The Good News...and the Not-So-Good News

Good News: I went to the vet on Thursday and got my Addison's shot. I also got my yearly vaccinations (though some last a couple of years...hooray!). Dr. W said I was a grumpy girl when I came in for my ACTH Stim test a couple of weeks ago, so she came to the office armed with a muzzle, along with my shots. Silly Dr. W, she didn't need the muzzle. I grumbled during my exam (quit poking my belly, lady!!) but Momma told her it was no different from the sound I make when I don't want to come in the house. Momma knows I am not going to bite, but I guess Dr. W doesn't know me as well as Momma does. So, I was good...I didn't bite and I got a treat.

The other good news is that next month, I just need to go get weighed and then Momma will give me my Addison's shot from now on. No more vet, except for blood tests.

The yucky news is that I gained more weight, in spite of my best efforts to diet. Momma told Dr. W what I was eating and Dr. W says I am eating fine and shouldn't get less than I am already getting. I get only a tiny piece of Pupperoni when I go potty outside, but mostly my treats are baby carrots and ice cubes. Oh, and I get a little cheese with my Prednisone every morning. So, I am gaining more weight than I should, even on the Pred, and Dr. W says it might be my thyroid. BOO! If I gain again next month, we are doing a thyroid test when my blood is drawn for my electrolyte test in November. Momma says I have all the signs and Dr. W says since I have one endocrine problem, why not another? It's all perfectly logical.

In the meantime, I feel pretty good and am glad Momma will give me my shots now. I love the people at the vet, but I really don't like it there. I'd rather go to Petsmart! Oh wait...

Boo to the vet...again!

It's vet day. It comes around SO fast! I hope they don't tell me I gained more weight. Dieting stiiinks. I'll keep you posted.

Grrrr!

Dear Momma,

Why must I go to the vet AGAIN this week? I was just there 2 weeks ago...and 2 weeks before that! And now you're saying that I have to go back maybe twice next month and get my yearly shots AND my Addison's shot? You say I am getting my ornery streak back now that I am feeling better. Momma, I am not an ornery girl...I'm just sick of the vet!! And the poking!!

But thank you for taking good care of me. I do feel better than I have in almost 6 months (that's a lot of my life, you know!). I know you worry, but you seem to have calmed down. You gotta do what I do when things are kinda yucky: take a nap. A loooong, snoring nap with your head hanging off the side of the sofa! Just don't snore as loud as Winston...he makes it hard to hear the TV sometimes.

I still think the vet is yucky, no matter how many hot dog treats and belly rubs they give me!

Love,
Molly

Party Time!!!

Tuesday was yucky. I had to go to the vet early in the morning to have my ACTH Stim test. Momma dropped me off at 7:30 and had to go to work. She only works til around 11 and then comes home. She thought the vet would call to say, "Hey, Molly can come home now!" But they never did. There I sat in a cage all afternoon when finally Momma called and asked when I could leave. "Anytime." they said. Momma thought maybe my test was later in the day and that's why they didn't call. Booo vet! Leaving me in a cage...hmph!

So Momma came to get me and I went home. I wasn't too happy, it was a stressful day with a lot of poking and prodding and waiting. I came home and napped because finally I could relax and not worry about getting a needle stuck in me. I slept all evening and after dinner, played a little with Winston. He had a new chew stick to occupy him while he was alone, so I stole it from him. He was mad but sat there looking at me all pathetic-like. I think maybe I scare him a little. Ha!

The next day, I was feeling better and we waited to hear from Dr. W. She wasn't in that day, so we figured that she'd call on Thursday. Nope. Momma was annoyed. $300 for a test and a lot of stress for me, the least they can do is call soon. Finally today they called...while Momma was at work. Momma said she wasn't worried because if there was something wrong, they'd have called sooner so they could treat me. She was right. Dr. W. called and said I was doing great and my test results were excellent. I don't need a blood test until November and then we are going to look at adjusting everything. Yay me!!!!

I was so happy, I celebrated:


Molly: 1; Addison's: 0....HA!

Boo to Tuesday!

Tuesday I have to go to the vet again. Momma said I have to go early and stay while she's at work in the morning. I have to get my ACTH Stimulation test so that the doctor can make sure my Addison's is ok. I feel great, don't know why Momma is making me go. Today I chased Momma in the yard and barked at her. I went in the car to Petsmart and then for a walk in our neighborhood. I feel awesome, Momma! Guess she has her reasons.

Here's more about the test from the Addison's Dogs website:

To perform the ACTH stimulation test, an initial blood sample is drawn and the cortisol level is measured. The dog is injected with a form of pituitary hormone ACTH that tells the adrenals to produce cortisol. After an hour, blood is drawn again, and the cortisol level measured. Resting cortisol should range from 1-4 ug/dl in the average dog, and should be significantly higher, in the range of 6-20 ug/dl, post-stimulation. (These numbers may vary depending on the lab.) If resting cortisol is low and the dog has no or a low response to the stimulation, the diagnosis is Addison's disease. Be aware that some glucocorticoids, such as predinsone, can affect the results of the ACTH test, while dexamtheasone does not.

Let's just hope that my test goes well and my Addison's is under control. Can't say the same about my hunger...

It's been a GREAT year!

One year ago today, I came to live with Momma and Daddy. I still remember when they came to pick me up. I was hanging out with my sister...all the other sisters left. But there was one who didn't have a home to go to, so she was going to stay with our doggy Momma and Daddy for a while. She eventually found a home, don't worry. She was very cute too, so I'm sure it didn't take long.

So there I was playing with my sister and a car pulled up. "Hey, I remember you!" I thought. When I sniffed and bit the lady's toes, I remembered her for sure. It was my new Momma and Daddy!!! They looked so excited to see me and were surprised at how much I grew in 3 weeks.

Then it was time to get in the car and go to my new home. I was getting excited! Before we left, I had to have one last wrestling match with my sister. I was winning...our doggy Momma was so done with this behavior :)


Then we got into the car and left. I was ok for a little bit, but then I decided I didn't like the car much and cried. I cried until we hit the highway, then I dozed off.




It was a long ride. There was lots of napping and crying. Finally, we got home and Momma put me down in the yard so I could sniff it out and go potty. I did both, then went to meet the neighbor (these are the neighbors who had the baby bunnies living there). They were so nice and I love them to this day. I always go say hi and get a good scratch when I see them.

Momma took me in the house and there was all this stuff just for me, little Molly McFreckles: toys (LOTS of them), chew bones, a pink puppy Kong, and a big purple bed. But then I found the BEST toy...a kitty toy!!! Soon enough, I would meet one of the owners of that toy, Nala. Oh boy, Nala and I had quite the relationship, but it's better now. Nala and Winston....well, we'll see what happens there.

But the whole time I was awake and playing, something was missing: my doggy Momma and Daddy and my sisters. I looked all over for them. All over the house, all over the yard....they were nowhere to be found. I cried and cried and cried. Poor Momma, she was so upset to see me sad. No matter how hard she tried, I couldn't stop. But she's a good Momma and she slept on the sofa with me that night and made sure I was ok. In the middle of the night, I woke up next to her but she was still sleeping. No Momma, wake up! It's playtime! I started nudging her face with my nose and woke her up. She cuddled with me and we went back to sleep. She said something about it being the middle of the night or something...I dunno.



After a couple of days, I realized that it was all ok and that even though my doggy family wasn't here anymore, my people family was a pretty good substitute. Now a year later, I have my people family and a member of my doggy family (WINSTON!!!!) here with me. Life is pretty good!

...well, except for the nail clipping and vet visits. Booooo!