This Tuber grew a tumor, our Queen B is refusing to eat, and we don't know how much time we have with either of them.
*****
A couple of weeks ago, Bella started refusing to eat - despite appearing hungry and interested in food. We have since been back and forth to our regular vet and an internal medicine specialty clinic. Despite blood work and scans, anti-nausea meds and appetite stimulants, antibiotics and steroids - and a buffet of different foods - we are not closer to answers or a clear path forward.
Then last Friday, out of the blue, Ralph started having seizures. He spent the weekend at the emergency clinic where they were able to stabilize him, and we crossed our fingers for an epilepsy diagnosis. Instead, the MRI revealed a glioma - a type of brain tumor common in Boston Terriers. With palliative care, typical survival time is about a month.
We were devastated.
But Ralph's seizures are currently under control with medication, and we were able to bring him home. He is full of steroids and shenanigans, earning the moniker "Roid Ralph."
He will continue to have seizures, and eventually we will have to make a difficult choice. After weighing our current options, we are considering enrolling him in a clinical trial of mebendazole:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9862092/
We hope it will extend his time with us and also help future dogs and humans.
In the meantime, we are doing our best to keep both Bella and Ralph comfortable and give them the best quality of life possible for whatever time they have left.
ALL THE TREATS. ALL THE SNUGGLES.
Please keep them in your good thoughts.
#ralphoftheday #queenb #dog #dogs #dogsofpixelfed #bostonterrier #bostonterriersofpixelfed #glioma #mebendazole #roidralph