Tues., Mar. 29, 2011 - Nose drainage

Since last Thursday, Hardee's nose has been draining more than usual.  It is very worrisome to me, making it very hard to sleep, concentrate, and not freak out about it.  Just yesterday I started to see the drainage slow down just a little, I think, or maybe it is just that I hope it is.

The drainage is mostly thin and watery (serous), and just pours out.  Sometimes it is thicker and hangs like strings out of his nose.  It is most often clear but blood tinged.  When it is thicker, it is tan or yellowish, and sometimes blood tinged.  If it were the thick tan color all the time (mucoid), I would say it was an infection and get him on antibiotics, but I'm just not sure.  I can tell the drainage goes down the back of his throat because there is a lot of gurgling, choking, gagging, and coughing, while trying to clear his throat so he can breathe.

The last couple of days I've been reading some blogs about dogs with nasal cancer, and these dogs have already passed to the rainbow bridge.  The nose drainage increase was never a good sign for them, so this is very distressing to me.  Hardee's nose usually drains, just not this much.

Next Tuesday is chemo again, so I will ask Dr O about the drainage, again, but he just keeps telling me that it is normal for nasal cancer.  Maybe it means that the new chemo we tried last time is working to kill the tumor, and the drainage is just the dead tumor sloughing off.  A girl can dream and hope, can't she?

I took Hardee to the base vet last week for a fecal and heart worm test for his therapy dog renewal.  Even though he isn't doing therapy work right now, I want to keep his certification current, if possible.  They would have to accept his rabies exemption that Dr O wrote for me, so we'll see.  I also talked to the base vet about trying to get some of Hardee's meds there trying to save a little money.  Some of his meds they carry, and I can get them there.  Why didn't I think about this 8 months ago?  We are well over $40,000.00 now, so any little bit of savings helps!  That 40 grand does not include all the travel expenses, like hotels, gas and food.  The little bubs is worth it though.

Keep the hope for Hardee with me.  We are doing all that love can do.  Until then, it is all about joy and all about Hardee.  You know we wouldn't have it any other way.