Good News On Blind Lady
When I took blind Austin the Beagle to our vet clinic in Helena yesterday, I also brought along blind Lady, the old girl who came to us about a month ago from Missoula Animal Control. A week after she arrived, our vets did an echocardiogram and found that Lady had a serious heart problem -- mitral valve regurgitation -- that had caused pulmonary edema, or fluid building up in her chest. She also had Cushing's disease and a major urinary tract infection. Based on her heart condition, they didn't think she'd have long to live ... a matter of months, most likely.
We started her on multiple heart medications, antibiotics for the infection, and a British drug for Cushing's called trilostane, under the brand name Vetoryl. (It's not approved for sale in the U.S. yet but the FDA allows veterinarians to order it from the U.K. through a special process.)
So Lady was due for another echocardiogram and other tests to assess her heart function and see how well she was responding to the medications. Our vet Dr. Jennifer Rockwell called today with good news from the echo: While Lady's left atrium is still enlarged, it has improved, as has her heart's 'contractility,' or pumping ability. Best of all, there was also no fluid building up in her chest, which was a very good sign and a major improvement.
Jennifer was cautiously optimistic that given these trends, Lady might be able to live longer than they originally thought when they first saw her. And that was great to hear!
I took the photo above of Lady a couple of weeks ago after we had her groomed ... her thick, shaggy coat was terribly matted underneath, so she needed to be shaved down. She is mostly deaf, we learned, but if you're within about 10 feet of her and speak VERY LOUDLY, she can hear you ... and then she starts wagging that fluffy tail of hers in a happy greeting!
Awesome! We'll keep all our paws crossed here.
Posted by:yoonamaniac | May 15, 2008 at 07:14 PM
Yeah! Great to hear the news about precious older girl! She is in good hands at the ranch so she deserves to be spoiled rotten in her sunset years!!!!
Posted by:Nina | May 15, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Wonderfu! news what a sweetie.
Posted by:gayle | May 15, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Great news on Lady! I'm sure her medications are aided by the love and wonderful life she is now enjoying at RDR.
As for the tail... it looks much like by Border collie, Jenny's, tail. In our best Monty Python accent, we refer to it as "beautiful plumage!"
Posted by:Linda | May 15, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Three cheers for Lady!! I'm so glad to hear that she's doing much better now.
Another RDR's success story in the making!:-)
Please tell Lady she looks very pretty after her grooming session (isn't that fluffy tail of hers adorable?).
Posted by:Carla Polastro-Nigro | May 15, 2008 at 07:55 AM
Thank you so much for giving this sweet little girl the love and care she SO deserves....she may not be with us long, but at least for that period of time she will be loved and cared for. You guys rock!
Posted by:Debbie | May 15, 2008 at 07:53 AM
So glad to hear that Lady has improved. She looks like such a sweet dog and I hope she is able to enjoy herself for a long while at the Rolling Dog Ranch.
Posted by:Julie | May 15, 2008 at 07:50 AM
Lady deserves some extra good time on this earth. This is wonderful news all around.
How about a blog on the Old Ladies' Club? A picture of all three of them sitting on the porch in their rockers drinking mint julips? Well, y'know, in doggie terms, of course.
Posted by:Janet in Cambridge | May 15, 2008 at 05:57 AM
As Sarah said, I just want to give lady a big hug too, and hope she has many many months to come. :)
Posted by:Andrew, NZ | May 15, 2008 at 03:08 AM
Yippee Lady - great news!
Just shows you: nothing heals a "sore" heart like some tender loving care - and who better than you guys to give it. Take care.
Posted by:bregda,south africa | May 15, 2008 at 02:56 AM
GO sweet Lady go!! You can tell she is tender.
Posted by:Shirley & James, Portland, OR | May 14, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Yeah for Lady! I'm so happy that she is responding to the meds and that she has ya'll for her mom and dad! This was just the news that made my day.
Posted by:Lynn | May 14, 2008 at 09:58 PM
She looks so lovely. I want to give her a big hug
Posted by:Sarah NZ | May 14, 2008 at 09:38 PM
That is wonderful news. Let's hope she becomes as **very old** Lady.
Posted by:Helen Rietz | May 14, 2008 at 07:27 PM
Sweet Lady! She has stolen my heart from the first time you posted her. I'm glad to hear she's doing better. Whatever time she has left will be happy there at the ranch! I was interested to hear about Tilostane/Vetoryl...one of my dogs has Cushing's and is currently on Lysodren. I'm always looking for information regarding treatment for him. Thanks, as always, for your wonderful updates. Kisses to Lady!
Posted by:Sue H | May 14, 2008 at 07:02 PM
It's great to read that Lady is responding so well to the medication! The fact that she's getting so much love & special care isn't hurting any either. I'm sending her special hugs for her improved health,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by:ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | May 14, 2008 at 06:44 PM