Spatter

A Working Dog

Last year Shaynee had her picture in the paper for her work at the local nursing home.  This year, she's in it again...this time for her work at our library where she also works in her Therapy Dog status by participating in the Floyd County Library's reading program.  That program unites young readers with pet therapy dogs to  give children a non-judgmental audience. Here's the picture that appeared in our newspaper last week:

For those of you who have kept up with Shaynee's health, she's doing fine these days.  Many of the Cushings Disease symptoms are present...panting, hunger, big belly, thirst...but her spirit is well and joyous. 

Another Shaynee Update

Shaynee is back up at Blackberry Ridge and from what Judy tells me, she's a very happy camper.  What's not to like!  The good news is that she ran down and up the hill chasing after the lawn mower.  Last year she had gotten quite lazy...or so we thought.  Turns out it was one of the many signs that she was sick.  We just didn't realize it.  It's just been amazing what a few doses of homeopathic medicine and a new diet did for her well being.  I can't wait to see her there...

Therapy Dog Therapy

For quite a while now our little therapy dog's not been herself.  The first thing that happened was she gained weight.  She was put on a diet,  but then she became voraciously hungry and was always, always looking to eat.  We figure the diet food just wasn't staying with her...you know...like low fat foods don't stay with us.  She was never over fed, and despite a bit of weight loss, her torso took on a barrel shape.  We still weren't overly alarmed, as that shape is somewhat typical in poodles...of which Shaynee is part.  She got a bit lethargic.  Getting older?  Then we started to notice her stumbling some and panting a lot.  All these things got put on Judy's list to discuss with the vet when Shaynee went in for her annual exam.  

The exam was last week.

 
The vet took one look at Shaynee and said "this isn't the same dog I knew last year"  and went on to say that Shaynee looked like a poster child for a dog with Cushings Syndrome.  I looked up its symptoms after the fact, and sure enough, Shaynee had most of them: 

      • increased/excessive water consumption
      • increased/excessive urination
      • increased/excessive appetite
      • appearance of food stealing/guarding, begging, trash dumping, etc.
      • sagging, bloated, pot-bellied appearance
      • weight gain or its appearance, due to fat redistribution
      • exercise intolerance, lethargy, general or hind-leg weakness
      • new reluctance to jump on furniture or people
      • excess panting, seeking cool surfaces to rest on
      • symmetrically thinning hair or baldness on torso
      • other coat changes like dullness, dryness

Of course, hindsight is 20-20.  We had no idea about Cushings and so, never connected the dots.  The vet said that there could be a thyroid condition too. So the testing began. 

First was a blood test.  That revealed that Shaynee does, in fact, have hypothyroidism.  She  was given a prescription for the canine version of synthroid.   A day or so later, she went in for a day long series of blood tests to look for markers that would indicate Cushings.  Those results seemed to confirm she had it.  Then the next day she had ultra sound pictures taken of her adrenal glands.  They seemed more normal than what the vet would expect to see in a dog with Cushings, and so now there's some doubt as to what's going on.

Long story short...the  vet decided that she didn't want to start the very complicated Cushings treatment until she saw if the thyroid medicine resolved things.   Of course, that's what we're all hoping for.   We'll know more in three weeks or so.  Our fingers are crossed...
 

Making Things Easier

As you know, Shaynee is certified with the Broward County Humane Society in the Animal Assisted Therapy Dog program.  She's been going to care facilities both in Florida and here in Floyd bringing smiles to some otherwise lonely eyes. 

Doing this has been very rewarding, but Judy was finding it physically hard on her  as she was bending down, picking Shaynee up and holding her out so that the residents can touch and pet her...over and over again.  Believe me, thirteen pounds can feel heavy after a while!   Shaynee never complained, but I'm sure this didn't feel so good to her either. 

Judy found the perfect solution...a baby stroller.  Yup, a stroller...one that folds up.  We found it at the Blacksburg YMCA thrift store for $2.  It's in great shape and even has a bottom shelf where Judy can put a water bottle, etc. on it.  And it's just the right height for residents in beds or wheelchairs.

The idea is to have Shaynee sit in it and be wheeled around from room to room without having to pick her up and put her down  That'll save Judy's back and Shaynee's ribs from being strained. 

Right now Judy's working on getting Shaynee familiar and comfortable with being in it.  She's off to a good start...thanks to a treat or two.

Even the stroll down the hallway went pretty well...

 

First Visit

Today was Shaynee's very first pet therapy visit....a day that Judy's been looking forward to for a very long time.   

Off we went to our designated facility...a very nice looking and feeling place where people with various stages of memory loss reside.  Having a background in custodial institutions, I know all too well what could go on between staff and resident in these kinds of places.  But no need to worry here.  It was obvious that the staff-members were caring and capable, and that the residents were treated well.

The facility's Activity Coordinator (Tamika) escorted us back through several activity areas where residents spend their mid-day hours. She introduced us one by one to each of them.

Most got a twinkle in their eye as they spied us coming into the room.  They were as excited as we'd hoped they'd be to see us.  And as expected, they mostly spoke of the dogs in their lives. One even thought Shaynee was her dog. There were others though who were unresponsive and uninterested...that is until Tamika called their name and placed their hand on Shaynee.  Then, they perked up. For a moment at least, you could see their minds engage.

Throughout it all, Shaynee's temperament was magnificent. Despite constant and unfamiliar stimulation, she was always the "proper lady" with the residents.

Here are a few pictures of Judy and Shaynee in action with my personal favorite residents:

All in all, it was a heartwarming time.