The mass in Emmi’s brain can not be removed and we can’t afford the $9 to $11,000 shunt that would save her life IF the mass is the result of Valley Fever. We can not determine if the mass is a cancer because it’s position makes it too dangerous for Emmi to undergo a spinal tap. If it is a cancer, chemotherapy would be the treatment of choice, though if it is a non-cancerous mass, chemo would only ‘maybe’ help.
With further investigation by the neurologist, in consultation with others in the veterinary field, it was determined that Emmi can not simultaneously take chemo and Valley Fever treatments as each would negate the effects of the other.
Since brain cancers are very aggressive and chemo is very hard on on the patient, given Emmi’s current state, the unanimous veterinary opinion is not to put her through it.
Brain disseminated Valley Fever cases are the most difficult to treat, but the treatment is not as hard on the patient as chemo. Valley Fever medications are very slow acting. IF the mass is related to Valley Fever, treatment may not work, or start to work, in time. Brain disseminated Valley Fever cases are also the most fatal.
In the end, we’re doing a crap shoot. Emmi was started back on Fluconazole for Valley Fever. She is also on prednisone to reduce the brain swelling, as well as a separate medication to counter act the negative effects prednisone has on Emmi as was shown when she was given the drug last year for another problem. All we can do now is wait and see. There are no other options.
We could lose Emmi any day now, or a week or month from now, or, if we’re lucky and what I am wishing for, at least 2 years from now.
For now, we have to keep Emmi very quiet for at least a couple weeks. No running, jumping or anything that would jiggle her swollen brain. She is much improved from last week with the anti-inflammatory effects of the prednisone, but she is still not as Emmi as she was.
This will be the last sad post about Emmi and her condition until we lose her. Life has to return to normal for the sake of the other dogs and for our own sake. Every accommodation will be made for Emmi’s comfort, every vet directive followed to the letter, but we will stop making it All About Emmi from this day forward, though I can promise she will be hugged and cuddled more.
I will end this sad post with some humor for you:
Emmi is not allowed to jump. Despite her condition, she gets on the couch and we’ve caught her getting ready to jump on the people bed. Since she can’t be monitored when we’re asleep, and she may try to jump then, the answer is to get rid of the people bed. Yup – it’s going away. Any rational person would get rid of civilized sleeping accouterments for the sake of a dog, wouldn’t they?
As luck would have it, Crabby’s camping sleeping mats on the hard floors are actually more comfortable for our aging backs than the people bed mattress anyway. Bonus, since Emmi sleeps with people, if you put the people on the floor, Emmi has no reason to try to get on [or more dangerously, off] the people bed.
Today we invested in air mattresses and sleeping mats.




Until the people bed is gone, all we have are narrow strips of floor to put our (as in human) sleeping mats. Surely the more back supportive floor, even if it’s a narrow strip, will afford a more roomy people sleeping space…. Not!

I’m sure once we can get rid of the bed, and possibly some other furniture, not only will Emmi be safe, but there will be ample space for humans and dogs to cohabitate peacefully with ALL able to sit and sleep on soft surfaces. For now though, it’s a work in progress.
But when it’s all said and done, we will have another problem:

even though the post was sad in a way, I had to chuckle at the pictures posted, the last one specifically. I will keep you and Emmi in my thoughts I know what it is like to have a sick pet. Hopefully she doesn’t realize anythings wrong for a long time.
I’ve woke up on the floor, blanketless, many times since that pic was taken. Sigh….
The peeps can hardly walk for the first ten minutes in the morning because they’ve pretzeled themselves so weirdly to let the dogs sleep where they want.
Sounds like the peeps are well trained!
You are very good dog parents
That may be a stretch – but we do try.
Keeping all of you and Emmi in our prayers. I love the photo of you sleeping with the dogs. Priceless!
Now picture me sleeping with the dogs, they on the mat WITH my blanket, me shivering on the cold Pergo. THAT is life as I know it now.
Hoping that Emmi’s last days are full of lots of hugs and fun.
We’re going to give it our best!
Hugs to you… you are the peeps with a heart of gold and I bet all runa muck kids know that… please give Emmi a kiss from me…
Kiss accepted. Emmi loves all other dogs. A dog with a french accent is extra special!
Love the “organized chaos”, but you would be lost without all those “guys” to keep you company! 🙂
As much as I complain sometimes, I really think I would be lost without the mayhem. The Horde is special.
I’m so sorry about this update and totally understand the decision about the treatment and the solution to keeping Emmi from doing brain jiggles. The sleeping mats are brilliant and as you discovered a real boon to the 4-legged population. Thoughts and prayers that you are able to have Ms. Emmi for an extended time and that it will be good for all. Hugs and healing energy your way.
Thank you. I will say, some of the ‘senior’ pains actually have gone away sleeping on a harder surface. Probably should have done this years ago!
Keeping everything crossed, and sending massive hugs to you all
Thank you!
Yes, partly sad but loved the photographs. We will keep Emmi in our thoughts and hope that she is with you for a while yet. Hugs to ALL the CDL Clan.
It is what it is. All we can do is the best we can for as long as Emmi will let us. The important part is we treat her as if nothing is wrong.