Doggie Update
Friday's visit for an ultrasound revealed that the "mass" on Lucie's adrenal gland has not grown. It hasn't gone away, but the lack of any increase in size means it is not a tumor. This is very good news because had it been a tumor the likelihood of a successful surgery (i.e., one that not only removed the tumor but also left the dog alive after the procedure) was very low.
However, Lucie still has Cushing's Disease, which means her adrenals are not producing the right levels of several different hormones. However, since she doesn't have a tumor, this probably means we will go ahead with a chemical treatment which will, in effect, wipe out her adrenal glands ability to manufacture any hormones (or that's how I understand it, anyway). The result will be that we will then have to orally provide daily doses of hormones to her, which won't be so bad if we're lucky enough to figure out the right mixture/balance sooner rather than later.Meanwhile, Gej had his first puppy class on Saturday morning.
The class only had two other puppies (and one of them belonged to an employee). A lot of it was very basic, things that anyone who had ever had a dog should already have known. But it's good to be reminded all the same (my last dog was more than ten years ago).
I did learn a few new things, and the next two sessions promise to be quite useful.
Also, Gej got to play with other dogs, and that kind of socialization is very good for him. The sooner he learns to play nice and get along, the sooner we can move toward therapy dog training.
I'm looking forward to more walkies with him around the neighborhood, but that didn't happen today because of the ice and snow that has lingered. Phooey.
However, Lucie still has Cushing's Disease, which means her adrenals are not producing the right levels of several different hormones. However, since she doesn't have a tumor, this probably means we will go ahead with a chemical treatment which will, in effect, wipe out her adrenal glands ability to manufacture any hormones (or that's how I understand it, anyway). The result will be that we will then have to orally provide daily doses of hormones to her, which won't be so bad if we're lucky enough to figure out the right mixture/balance sooner rather than later.Meanwhile, Gej had his first puppy class on Saturday morning.
The class only had two other puppies (and one of them belonged to an employee). A lot of it was very basic, things that anyone who had ever had a dog should already have known. But it's good to be reminded all the same (my last dog was more than ten years ago).
I did learn a few new things, and the next two sessions promise to be quite useful.
Also, Gej got to play with other dogs, and that kind of socialization is very good for him. The sooner he learns to play nice and get along, the sooner we can move toward therapy dog training.
I'm looking forward to more walkies with him around the neighborhood, but that didn't happen today because of the ice and snow that has lingered. Phooey.