Emma's Solo Vaca

I love the porch.

It’s March in the Keys.  As most of you know, we spend February and March in the Lower Keys whenever we can.  Wayne and I and Emma are still healing from our loss of Kiowa in January to nasal cancer.  We have often remembered his funny ways while here, and it has helped us cope with his loss.  

Choosing a toy

Emma has gone through changes as have we.  We’ve always been a two (sometimes three) greyhound household, so we feel the empty space left by our sweet boy.  Emma has had to mourn the loss of her friend, travel with us to Florida, and inhabit a new house upon arrival.  She was a bit skittish the first day or so but started to mellow out when she realized we’d be here for a while.

Pup Crawl fun

We’re in a different place this year in Cudjoe Key.  It’s a two bedroom, two bath stilt house on a canal.  It has a wonderful and large screened-in porch upstairs.  Although there is no fence around the property, Emma loves the upstairs porch and often is found out there soaking up the warmth.  She likes the fact that we are forced to take her out for walks.  She gets lonely when we can’t take her places, so I made a big effort this year to research dog friendly spots.

Emma has been privy to all that Key West has to offer.  Since it’s only about a half hour away, we go there often.  When we walk about town, we always stop in Fat Tuesdays, a frozen daiquiri bar, to get liquid refreshments.  She, of course, garners a following of humans who miss their own dogs and want to love on Emma.  She approves.  

One of our first doggie jaunts this year was a Pup Crawl (not a pub crawl for you people who think I misspelled the word).  It was a PUP CRAWL put on by the Key West SPCA, and it encompassed visiting six drinking establishments that were all doggie friendly.  At each pub, a different event for dogs and humans was held such as pick a dog toy, a dog-human look-alike contest, or a splash in the puppy pool, etc.   During our crawl, we met a couple with an Italian Greyhound in their arms.  She and Emma got along famously.  After a full day of pup crawling and meeting new doggie friends, we decided to go to dinner at Blue Heaven, a tropic, eclectic outside bar and restaurant.  We were led up to an open, airy porch where Emma promptly collapsed into her sleep pose and closed her eyes.  She remained that way even when a fellow diner stepped over her to his chair.  I think we wore her out.

Watching the conch blowing

A weekly happening for us here is the Thursday Bocce party.  It’s a free wheeling fun time where everyone brings something to share and, of course, we play bocce.  Dogs were in attendance so I asked our hostess if Emma could come.  Emma loved bocce.  She even tried to follow me on the court (maybe to play), but dogs can’t grip the bocce ball.  She again became the belle of the ball and tried not to make a fuss about her popularity like some celebrities do.

Conch blowers

Last Saturday, we journeyed to Key West to go to a Conch Blowing Contest.  (A

What??)  Yes, you read right.  Emma enjoyed the conch blowing people in all their craziness.  It presented a different and fun side of KW.  After which, we moseyed to an Art and Music Festival at the Wharf.  Again, Emma was a star.  Dinner at a pet friendly restaurant was next where she collapsed into sleep, unfortunately using the area where people had to walk.  (You know these greys think they can sprawl anywhere.)  She felt disturbed when we moved her to a better location.

It is possible that we are making our Emma a little monster.  She is quite used to us taking her with us and when we cannot, she has a little tantrum.  Nothing destructive, but for example, when we leave, I always tell her to guard the house - (FAT CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING), and I give her a treat.  Lately, when I do that, she refuses to take it, even when it’s a favorite.  (“You eat it, Mom. I’ll show you I don’t like you leaving me.”) Unfortunately, we must leave her home occasionally, and she needs to understand that.

Relaxing at No Name

One of our last adventures took us to the No Name Pub.  It resides on the approach to the bridge of No Name Key, of course.  And where is that, you ask.  Well, you travel to Big Pine Key and at the light, you make a turn toward the gulf.  After following a crazy road, you’re there.  Not the easiest place to find.  The three of us stopped there to have a snack and sat outside at a colorful picnic table under a huge tiki hut structure.  No Name is very keysie.  Emma gave it her stamp of approval.

We found it!

We have about two and a half weeks left in paradise.  Plenty of time to experience some more adventures.  Then we pack up and head north to Virginia where I hope spring will have sprung.  (I can always hope.)  We feel lucky each year to vacation with our pets, and by the way, miss the horrible weather at home.  I hope your winter has been mild and filled with its own blessings.  Hug your pups.  They think every day is a vacation with you.   

            
        Keys Good-Bye

                      By Alice Brown

Fiery sunsets, frenetic activity, 

key lime martinis

Jazz, cross dressing, cruise ships

Sunglassed dogs and cats

peddled by long haired locals

Happy Hours everywhere

Boat trips to nowhere,

Toes in the sand

Hooks in the water

Lost in Fantasy…Fest.

Keys

Scorched marl yearning

for cool celadon water

Multicolored coral undulating 

through translucent waves

Opalescent fish 

swimming above and below the

twisted mangroves confused roots

hide geckos, iguanas, snakes, 

going about their business

Pelicans soaring, manatee moving

with lumbering grace below.

Beauty

Cleaned out, Packed up, Brain cleared

And Reset 

Back to reality

But...return imminent.

                                                                

A Sorrowful Diagnosis

                                         

                                           When we lose a friend, only time and precious memories ease the pain.


Who among us hasn’t felt a strong love and a lasting connection with our pets.  They give us unconditional love and support when it’s needed the most.  We call them beloved pets, members of the family, or our pet soulmates.  And when that pet becomes sick, we want the best treatment for them that we can provide.

Being his goofy self

In late September, 2018, a friend, Lori, and her greyhound came to visit.  She and I were talking “greyhound” when Kiowa, my white and red brindle grey, hurried over to see if any food was involved.  My friend noticed that Kiowa’s left eye looked funny.  Upon looking closer, we realized that something seemed off about its appearance.  The week prior, I had taken him to the vet for another reason, a reverse sneeze.  The vet thought it could be an allergy or something irritating his nasal passage.  Nothing serious.

After my friend left, I made another vet appointment.  This time to look at Kiowa’s eye.  At this visit, the vet examined his eye and did his blood work which came back normal.  He suggested I take him to the veterinary ophthalmologist.  A week later, we were in the office of the eye doctor who had worked on Emma’s cataract two years before.  This exam included more tests, aspirating some cells, and an ultrasound.  The ophthalmologist sent the cells to a lab for testing.  Another week dragged by.

Relaxing on a friend's bed

His buddy, Ducky

Finally, the results of the lab work arrived.  I kept telling myself that it was nothing serious, and Kiowa would be fine.  I was wrong.  The test revealed that he had a cancerous tumor in his nasal passage, and the sneezing, a symptom.  The vet referred us next to a veterinary oncologist to learn our options.  Again, we had lag time waiting to see this specialist.  Now it was the beginning of November.  The oncologist explained that Kiowa had Adenocarcinoma, a cancerous tumor in his nasal passage.  Because of its location, surgical removal was not an option and radiation, the preferred treatment.  An x-ray of his lungs taken showed them to be clear.  Without treatment, his prognosis was 3 to 5 months, with radiation, 8 to 12 months.   We left the office sad, drained, and with a decision to make.




With this diagnosis, I began a course of investigation.  I researched this disease to understand what was in store for Kiowa and us.  This disease can present in different ways.  With Ki, his left eye looked strange, and he had the reverse sneezing, but it can also present as a nose bleed, nasal discharge, loud snoring, pawing at the face or possibly a seizure as well as other symptoms.  If your dog has any of these, it is best to get him checked out.

So handsome

I also looked into the radiation treatment.  The oncologist told us that he would need radiation 3 times a week for 3 and a half weeks.  The closest location for us was 3 and a half hours away.  The best option for the dog going through this procedure would be to do it on an outpatient basis.  Side effects to radiation can be unpleasant as well.  It is not a cure but in some cases can prolong life.

Sleepy boy

Our main concern has always been with Kiowa and his comfort.  After all the research and thinking through the information, we decided against radiation.  We wanted this to be about him and not prolonging his life for us.  So I began another search.  This time for other treatments that could make his journey more comfortable.  I had heard about CBD oil (scientific name: cannabidiol) and some good aneccdotal reports of its uses.  Since my vet is not holistic, his knowledge of it was limited.  I spent much time looking into CBD oil, what to look for in product, and finally decided to give it a try.

CBD oil is a product of the hemp plant but has no psychotropic properties.  (The internet has lots of info about this.)  He has been on CBD oil since the end of November and his behavior, appetite, and energy has remained the same.  I don’t know if it is due to slow disease progression or the CBD oil, but as long as he feels good, I’m happy.

Emma decided she wanted to share the bed

Lately, Kiowa has had some bleeding from his nose.  I had heard about a chinese herb called yunnan baiyao (YB) which can stop the nose bleeds.  Since at first, his bleeding was a spot here or there, I felt no need for it.  Then one morning, we woke up to blood everywhere on and around his bed.  I immediately iced his nose to stop the bleeding and gave him a YB capsule.  It slowed and eventually stopped the blood.  He remains on this as well.

In his normal position

Kiowa has been on an anti-inflammatory eye drop and also Previcox for inflammation and pain management.  I am hoping by using prescribed medication and the holistic medication, he  will remain comfortable.  We take this journey day by day, although worry is constant.


Kiowa did very well into January when the beginning of this piece was written.  We hoped that the progression of this horrible disease would be slow, and he would be able to go to Florida with us when we left at the end of January.  Although his energy, appetite, and behavior remained normal, the disfigurement of his face must have been uncomfortable for him and his nasal bleeding increased so much that I was constantly following him to clean up.  The third week of January, something changed.  His breathing was more difficult and his behavior changed except for his love of eating.  When he awoke on January 23rd, we found that his left eye was now bleeding.  In that moment, we made the hard decision to help him cross the Rainbow Bridge.

My beautiful boy

When we walked into the vet's office, Kiowa wagged his tail.  He knew he was with people who loved him.  He laid on the furry bed on the floor almost like he knew he was going to a restful place.  Our hearts broke that day.  Kiowa (Kiowa Stop Matt) was a dog of our hearts and will never be forgotten.

Emma stayed close at the end

Afterward, one of our friends sent us this sentiment:  "It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart.  If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." ~Anonymous~  We will adopt again in a few months, but right now our hearts are trying to mend, and our thoughts continually settle on a white and red brindle spotted boy who's short life touched us so deeply.



Resources:

Nose Cancer in Dogs (Nasal Adenocarcinoma); petwave.com

Nasal Cancer in Dogs; petcureoncology.com

Nasal Cavity Cancer in Dogs; petcancercenter.org

Nasosinal Tumors; National Canine Cancer Foundation; wearethecure.org