Still doing good!!

Some of Jake's loyal blog friends asked how Jake is doing so we're posting a quick update. He is doing great!!!! He is eating well, taking his walks (slow but consistently getting good exercise) and happily engaged and interested in being with us. He is back to barking at "possible intruders" outside the house and all the animals he sees on tv. His ears are on high alert whenever he sees a bunny in the yard. And he puts on his sweetest begging face everyday sitting next to the dinner table eagerly waiting for a snack to fall his way.

Yesterday we went for a car ride to carvel to get his favorite ice cream and he was in heaven. Yesterday he also got excited when I came home from work and went right over to his tennis ball to ask for play. His personality, though less enthusiastic than before, is still there. He lays on my lap, gives kisses, and "purs" when you pet him. He's happy and we love every minute with him.

We haven't started chemo yet because we need to wait until we are back from our delayed honeymoon. We'll have to watch him carefully during that time and can't risk doing it while away.   He is down to 1/2 a dexamethasone pill daily and we don't intend to lower it any more since he truly seems to need it and it is a small dose. Our strategy that's working thus far is keeping him eating, drinking and going for walks to pee frequently so he doesn't get a UTI again. At the times of the day he has the most energy we take longer walks to help keep his strength up. He still doesn't walk up stairs (although he does this randomly when he feels up to it) but otherwise walks around fine. We lovingly call him "wiggle butt" because he his back end seems to drift as if he needs an alignment still but he makes it work. He has learned to compensate for whatever that tumor is doing to his balance. He is superdoggy after all.

Will post updated pix soon. Best to all fur friends, those present and gone to doggy heaven (RIP Roxy).