[btrtevino]

Thanks you for all the input. Sheva seems to be doing well. She seems so happy and playful, it is unfathomable to me that she has such a serious condition. I know I shouldn't, but everytime I leave her for any extended period of time (more than a few hours) I am so nervous that she will take a turn for the worse while I am gone. I have a 2 wonderful kids and a husband, and I know it sounds crazy but Sheva is such a part of my life, I don't know how I will handle the inevitable. Although I grew up around dogs, Sheva is my first dog as an adult. I feel like we have been through so much together. I probaly got her for all the wrong reasons. I was 19, living with my sister in an apartment and woke up to a man who had broke in staring at me. I asked him to leave, he said no, I stood up to run and for some unknown reason he ran out my back door. My sister had been about to adopt Sheva from the rescue, but thought I needed her instead because of the scare. Although it was probably irresponsible of me to take on such a burden while living in an apartment, I truly feel it was meant to be. For some reason, things have always worked out for us. We have never had to be apart. She has been through some of my roughest times as well as the best. She has been here to welcome both of my children home. I always tell everybody that she really is the easiest dog ever.Although she was a little less than 1 when I got her, she never chewed, was always potty trained, and took everything I threw at her. 1 husband, 1 horse, 2 kids, 3 cats and another rottie who I have to say at 2 yo is still quite the puppy! Sorry about the stroll down memory lane, but it almost seems therapeutic to talk about it.Anyways, I am going to try all the suggestions. Also, does anyone know if it is harmful to use the silver nitrate sticks to cauterize the bleeding in her mouth? The bleeding really worries me, and the vets act like its fine, but sometimes I get the feeling that they feel at this point since I am not doing surgery, they think I can't really hurt her. Oh yeah, I did have chest x-rays done and they were clear about two weeks ago. Wow, I can't believe how much has happenned in 2-3 weeks. Anyways, sorry about the rambling. I am also worried because some times the amount she eats fluctuates and I don't know if it is because it hurts too much or all the extras I give her with pills quelches her appetite.