Improvement Report: Lilly’s Recovery from Adverse Vaccine Reaction

Last weekend, Lilly got her 3rd cycle of cytarabine injections (4 sub-q injections over 2 days). She handles it like a champ. Honestly, other than the fact that everything about her reeks of medications, you’d never know she was getting pretty aggressive treatment for rabies vaccine-induced meningoencephalomyelitis (brain inflammation). This week, we saw some improvements.

For the first time in MONTHS:

  • Lilly tried to run fast. Granted, her front legs gave out, and she face-planted a couple times, but she tried to sprint with Ginko across our upper pasture.
  • Lilly tried to jump on our bed. Again, she bounced off the side of it. Her feet slipped when she landed, and she crashed flat on her side, but she did try. She hasn’t tried since.
  • Lilly played a few throws of real fetch. Real ball. Real distance. Jumping catches. Only 2-3 throws, but still.
  • Lilly bunny-hopped up the stairs. I’ll try to get video soon, but her normal climbing process is a slow, deliberate slog up stairs. But, this week, she almost bounded up the stairs, back feet following front feet, for a few strides.

We’re working hard to balance her safety with letting her try to do things. Thankfully, Lilly is a very tough girl. She is sturdy stock. Her stamina is still very low, but she seems happy and engaged most of the time.

To see her play, or at least try to play, is great.

Wednesday night, Lilly and Ginko played tug with the plush monkey the neurology team gave her when she was released from the hospital in August, after her major relapse.

They tugged until the legs came off.

best dog blog, champion of my heart, close-up photo of border collie face
Chemo Schmeemo. I feel great!

Thursday morning, to encourage Lilly to run, I played fetch with Ginko. He fetches. Lilly chases HIM. On their first race down the hill, Lilly fell and slid across the grass on her side. She hopped right up. No harm. No foul. So, I try not to worry too much.

Because Ginko is old (12 1/2) with bad knees, we cannot do that game a lot, but we can get a few throws / chases in each day … without him hurting too much later.

And, frankly, he is thrilled to play. I’m sure he wishes Lilly wasn’t so bossy, but he does LOVE when she engages with him.

So, that’s our good news. Just in time for the CELEBRATION of Lilly’s 8th Gotcha Day!

Yep. Eight years ago tomorrow (Oct 20), we adopted Lilly. In so many ways it feels like forever ago and yesterday at the same time.