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angelakSo, I called my vet to get the results. It started recently when Rufus began drinking excessive amounts of water and urinating equally as much. Of course, drink a lot - pee a lot. At first I wasn't really noticing it much beyond, "damn boy - why are you so thirsty?"
And then the indoor accidents began. The kind that he is typically pretty good about avoiding. Jim more or less assumed it was the cold weather and Ru's stubbornness. But, lately I've just been hesitant to punish the dog - the nagging feeling that even though he didn't "ASK" to go out, that it was somehow beyond his control. But I also didn't want to appear like I let me dogs get away with going in the house. I usually have no issue with disciplining them.
Finally the epiphany came to me one day after discussing it before bed with Jim. "This is out of character. He needs a checkup... perhaps there's something up with his body."
So, thankfully with Jim's financial aid along with my own money we got blood tests, urinalysis, and fecal analysis done. Results: Negative on Diabetes. Not that for sure.
Cushings Disease. Very strong possibility. 90% sure. After the lengthy discussion with the vet, the conclusion is that in order to confirm, we need more tests. (Before we could medicate him, and honestly, that's good. Who wants to misdiagnose and give a dog the wrong meds? Fatal type mistakes, ugh). The cost may be $300-$400 to do the rest of the diagnosis alongside with an ultrasound to check out his abdomen. The good news is it really is not currently life or death.
The bad news (I could go on for pages and explain Cushings, but suffice to say I read everything possible about it so far and Jim's dad's Dachshund also has it - so I have a fair understanding about what it is, what causes it, what treatments there are, what can happen if you treat it or if you do not). is that it may cost and if I don't do anything, there are some nasty things that could develop down the line.
He's old, but this does explain a few things. I have all the documentation (I am a research junkie once it is something that is important to me) and I will be sharing these tidbits with Jim. Several of my findings indicate that yes, it is common for older, otherwise housebroken pets to begin to have "accidents." How could they not? Their bladders fill so quickly, from drinking 2-10 times the amount of liquid and all the hormonal issues of the condition, well. I just realize my gut feeling has been right. Sometimes I am sure it hits him quick enough so that he just doesn't have time or inclination to get to the door to ask. Especially if we're distracted (IE, intense video gaming, or I'm reading...)
*siiiighs* SO. I hope to talk to my grandparents, (everybody adores Rufus) and see how likely it would be if they'd help me out with some of the vet bill. Either way, I plan on finding a way to treat this sooner than later if I can help it. The sooner we confirm it, the sooner we can treat it. The sooner we can treat it, the better his condition and life will be.
He may have any amount of time to live. (Like any of us in the world of the living really...). I'd prefer that such a nice dog be as comfortable as he can be in his elder years.
I have had a lot of thoughts about Mindy and her 12 year life span. It does bring on awareness to me that Rufus is 11, going on 12 this March. It's a weird realization - but I'm also somewhat emotionally prepared. It is average for dogs diagnosed with Cushings to live a 2-3 more years after diagnosis. If that's the case, that's a damn good lifespan. How fortunate could I be to have this gem of a dog his entire life, regardless of how long that spans from now?
Anyways. It will be hard someday when he goes because this dog has really been there for me through pretty must my worst times. Teenage-hood and early adulthood. Some of my absolute worst moments, that dog has been somewhat of a pillar in a small body. Annnnyhow.
Certainly the kind of dog that has marked my life indefinitely.
It's good that he was around when Mindy died.
Ahhhh - the ever mortal cycle of life.
Thank goodness for dogs, because seriously. I think my life would be so much less full without them!
-Angela
And then the indoor accidents began. The kind that he is typically pretty good about avoiding. Jim more or less assumed it was the cold weather and Ru's stubbornness. But, lately I've just been hesitant to punish the dog - the nagging feeling that even though he didn't "ASK" to go out, that it was somehow beyond his control. But I also didn't want to appear like I let me dogs get away with going in the house. I usually have no issue with disciplining them.
Finally the epiphany came to me one day after discussing it before bed with Jim. "This is out of character. He needs a checkup... perhaps there's something up with his body."
So, thankfully with Jim's financial aid along with my own money we got blood tests, urinalysis, and fecal analysis done. Results: Negative on Diabetes. Not that for sure.
Cushings Disease. Very strong possibility. 90% sure. After the lengthy discussion with the vet, the conclusion is that in order to confirm, we need more tests. (Before we could medicate him, and honestly, that's good. Who wants to misdiagnose and give a dog the wrong meds? Fatal type mistakes, ugh). The cost may be $300-$400 to do the rest of the diagnosis alongside with an ultrasound to check out his abdomen. The good news is it really is not currently life or death.
The bad news (I could go on for pages and explain Cushings, but suffice to say I read everything possible about it so far and Jim's dad's Dachshund also has it - so I have a fair understanding about what it is, what causes it, what treatments there are, what can happen if you treat it or if you do not). is that it may cost and if I don't do anything, there are some nasty things that could develop down the line.
He's old, but this does explain a few things. I have all the documentation (I am a research junkie once it is something that is important to me) and I will be sharing these tidbits with Jim. Several of my findings indicate that yes, it is common for older, otherwise housebroken pets to begin to have "accidents." How could they not? Their bladders fill so quickly, from drinking 2-10 times the amount of liquid and all the hormonal issues of the condition, well. I just realize my gut feeling has been right. Sometimes I am sure it hits him quick enough so that he just doesn't have time or inclination to get to the door to ask. Especially if we're distracted (IE, intense video gaming, or I'm reading...)
*siiiighs* SO. I hope to talk to my grandparents, (everybody adores Rufus) and see how likely it would be if they'd help me out with some of the vet bill. Either way, I plan on finding a way to treat this sooner than later if I can help it. The sooner we confirm it, the sooner we can treat it. The sooner we can treat it, the better his condition and life will be.
He may have any amount of time to live. (Like any of us in the world of the living really...). I'd prefer that such a nice dog be as comfortable as he can be in his elder years.
I have had a lot of thoughts about Mindy and her 12 year life span. It does bring on awareness to me that Rufus is 11, going on 12 this March. It's a weird realization - but I'm also somewhat emotionally prepared. It is average for dogs diagnosed with Cushings to live a 2-3 more years after diagnosis. If that's the case, that's a damn good lifespan. How fortunate could I be to have this gem of a dog his entire life, regardless of how long that spans from now?
Anyways. It will be hard someday when he goes because this dog has really been there for me through pretty must my worst times. Teenage-hood and early adulthood. Some of my absolute worst moments, that dog has been somewhat of a pillar in a small body. Annnnyhow.
Certainly the kind of dog that has marked my life indefinitely.
It's good that he was around when Mindy died.
Ahhhh - the ever mortal cycle of life.
Thank goodness for dogs, because seriously. I think my life would be so much less full without them!
-Angela
