OK, time for an update. So far so good- tomorrow will be week 3 since the diagnosis. He's now taking fish oil, curcumin (turmeric), and 2 herbal supplements- ashwaganda, and immunikinoko. His lymph nodes under the chin have stayed shrunken since just after we started prednisone. Behavior is normal- he's a mooch pooch/chowhound, so giving all these pills is like a bonanza for him. Plus I work at a fine dining steakhouse, so there's always some top-notch prime beef or other proteins for treats.

Upon learning the diagnosis, I fell hard into a pit of despair. At this writing it feels like my rational mind, emotions, and subconscious are beginning to firm up to face the future. Everything I read and heard said it'd be about a month without treatment, so I'm content with the treatment regimen we're following. Chemo would have been too traumatic for him and for my finances. I've rationalized that in the end, the money I don't spend on his chemo should go into the eventual search for our next buddy. although that's a difficult thought in the present moment.

So, in all we're doing well, holding steady, day by day. Thank you all for your input and kind words/thoughts. Going forward I'll lean on folks, surely, to carry the weight.

Update: So far, so good. He's always thirsty and hungry it seems... gained weight, all from the prednisone. A bit more lethargic, but hey, he IS a hound, and older. With the extra water uptake, he's gained the nickname "Mr. Leaky"... our dogs sleep with us, and we've long kept a waterproof mattress protector on. (D'Ogee's "brother" is a Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix, suffers from seizures about once a month.)

Steady on. With the meds we're giving D'Ogee, all he knows is he's getting more treats than ever. Time and tide, que sera sera.

Second opinion. Give the new vet the same info you just gave us,

No, My opinion. Anesthesia would be too traumatic to a dog already stressed. From what you've posted, too many variables, and I'm no veterinary PhD. Seek out your best vet clinic, yes, a 2nd opinion ASAP.

Just shared a chicken nugget snack with both boys. Meds for the B- we split a 20mg tablet of Predinisone, for a morning/night dose,he's about 32 # now, gaining weight, eating and drinking lots. The other dog has been on regular meds- potassium bromide, gabapentin, and phenobarbitol. That regimen has yielded good results, but predictable- he'll still have 1 or 2 episodes a month.

I've already worked out tentative plans for an endgame. Known a mobile vet doc and friend for years, I'll call on her when the time comes- she's helped in the past with a GF's kitteh. Planning a nice fish/bacon whatever dinner, and a heavy dose of probably gabapentin to sedate him. Then the euthanasia procedure.

Then a large rock for me to crawl under. Allow me to share a quote.

"And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. And you may not be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm is all about."

Haruki Hurakami

Cool. I never thought to take a look at cousin breeds to a B, but that makes sense.

Whoops, that's Rocky, D'Ogee's brother, after a KO.

Dealing with my boy and his lymphoma, diagnosed on MLK JR day.. He's on prednisone, fish oil, CBD, ashwaghanda, and immunikokobo. He started having seizures last year, about one every quarter. Horrible, he wakes up terrified, and then his brain "reboots". Our other dog is a Jack Russell/Chihuahua/? who took a hard head trauma several years ago, and he has seizures. It's almost a routine with him, predictable, still just crappy when they happen. Very different than the B. I grew up with an epileptic Chihuahua, so I'm kinda used to it.

My first B made 17.5 years, but I kept him too long. Loved to sun out on the deck, all his life. We'd crack the door to the deck and let him come and go. One day he laid out in the sun, and couldn't get back up. Sunstroke. That's on me. Should have worked out the path for him out of this life, but didn't. I'll not make that mistake with D'Ogee.

Parrots- you gotta will them to someone. Other birds, meh-just birds. I always say that fish and birds are the easiest pets. When we commit to a dog or cat, or horse, we've the responsibility to help them pass when the time comes. I'm struggling to deal with mine too.

Steel yourself. I'm trying to do the same. I've got a plan for him, not so much for myself emotionally. Gotta do right by these critters, these great souls.

JBH

Update. Last night at about 1130 D'Ogee had another seizure. Thankfully it didn't last as long as they have in the past, but it was still horrible. I'd fallen asleep watching TV, and as usual he was on the couch next to me. Not many worse ways to be woken up, AFAIK. Oh well. It is what it is, just gotta deal with things as they come.