Wow.... they say cats have 9 lives but I think Pugsley has like 20….

I am happy to report I have my Sausage home with me and it looks like he is out of the woods. That is what they tell me anyway. I am still cautious but will say he has his normal pug look about him again. And his blood counts are back up. Phew, wasn’t sure there for a while if he would make it, but true to form Sausage has remained strong and stoic through it all. I love him so much.

His vitals are good and his appetite is back to gangbusters. His gums are pink again (they were pale white before). He just needed that extra blood to feel better. They gave him the equivalent to half a pint of human blood. Thank you Lucy!

My main issue with him right now is the swelling. Poor Sausage is in swell hell and has a hematoma about the size of a softball on his chest where the big lump was removed. It caused all sorts of swelling in the surrounding areas too. They assure me it looks a lot worse than it actually feels for him. I came close to freaking out when I saw him this morning and it was even bigger then like the size of a grapefruit.

They told me to apply hot compresses every 2 hours to help reduce the swelling, so that's what I've been doing. He is also on a diuretic which makes him have to pee every hour but also releases some of the fluids.

Four different doctors told me this was the right thing to do and I felt like in my gut it was too. Apparently because the lumpectomy had been performed on the same lymph node before there was a lot of scar tissue in there and a bunch of nerves all wrapped around what they described as a bunch of little grape like nodes instead of one big one. The margins are poorly differentiated by multiple surgeries and it’s not as clean, more room for error. He can’t have it operated on again if it grows back.

There is no looking back now, only forward. I’m so relieved he is feeling better even though he looks like he has been through a war zone. One thing is for sure he is a survivor. I told you it wasn’t his time…

I must warn you the following pictures are graphic, thats why I'm only posting a link to the pictures not putting them out on the main blog page. Please don’t click on them if you have a weak stomach.

If you can handle it, this is what Sausage looks like after having 7 tumors removed, collapsing from becoming anemic post surgery.... and only 24 hours after his blood transfusion. All things considered I say he is looking spry.

Hematoma Picture

Poor Sausage Picture

Fuck Cancer.

On a lighter note here is the strong boy enjoying his warm Turkish towel compresses which I am about to give him another round of. He loves them, they must feel really good on his sore spots.

Please everyone go home and hug your pugs tonight [or your other 4 legged friends]. Hold them tight and tell them what precious gifts they are. I know I will.