Darko's Quest for the Cure

Wow! It has been a long time since we shared an update on our baby boy. Hard to believe four months have gone by already. Yikes! There is so much to share with you all, so apologies in advance AND apologies for this update being so extremely overdue. Time has really got away on us, but we have been spending it together as a family making new memories to cherish forever. So I guess in that way I'm not sorry at all!

Darko is doing very well. He has gained all his weight back plus a few extra pounds, and has been holding fairly steady around 58-59 lbs which is amazing. The most he has ever weighed when he was young and chunky was 63 lbs and his ideal weight when he was super fit and muscular was about 57 lbs. His appetite has been great, thanks to holistic supplements prescribed by Dr. Matheson of Balanced Paws Veterinary Care in Courtenay (who is amazing!), and even after chemo treatments he rarely ever misses a meal now. When he first started treatments, sometimes he would go several days without eating so we are very happy with his appetite these days.

However, Dr. Hayward of Nanaimo Veterinary Hospital (who is also amazing!) did have to bump up Darko's chemo treatments to the "big guns" at the end of September due to his lumps coming back. Last Wednesday (Nov. 29th) was his fourth treatment of these "big guns" called doxorubicin, and he has done very well with them. He did lose a lot of his hair (after starting the new chemo) in many different spots throughout his body --especially around his neck and hip areas-- but it is growing back a light gray and coming in like baby fuzz, and every day his coat looks more and more like it did when he was a baby.

Darko's energy has been amazing. Nobody can ever tell he's sick, and when/if they find out it blows their minds as they can't get over how good he looks and how energetic and happy he is. He's usually a bit tired for the first few days after chemo, but even then he still has energy. And since he started the new chemo treatments it is almost like he is getting more energetic and we have noticed that his old personality is coming back as well, along with all his silly antics. We are hoping, praying and crossing our fingers and toes that it is a good sign of things to come and that it means his body is healing and he is starting to feel better. Please think of him often and send positive thoughts and vibes his way. They help tremendously!

On August 26th, we celebrated Darko's 6th Barkday as a family. This year, we humans both took the day off from work and went to the beach as that is his most favourite place in the entire world to be, and had a blast swimming and playing fetch in the waves together. And yes, I have TONS of photos.

Lots of people have been curious as to what we are doing for Darko to help him through this big health challenge, so I'll share a bit on his diet and a few other things we've been doing that have been suggested and/or prescribed by his veterinarians and his holistic nutritional coach. *Please Note: The following are things that work for Darko as an individual. Every dog is different. Please do your research and consult with your veterinarian before considering any of the below for your own pet.

Darko is on a homemade diet consisting of lean cooked turkey (simmered in water), and gets a whole pound each meal. He also has an egg meal (cooked in coconut oil) once a week. We add things like spinach, kale, broccoli, cooked carrot, fresh blueberries and apples, pure pumpkin puree, Greek yogurt, and will also add some canned Wellness 95% lamb, beef or salmon (especially the week following chemo as it helps him eat more). He gets a grated, fresh red bell pepper (without peel) with every dinner. And that's just the food part! For supplements he is on things like omega's with a high DHA (we alternate between krill oil and salmon/fish oil with either hemp oil or flax oil), a hemp tincture, several Chinese herbs and a Japenese mushroom tincture, vitamin AD, oregano oil and milk thistle, and nux vomica to help minimize the side effects of chemo (such as lack of appetite). I also give him weekly B-12 injections and he gets his teeth brushed and EFAC applied every other day to help his gums and teeth, as oral care is key to a healthy body.

But I'd say the biggest thing that is helping him (and us) get through each and every day is a positive attitude. Yes, it has been difficult at times, but we are being optimistic, fun, hopeful, cheerful, happy, upbeat, encouraging, and remembering to live every day in the moment and to never take advantage of the little gifts life brings. We are surrounding Darko and our family with happy, positive energy, and I strongly believe if we were not doing so, things would not be going as well as they have been. If we, as Darko's humans, are happy, Darko is happy, and for Darko to heal he must be happy and want to live. And does he ever love life! Such a little fighter. We are so very proud of him and we tell him that constantly, along with how handsome he is and how much we love him.

We are in a bit of a rough patch right now, as I am currently in-between jobs but will be working for Best Paw Forward Dog Training here in Nanaimo as an assistant come the new year, and Darko and I are currently attending their Fun Agility class on Sundays. It's something we've always wanted to do and we are having a blast! He loves to work and learn, and of course loves all the treats and one-on-one attention he gets in class so it has been a great experience and I have been cherishing each and every moment of fun we have together at them (and every other moment of every other day, of course!). We might not be able to do the things we used to together like the 6+ hour hikes or all day beach/river trips, but we can still have fun which lifts his spirits and mine too!

We'd like to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone reading this, and especially to everyone who has helped and supported us emotionally and financially (you know who you are!). This has been a tough couple of months, and I can't even imagine getting through this without you all so thank you THANK YOU thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Darko says thank you too, and sends wet nose kisses and nubby wags. We are all very grateful to you for everything! Thank you so much for all you've done!

You can find Darko on Instagram @barkoandterdlem where you'll find photos and short updates about his latest adventures and treatments. Eventually, we will get back on our other social media accounts, but for now this is it.

One last thing... IF you are able to, please share this post to help us reach our goal! Thank you!

Darko is doing well, and after his last vincristine treatment Dr Hayward of Nanaimo Veterinary Hospital said he is in full remission. On June 21st, we went to Courtenay to see Dr. Matheson at Balanced Paws Veterinary Care, started Darko on some supplements and are going back for a recheck on the 26th. Darko goes in for more bloodwork at his Nanaimo clinic tomorrow with a treatment to follow depending on results. Darko is happy, silly, eating well and gaining some weight back. Thank you so much to everyone for all the support, mentally and financially. It is greatly appreciated! Darko sends nubby wags and lots of love to you all. We will update again as soon as possible.

Thank you so much everyone for all the support! Darko is doing well after his first treatment. Appetite has been hit and miss, but was to be expected and we have been experimenting with ways to make his meals as bland as possible. We go to see the Holistic Vet on the morning of the 21st, and back for more tests as well in the afternoon.
Thank you for all the moral and financial support. We greatly appreciate it! Darko sends love to you all with lots of kisses and nubby wags.
(Apologies for the late update. We just moved and currently have no internet so has made this part quite difficult.)