Tashi, or Tash for short, has been with me for almost five years now. He is funny, sweet, bossy, demanding, loving, and just cute. Unfortunately, he has been sick lately. He has been diagnosed with a disease called GME or Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis. I want to tell you about our journey with this disease, but first I want to share with you who Tashi is.
The Many Faces of Tashi
The day we brought him home – 3 months old 
3 months old 
4 months old
When I brought Tashi home, he was just three months old. So sweet and tiny. He weighed all of 4 pounds. His hair was so dark you could barely see his face. He was a very sweet boy.
By the time he was 4 months old, we had taken him for a haircut, so we could see his face. Such a sweet face. After the haircut, we began to see his coat changing colors to a mixture of gray and white.
10 months old 
15 months old
As most youngsters do, he could sleep anywhere and in any position.
…and he snores. You would think he wouldn’t be able to breath with a toy in his mouth while sleeping, but he could, he just snored louder.
Winters we would let Tashi’s hair grow out. It was so pretty, but difficult to keep up with, so in the summers we keep it short.
Tashi loved to sit in the window and watch things go by. If there was something on the street he thought was dangerous, I would definitely know about it. Small dog, big bark.
Tashi’s Medical Journey
In May of this year (2019), Tashi got sick. Below is the journal of our medical journey.
5.21.19
Tashi’s back is bothering him, I think. Taking him to the vet this morning. I think he did it jumping off the back of my couch. The vet confirmed that his back is bothering him and is giving him a laser treatment and meds. He is due back in ten days for follow-up. I think I need to move the couch, so he doesn’t leap off again.
Tashi is not well. The vet gave him pain meds and muscle relaxers the last time we were in the office. As a result, they completely wiped him out. Tash is off the meds now because he couldn’t even walk, wouldn’t eat or anything. Now, off the meds, he walks crooked. Kind of sideways and falls over all the time. Seems he can’t really control his legs. He is far worse now than he was last week. Back to the vet in the morning. Pray for Tashi.
5.31.19
Tashi update: The vet is not sure what is up with Tashi. She is sending us to a neurologist. She gave him some prednisone for inflammation. Today is Friday, we see the neurologist Monday and are expecting to need an MRI. The vet was shocked at how much worse Tash is now than ten days ago. He walked a bit this morning, about an hour after I gave him his first dose of prednisone. Still way off balance and had little control of his legs, but he is trying. Could be his back, could be his neck, could be his brain. Or a combination. Totally not good.
June 2019
6.3.19
Visiting the veterinarian neurologist this morning. Amazed and pleased to know that there is a vet neurologist. They are an emergency clinic and specialized services group. I like the doctor; she seems to be very knowledgeable. She is suggesting that Tash has a disease called GME or Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis. It is a disease where the immune system attacks itself. She will do the MRI and a spinal tap to confirm her suspicion.
6.6.19
Tashi update . . . The vet confirmed that Tash has a disease called GME or Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis. Apparently, it is common in small to medium size dogs. Tash has multifocal GME, meaning it affects multiple areas of his body. Unfortunately, this is the worst version of this disease to get. GME is not a good disease to have and is mostly incurable. However, he can and is taking medication to extend his life.
Tashi will be taking prednisone daily for the rest of his life and Cytosar, a chemo drug, every three weeks for the rest of his life. Average life expectancy is anywhere from two months to three years in testing. The chemo drug may extend it longer.
Thinking positively, hoping for more time with Tashi. He is reacting well to the prednisone, starting to walk straight again, still stumbles a bit, but much better than last week. His first Cytosar treatment is today. He will spend the day at the vet’s and get four injections throughout the day. Say a prayer that all goes well, and he will live a long and happy life.
July 2019
7.3.18
Tashi has been doing well, not perfect, but better than when we started. He has been quite a bit more aggressive though from the prednisone. We talked to the vet about lowering the dose. He is doing well with the current levels, so we are going to drop the prednisone back a small bit to see how he responds and if his aggression improves.
7.18.19
Tashi has pneumonia now and is spending a couple of days with the vet. He looks pitiful. Apparently, the meds that help prolong his life, prednisone and Cytosar, also leave his body defenseless to infection. I’m going to visit him at about 4 p.m. this afternoon. Prayers, please. I asked the vet if he would be OK. After a long pause, she answered: “I think so.” Very anxious.
7.19.19
My baby is so sick. Gregory, #1 grandson, went with me to see Tash at the vet’s office. When we arrived, they had just given him a breathing treatment and were working on his lungs to get the fluid out. They are keeping him again tonight and possibly through the weekend. Depends on how he responds tonight and tomorrow. They are pumping him full of antibiotics. Multiple treatments. He has also had a relapse from the GME disease, so they will increase the prednisone again or he could die from GME before he gets over the pneumonia.
Tashi’s Cytosar treatment is being moved to next week . . . assuming he is recovering from the pneumonia by then. Must delay the Cytosar because it suppresses the immune system as does the prednisone. We are hoping the antibiotics, and the lower dose of immune suppressant will do the trick to get him on his feet again—all a delicate balance. Either the pneumonia or the GME could kill him, and soon. To add insult to injury, the prednisone is making him lose his hair—poor baby.
I’ll get to see him again tomorrow. They said I could come over anytime. Will keep you posted.
7.20.19
Tashi Update: It seems when it rains it pours. Tashi had surgery yesterday. Something in his stomach was causing him to be sick. Turned out to be a hairball. Go figure. The hairball was large enough that he was unable to eat and keep anything down. The throwing up caused aspiration pneumonia. Hopefully, the surgery will take care of everything so we can focus on the GME again.
Took Tashi for a good walk outside the vet’s office this morning. Wore him out a bit. He seems good though. They will probably keep him until Monday. Still a few issues they hope will clear up today or tomorrow.
Pneumonia is not any worse. They expect it to clear up now but are continuing to monitor. And with the hairball gone, he can eat again and not throw up.
After starting him back on the higher dose of prednisone to try to get the GME back under control, we have seen some neurological improvements.
Thanks all for your love and support. It has been an emotional time. Tashi has been feeling so bad and has had so many procedures now, not sure when to stop. I’m not ready to let him go, but it is now something I think about. While the decision to care for him is not connected to money, between the MRI, spinal tap, hairball surgery, and meds, we are now approaching $6,000 in cost.
7.23.19
Tashi came home Sunday; he is still wobbly but feeling better. He is back at the vet’s office today for his delayed Cytosar treatment, he needs this treatment to keep the GME at bay.
7.25.19
Tashi Update: Tashi is back in the vet hospital today. Just dropped him off. While the pneumonia is gone now and he is eating well (no more hairball), he is not recovering from his GME relapse. He seems to be getting worse.
Mentally, he seems to be improving. He is aware of what is going on around him, but his limbs are not cooperating. Walking sideways again and trembling. Almost like Parkinson’s disease. Almost back to where we started six weeks ago.
The vet is going to do a second dose of Cytosar today and tomorrow (24-hour thing) but will do it as an infusion. The normal treatment is under the skin every three weeks. We are essentially doubling his Cytosar this week, but not above what he can handle.
The vet and I are hopeful but concerned. He should be getting better by now. He has had so much going on with the pneumonia and the hairball, praying that this new round of treatment will get him back on his feet. Just reminding myself that every day with him is a plus. The life expectancy with this disease is anywhere from eight days to a couple of years. Fifteen-month average. The vet told me his disease is very aggressive.
August 2019
8/1/19
Tashi improved after the IV Cytosar treatment. He is stronger, still a bit wobbly and his back legs don’t always follow his front legs, but he is stronger. He sometimes falls too, but still better than last week. Watching him closely.
8/4/19
Tash has been home now for about a week. He is eating well and sleeping well. He still loves to have a toy to comfort him. His tummy is still hairless from ultrasound. Hope the hair grows back.
8/20/19
Tashi had a couple of good weeks after his last Cytosar treatment 7/26. He seemed to be stronger and better able to walk. I was pleased and thinking we might be getting a little closer to normal. However, the further away we were from the last treatment, the more he started to show signs of weakness again. His treatments are every three weeks.
Tashi had another Cytosar treatment this past Friday 8/16, and I’m hoping we will have the same or better results as the last treatment. He is still very weak, shaking, and falling some. His front legs seem to be giving way on him again, and he is having difficulty with stairs too. Hopefully, we will see improvement in these next couple of days; it takes the Cytosar a few days to really kick in.
Such a sweet baby.
End of day 8/20/19
Tashi has been getting worse; I think he may be relapsing again. Taking him to the vet in the morning.
Tashi’s Last Days
We lost Tashi August 23rd, just a week after his last Cytosar treatment. There is no cure for GME. Sometimes dogs with this disease can go into remission, and after that live a long time, but that was not the case for Tashi. The time from his initial diagnosis to the end was just ten weeks.
Tashi had stopped responding to the medication, and he was at a place where he couldn’t stand or walk on his own any longer. On his last day, he seemed just fine mentally, his eyes were as clear and loving as any other day, but by the end of the day he couldn’t stand on his own.
Making the decision to end the life of another living being is difficult, but in this case, was the right thing to do. Every time I looked at Tashi’s sweet face, I thought maybe he would get better, but it was not to be.
Once I decided what to do, my family had some time to say their goodbyes. The Grands were able to spend a few minutes with Tashi saying goodbye. We love you Tashi!
The veterinary neurologist at Upstate Vet, Dr. Courtney Sampson, and her team did a wonderful job taking care of Tashi. He spent a lot of time with them these last few weeks, they loved him and pampered him as much as they could so he wouldn’t be afraid.
The Vets Office
When we arrived at the vet office, because this is a difficult time, they immediately took us back to a different room, not the normal exam room. This room was more like a living room, nicely painted walls, dim lighting, comfortable couches, and chairs. It was a warm, comfortable space. We sat and I put Tashi on the floor; he could only crawl, as his legs would not hold him any longer.
Dr. Sampson came in to meet with us and explain the process. She examined Tash and confirmed what we already knew; there was nothing more we could do for him. Then Dr. Sampson took Tashi with her to connect IVs and prepare for the procedure.
When Dr. Sampson came back, she brought Tashi to me in a blanket. He was licking his lips and happy; they had given him peanut butter while they connected the IV. He was so sweet and cute. I spent a few minutes hugging him and kissing his head while they put him to sleep. It was a sweet wonderful moment, very emotional, but just so comforting to be with him while he fell asleep in my arms. When the time came to inject the drug to stop his heart, it was quick and painless.
Tashi was so full of life before he got sick, and I still see him everywhere. He was a feisty little guy, always guarding the house, playing with his buddies in the backyard or trying to boss me around. He was loved not just by me, but by my whole family. For such a little guy, he made a big impact on our lives and will be greatly missed.
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