Hydra

HYDRA
January 28, 2009 – May 25, 2010

Dogs with Wings staff, volunteers and Crestwood Veterinary staff are mourning the loss of our beloved, Hydra. Hydra was put to sleep on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 25, 2010 due to liver disease. Hydra charmed people with her expressive brown eyes and wrinkly brow. No matter how ill she was feeling the opportunity for a run in the field with her doggie friends always lifted her spirits. We will relish the precious happy moments we witnessed and shared with our Hydra. Our greatest wish for her now is that she is running hard, resting comfortably and is at peace with her momma, Libby, in doggie Heaven. Good bye Hydra, your love and spirit have created many kindred spirits. We love you.

I had the special honor of working with Hydra as my designated dog to train when she moved into the adult program in February.  Our moments together were too short.  Thank-you Hydra for loving me back.  I miss you.

NOT Cushing's Disease

We got Bentley's test result back from Tuesday, and Bentley Boy was able to suppress his cortisone out put at the four hour and eight hour time intervals after he received the injection of simulated cortisol.  Although the test is sometimes false negative, we are ruling Cushing's Disease out for now.  Diabetes Insipidus http://www.surroundedbycats.com/di-whatisit.html is suspected now, but before a diagnosis is made, further testing to rule out kidney or liver problems will be done.  We won't know more about further testing until sometime next week.   I brought in another urine sample today from his morning pee, and the result came back diluted.  Diluted means his body isn't able to recycle his water as well as it should, so dehydration is a risk if water isn't always available for him.  I will post more as we know more.  Thanks so much for all of the concern expressed by those who know our Bentley.  B Boy is a special dog!

Sadly, and Much too Early, a New Journey Begins for our Bentley

CUSHING'S DISEASE

Bentley went to the vet on Friday because I was worried about the amount of water he has been drinking and the accidents he has been having in the house.  The good doctor (I think he is great) pulled up his weight history and we discovered Bentley has lost roughly 20% of his body weight over the last year.  I have been trying to figure out what has been going on with his coat too, for the last "two" years, it has been getting patchy and dull.  Blood work and a urine sample was given and I got the call yesterday about the results.  Bentley has very high levels of a hormone called cortisol in his blood and his urine sample was dilute.  This points too Cushing's Disease, a disease that effects either the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, or the adrenal gland, near the kidneys.  In healthy dogs (and people), the two glands communicate together to balance stress hormones in the body that affect blood sugar, metabolism, muscles, kidney function, immune system, etc.  Bentley's glands aren't communicating properly and so now we have to find out which gland is being affected by a small tumor.  If it is the adrenal gland, surgery can remove the tumor and essentially cure him of Cushing's Disease.  If the tumor is on the pituitary gland, surgery to remove it is not performed on dogs and he will have to go on medication.  80-85% Of dogs have the tumor on their pituitary gland.  This disease is more common in older dogs and Bentley is only three.

Today, Bentley will spend the day at the vet to confirm the diagnosis by receiving a low injection of simulated cortisol.  A healthy dog will stop producing cortisol when the injection is received.  From here, the next step will be to determine where the tumor is. 

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