Lately we’ve started thinking of Dennis’s conditions as being in a race to see which one is going to get him first. There are five major ones: Anxiety, Heart Murmur, Hip Dysplasia, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and now, Osteosarcoma. Anxiety was the first out of the gate, but the others have long since left that one in the dust. We imagine them standing around talking to trash to each other. Well, I imagine it, anyway.
Anxiety: “I’ll make Dennis so scared and nervous, he won’t be able to enjoy his life at all. Mwah ha ha ha ha.”
Hip Dysplasia: “Pfft. I’ll make it so he can’t walk.”
Heart Murmur: “You’re both amateurs.”
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: “You think you’re so bad, Heart Murmur, but they have medication that works on you. There’s nothing that works on me. We’ll see how long Dennis lasts when he can’t digest his food.”
Osteosarcoma: “The big C is here. The rest of you can leave.”
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (to Anxiety, Hip Dysplasia and Heart Murmur): “Hold my beer.”
So, yeah. At this point we are several days into a severe flareup of Dennis’s IBD that we have not been able to get a handle on. At all. Dennis has just started on a course of Metronidazole to try to get this flare-up under control, but the really big gun―Prednisone―is largely ruled out because of his heart murmur. (Way to keep yourself in the game, Heart Murmur.) This flareup is hitting harder than the one from the summer; he has already lost a few pounds that he can’t afford to lose, and is now on the “Give Dennis anything he’s willing to eat” diet. Which he thinks is wonderful, at least until he decides after a few meals that this food, like whatever the previous food was, makes him sick. (This even happened when we got desperate and started giving him ground sirloin. Sirloin.)
Digestive issues aside, Dennis’s pain from the osteosarcoma seems to be much reduced; he has been getting around better and even putting some weight on the bad hip, and has been better able to get onto the furniture and into bed. He had his first radiation followup earlier this week. The oncologist was encouraged by Dennis’s progress, and said his hip should continue to feel better over the next couple of weeks. (Dennis goes back for another follow-up in three weeks.)
Dennis’s prognosis hasn’t changed; we just need to make some headway against the IBD, and soon, so that he can spend a few more comfortable months here with his family of humans, Hipster Kitties, and imaginary friends, and all of his nice reederz out on the Interwebs. So please, keep the power of the paw, the tail wags, the purrs, and the nose bumps coming Dennis’s way. He needs them.
The Oceanside Animals 
dennis I send hugs and potp to you… and I dislike horses anyway so I will chase than horsemen away with wild barking and my special phenny-screeching
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Dearest Dennis, my peeps have told me I’m a tubby tub tubs after all my feasting at Christmas and must lose a few pounds sooooo, rather than losing them I’ll send them to you together with lots of POTP and healing licky kisses
Loves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
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Oh Dennis, we are all sending purrs and prayers your way pal and we hope that IBD gets under control for you soon. Hugs.
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Oh pal – we pray and send healing light your way. We are so rooting for you. You need me to come visit you for a spell? Or I could send you Houdini. He’s small enough to mail. Yeah sure he is. I’ll put plenty of holes in the box beforehand. Evil piggy snorts. Get better bro! XOXO – Bacon
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Dennis…I’m so sorry that your IBD is flaring up again. I do hope all of the peoples in you life that love so much you find a way to get it back under control so you can all enjoy some more time together. Hugs and tail wags from me and the crew.
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Lots of hugs and paw power coming to the mithical sitty of san diago from us.
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We’re sorry to hear you haven’t been feeling well Dennis. We are sending all the POTP we can.
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Sorry to hear about your troubles, when we talked to a priest before my mother-in-law died he said that most people think that love is holding on tight, but he feels that true love is letting go. Been there and done that. Thinking of you, Jim
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Mee-yow that iss sum list of fingss wrong Dennis! You of all mee doggie furendss do not dee-serve this….**sighsss**
Mee iss sendin you octy-togonal amountss of POTP!! All of it…not holdin back!!
Issn’t I-Bee-Dee rotten?? Has yur Pawentss herd of Rebound Rehydation liquid?? Iss grate an it helpss keep you hydrated an calm thee bowelss down.
http://www.reboundanimalhealth.com/rebound/product/rebound_oes.html
An mee VetMan said mee should onlee eat a bit of food a few timess a day to NOT aggryvate mee bowelss. Mee not know if it iss different fur doggiess.
Thee 5 Horsiemen of thee Dogpocalypse can just ‘buzz off’ an leeve mee furend alone!
~~~~head rubsss~~~~ Siddhartha Henry~~~~ an {{{hugs}}} LadyMum
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We are sending you lots and lots of AireZen and POTP, Dennis♥
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Dennis, we’ve got our paws crossed, tails wagging, and we are sending good vibes through the ether (well, I am – the youngsters are a little unclear on the concept of the ether and they won’t stop biteying each other long enough for me to explain…). And what is your Dada talking about with ‘imaginary’ friends? Just because HE can’t see them doesn’t make them any less real. I mean, he has never actually met any of us in person, and yet we are totally real…. Big smooches to you, Vizsla Dog With the Best Naming Story EVER! (Mom LOVES your name because of where it comes from!)
*kissey face*
-Saint Fiona the Patient, Crazy Daisy, and Lucy-Fur
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Lots of gentle hugs to our great pal, Dennis. We don’t know what is wurst Dennis, a fast two day illness that takes you quickly or one like you are having. At least your parents get time to say they love you and can try to help you. Mine took me in two days and I hid under the porch so my Mom wouldn’t feel so bad. I can tell you this, Dennis, the Rainbow Bridge is the best place you can ever imagine. Me. the beautiful Trixie. Tucker and lots of other pets you knew are here, [planning a big party 4 you!) Love and kisses, the late Stella.
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OH! You sweet dog! Huges
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Oh, Dennis! You’re going through so much. It makes our hearts sad. We’re sending oodles of POTP and love to you and your family. *ear licks* Noodle
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Dear Dennis, we are sending mighty cat POTP and human prayers for you all the time. We are wishing you sunny and happy days for a long time.
Kosmo and his family
in faraway Finland.
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Oh, Dennis, we so hope your mama and dada can help you get a handle on the IBD so you can enjoy much more time with them. We hate it that you are fighting so many health enemies at a time.
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Oh Dennis. That is not fair at all. I wish your imaginary friends could help. I hope mama and Dada are doing OK too.
Hugs to you for feeling better with your hip and lots more snooter sunshine. Hope your tummy feels much better soon.
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The conversation between the Troubles would be funny if it weren’t so sad. I am glad your folks still keep their sense of humor. Prayers and POTP from our house to you and yours. ❤
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Mom and I will continue to pray for you, buddy. I think those naughty conditions are meanies. Tummy trouble is no fun at all. I wish I could come there and eat your food for you, D. Then you can stay strong. Wait. What? Is that how it works?? OK. Bye.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
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hello nice reederz its dennis the vizsla dog hay dada i just mayd a nice formd poop owt in the bakyard and dada sed i had to come heer and tel evrybuddy!!! just on akkownt of it is my first nice formd poop in like days!!! he eeven tuk a pikcher of it he is soooooo weerd but hay dada wotever mayks yoo happy!!! ok bye
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Yay! Good job, Dennis. That is a good sign that everybody’s prayers are helping and your pawrents are helping you. You are such a goofy sweet doggy boy. Luvs, Patzy
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We are so very excited about your ummm…poop(Mama is excited anyway). Goo job, dude!!
We have to say we are with Fiona about what your Dada calls “imaginary” friends..Rosy says some of your Ninja Hedgehogs have taken up residence in our backyard…She’s out barking at them right now. Well either it’s Ninja Hedgehogs…or a leaf, she likes to bark at them too….
xoxo,
Jakey, Arty & Rosy
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Reading this makes us all so sad, especially Mom. We hope that metronidazole can be the magic M that will help control that IBD. Dennis, you are a fighter – you have been ever since we first met you and learned of your time in the desert. Hang in there, buddy. We will all continue the fight for you with lots of POTP.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber and Mom too
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Dear Dennis – so glad to read that you had a good poop!!! that is a relief I bet. keeping our pug paws crossed for you
Hugs
Hazel & Mabel
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Sunshine on any body part is the best for us V dogs.. the Spirit of Maggie the Vizsla.
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