that can go wrong tomorrow. It doesn’t happen very often but sometimes it does. Sometimes the infected nodes cling onto the nearby veins. It is called “infiltrative growth”. If that happens, the doctor won’t be able to remove them. 

I don’t really know how bad that is, but it won’t be good. If that happens, will you give Mum and Dad a big hug from me and promise you will always remember me with a big smile on your face.

Pumpkin soup and walks in the park

I am Charlie and I have cancer. I don’t really know what that means but I do know that it comes with lots of walkies and pumpkin soup. I love walkies. And I never get pumpkin soup!

Apparently my medical adventure is going to cost some money. But Mum and Dad love me very much, and the doctor thought he could patch me up, so they are prepared to go for it. In return I decided to give Mum and Dad a bit of help with their renovations.

I wanted it to be a surprise so I waited till they had gone to bed and then I started. 

I would normally never chew on anything, you have to believe that. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

I started by chewing up the carpet and the door mat. I carefully tore them up in small pieces. All Mum had to do in the morning was put them in the bin. I think she was quite pleased with that!

Then I had a good go at stripping the paint off the door. That was tough. It wouldn’t come off easily but I kept going! Whatever I can get off, they won’t have to do anymore.

Then I tried to pull the door frames off the wall. That wasn’t easy either. I think we’ll need to call in the builders for that. I’ll have to discuss with Mum and Dad.

Mum and Dad’s reaction to my work was a bit funny. Maybe it was the wee that I did in the house. I am so thirsty with this cancer. I had a lot to drink. Or maybe they had expected a bit more from me but I did work all night. I mean ALL NIGHT. I was knackered! There’s only so much one can do in a night.

Anyway, that was yesterday.

Today, I had a very nice day. Lots of walks in the park. I even got to swim. I was allowed off the lead and I ran around like there is no tomorrow. I have to bear in mind now that there might not be another tomorrow.

I am on a special diet for a while because I am very, very constipated. Apparently that’s also the cancer. 

Tomorrow, I am not allowed to eat at all, apart from pumpkin soup. Don't know how that's gonna go, but I luuurrrvvv pumpkin soup. So fine by me!

On Friday, Mum is driving me to the hospital in Ghent at 8 AM. The hospital people are so nice. They cuddle A LOT. Mummy promised me they’d fix me… and I believe her.

I am Charlie and I have cancer

Hi everyone. This is Karine speaking, Charlie's mum. I am writing this blog to keep you posted of course, but mainly to ventilate my own frustrations and deal with my emotions. Most of you know how fond I am of Charlie and how much I'll miss him. I don't need to be reminded of the fact that he is just a dog. If you think this blog is sad: fair enough, don't read it ! If you feel the need to remind me of that, you'll be the one that's sad, not me.

The medical update is this: Charlie has a tumor on the anal glands. There is no metastasis in the lungs or liver, which is good. The cancer has spread to the first nodes but not any further.  He is very playful and cuddly. He has no pain.

On Friday, they will remove the tumor as well as all infected first nodes. They will have to cut an opening through his pelvis. It will be heavy on the boy. He will stay in the hospital for the weekend. Depending on which type of cancer it is, there will be chemo or not. Don't panic yet. With humans, they give enough chemo to destroy the cancer. With animals they give as much chemo as the animal can take. The reasoning behind this is that the animal itself cannot agree to chemo. So Charlie won't be sick, but the chemo might not be strong enough to kill the cancer either. We'll wait and see.

His life expectancy is 1 to 3 years depending on 3 factors: (1) metastasis in the lungs (negative); (2) tumor bigger than 10 cm³ (negative) and (3) continuing hypercalcemia after the operation (to be determined). So hopefully, Charlie and us will have some good years ahead.

I will write updates when I feel like it, with pictures if you like.

I will write the blog from Charlie's point of view. just to keep it witty. I know he touched the lives of many of you. Hopefully, it will be a long and boring blog.

Karine