A Note From Joey and Maggie: Please Stand By

Dear Gentle Readers,

We just wanted to let you know that like your 'Long and Short of it All' host 'Joey,' updates will be a bit spotty this week.  We're hoping that we may be able to squeeze in just a few as the week progresses, but we're unsure at this point.  We should be back to speed next week. 

Everything is OK on the home front - Joey is doing amazingly well as we continue to treat him for Addison's Disease after his surgery last fall for adrenal-dependent Cushing's Disease and spleenectomy.  He got his monthly DOCP shot yesterday (OUCH!)  and continues to get oral prednisone and ursodiol every day.  He's a happy boy.

We wish that we had such good news to report for 'Maggie.'  We're still having trouble getting her meds stablized for her pituitary-dependent Cushing's Disease.  We took her in for levels a few weeks ago, and her cortisol level is 5-10 times where it should be.  So, we doubled her dose of trilostane, and will do follow-up levels this coming Saturday.  To top things off, she has developed a nasty tumor on her anus.  It was aspirated, and is "most likely" benign, so we are thankful for that.  She will have to have surgery to have it removed soon, but we've got to get her Cushing's under control before such a procedure.  We'll know more after Saturday's visit to the vet.  She spends a lot of time sleeping and trying to get comfortable because her big belly from her Cushing's really gets in the way.  We can't tell if she's a happy girl because she doesn't wag her tail anymore - she's embarrassed about her tumor and keeps her tail tucked in at all times.  Hoping Saturday's vet visit goes well and we can schedule to get her tumor removed.  We miss her wagging tail.

Yours in Dachshund Love,

Joey and Maggie....