MY DOG ……. A SURPRISE FOR ME
OR
HOW I FINALLY GOT HIM!
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PAGE TWENTY-EIGHT
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- Halcyon Days, Greek gods, the shortest day of the year, Alcyone (Halcyone), kingfisher & Aeolus.
Top Left: Aeolus, Greek God of Wind; Bottom Left: Alcyone; & Alcedo cristata – the Malachite Kingfisher
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Dawn
I believed that Casanova/Puppy was happy living with me. I certainly was happy that he was here. He awoke at dawn and before breakfast enjoyed inspecting his garden in order to check that nothing untoward had occurred during the night.
Each day he gave me great pleasure with each being filled with joy. I hoped that these Halcyon Days would last forever.
The Hay Wain painted by John Constable (1776-1837) in 1821
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Mario Lanza (1921-1959) – Golden Days – from the operetta, The Student Prince (1924)
with music by Sigmond Romberg (1887-1951) & Dorothy Donnelly (1876-1928)
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Casanova/Puppy was a creature of habit, and since he rose with the dawn, it was to be expected that his day would come to an end once the sun began to set.
Sunset
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It is said that nothing of this world lasts forever, and this we all must learn. Alas these Golden Days would proved no different. Night would eventually follow and all too soon darkness would take the place of the setting sun.
Night
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Gale Storm – Dark Moon
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The dark cloud appeared on our horizon about eighteen months ago. Following a routine blood test, Casanova/Puppy was found to have elevated Liver Function Tests (LFTs). With further studies, he was diagnosed with probable Cushing’s Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism (HAC)) resulting from a Tumour (or Tumours) in the Pituitary Gland.
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Cushing’s Disease (also known as Cushing’s Syndrome) is caused by the body producing too much Cortisol, a steroid hormone produced in the Adrenal Glands and is essential to life. Cortisol helps combat the effects of stress and is involved in the body’s Fight or Flight response. It also regulates skin health, body weight and tissue structure, and too much can weaken the immune system. Unfortunately Cushing’s Disease is not always evident in its early stages.
From WholeDogJournal (awaiting permission to reproduce here)
There are two types of Cushing’s Disease (Syndrome) which results from a Tumour in either the Pituitary or Adrenal Gland:
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- The Pituitary Gland-dependent condition results from the presence of a small, benign Tumour or Neoplasm (Adenoma) in the Pituitary Gland in the brain and accounts for ~80% of cases. The Tumour stimulates an excess production of the Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), which then stimulates the Adrenal Glands to produce an excess of Cortisol.
- The Adrenal-dependent condition is a result of a Tumour in one or both Adrenal Glands. Tumours can be benign (~50%) or malignant (Carcinoma; 50%). In some cases (14-50%), Metastasis of the Tumours can occur to other organs.
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- Iatrogenic Cushing’s Syndrome can result when excess Cortisol is given as a medication.
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From pdsa – Awaiting permission to reproduce here
The Vet and I agreed to a treatment plan to help slow down the progression of Casanova/Puppy’s Cushing’s Disease ……. at least for a while ……. that is! Treatment of this aliment was with the drug Vetoryl (Trilostane), which is the only FDA-approved medication to help treat Cushing’s Disease caused by Pituitary or Adrenal Tumours. However, the medication does not treat the Tumours, but rather their effects. Casanova/Puppy would be required to take this drug for the rest of his life. A great advantage was that it could be given with food.
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Vetoryl is not intended for dogs with liver problems, and since Casanova/Puppy had elevated LFTs, it would seem that it would not be a good choice in his case. The Vet suggested that he also take Denamarin advanced, which consists of S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and Silybin, and which would support and protect his liver from further damage. Of course taking these drugs would require the close scrutiny of his LFTs.
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As wonderful as these drugs sounded, one of them would prove to be a NIGHTMARE for me! Denamarin had to be administered on an empty stomach. Therefore it would seem sensible to give Casanova/Puppy this drug-mixture first-thing-in-the-morning and wait for it to enter the blood stream and then administer Vetoryl followed by breakfast. Easy-peasy!
Casanova/Puppy was a creature of habit. He got up at 5 a.m., went outside to relieve himself and then took breakfast! He made it abundantly clear to me that nothing – absolutely nothing including medications – was going to interfere with this regimen. Therefore, we had to wait two hours after his breakfast for him to take the Denamarin.
At first I tried to give him the Denamarin myself. The capsule had to be given without allowing it to be broken.
This required it being placed on his tongue at the back of his mouth. Easy-peasy! or so I was told!
According to the Vet and everyone I knew, this was an easy thing to do. Easy for them, but not, I fear, for me! I was shown a dozen or so times by various people how to open his mouth and administer the drug. It looked easy. A child could do it! But Master Casanova Jenkins refused to open his mouth for me no matter how much I tried. For some reason, he just refused to allow me to give him the drug! I got the impression from the gleam in his eye each time I tried that he was paying me back for things I had not allowed him to do or have!
Perhaps I was being repaid for not allowing him to totally take over my bed and/or for some other error on my part or perhaps he just enjoyed tormenting me! It was a true NIGHTMARE! Often I was on the verge of weeping!
Right: The Scream (1893) painted by Edvard Munch (1863-1944)
I pleaded with him to allow me to give him the drug, but he did not relent. I coaxed him to allow entry of the drug into his mouth by coating it with peanut butter, but he spat the capsule out and it landed across the room! So many capsules were broken and the drug spread about the place! Alas, every effort on my part failed miserably!
Evidently, and in great despair, I asked my neighbour for help. She kindly agreed to give him the drug each day. She had absolutely no trouble opening his mouth and placing the capsule at the back of his throat. Often he would just open his mouth and allow the capsule to be placed in his mouth whereupon he swallowed it. Easy-peasy!
A hour after his taking the Denamarin capsule, he would take the Vetoryl along with a few treats. After this, I would Praise G-d that his medications had been successful given!
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His LFTs were checked periodically and their levels decreased dramatically over the next year or so thereby making all the troubles and sufferings of drug administration worthwhile.
Meanwhile, Casanova/Puppy continued to show no symptoms of Cushing’s Disease, I was more than happy to say!
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I loved the images and music in your reminiscences of halcyon days with Casanova/Puppy! Thanks for explaining the term, since I seemed to have forgotten its origin, if I ever knew it. And your medication ordeal will resonate with so many of us who have nursed senior pets through chronic illnesses.
Linda: Thanks so much for visiting the website and leaving a comment. Charles