Izzy’s one month ampuversary

it’s been one month since Izzy’s amputation surgery, and what a month it has been. When she first came home we were having to almost carry her with her harness, not because she needed it but because we thought she did, to only using the harness to help her out of the car, again more because we think she needs it than she does. Yesterday I let all the dogs out and she made her first fast run for the back fence to play/harass with the neighbors dogs. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than to see that. The other milestone in her recovery is that she is starting to be graceful again. One regret I had from the beginning of all this is that I wouldn’t get to see Izzy run like she used to again. I still feel the sadness of that loss because to see her run was a beautiful thing she would trot so gracefully. But her hop run is starting to be just as graceful it just looks different now. I’ve come to realize that it is ok to mourn the losses but not to dwell on them. I’m just as grateful that we found the cancer before it had spread and that we were able to find the resources to get her the treatments that will hopefully help her live a normal lifespan. I’m very aware of how blessed I am at this moment to have Izzy laying next to me while I type, snoring contentedly and not in any pain. So one month in and Izzy is nearly back to her old self, on a real food no/very low carb diet and appears to be thriving. Izzy has even started being a bit of a picky eater again, today I was tired when I gave her her food this morning so I forgot to warm it a little like I usually do. She absolutely refused to eat until I warmed it a little. It was pretty hilarious how she kept looking at me as though I should know what the problem was. I always thought that if you fed your dog real food they would scarf it up no matter what it was, this is not true. Izzy is very clear on what she likes and doesn’t like. We’re waiting for her second chemo on the 11th and hoping her blood work comes back normal. We have to retest right before the treatment because her kidney enzymes were a bit elevated after her first chemo. Other than that she has had no side effects from the chemo and we are contributing to be optimistic about her future.