The girl's all right
May. 8th, 2023 15:37![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bill_schubertZoe and I went to Texas A&M today for her six month checkup. She took rapamycin for couple of years as part of a test to see how it affects the lifespan and quality of life of dogs. We don't know if she took the placebo or the actual drug or if it even works. The pay off is she gets a full work up test every six months for free. I send that to our vet and her annual is much simpler and cheaper. And we have a pretty good idea of her health.
Which is good.
They were pretty up beat comparing her to last fall's exam. I can tell she's slowing down a bit and she's been drinking a lot of water so the blood tests might have more info.
But her heart is in good shape (both of our hearts are strong, I've got a good canine trainer) and there is nothing else indicating any problems. The blood test will tell the final tale. I'm a little concerned since she is drinking a lot of water and frequently hungry, both symptoms of a pituitary secretion that is common in older dogs called Cushings Disease. Unfortunately the prognosis is at best a couple of years if that is what she has. You know it is bad when diabetes would be a preferable diagnosis.
But we've had scares before and it is unusual for a dog her age to be free of all problems. Usually it is cancer. Her quality of life is still excellent so we'll take it as it comes.
Which is good.
They were pretty up beat comparing her to last fall's exam. I can tell she's slowing down a bit and she's been drinking a lot of water so the blood tests might have more info.
But her heart is in good shape (both of our hearts are strong, I've got a good canine trainer) and there is nothing else indicating any problems. The blood test will tell the final tale. I'm a little concerned since she is drinking a lot of water and frequently hungry, both symptoms of a pituitary secretion that is common in older dogs called Cushings Disease. Unfortunately the prognosis is at best a couple of years if that is what she has. You know it is bad when diabetes would be a preferable diagnosis.
But we've had scares before and it is unusual for a dog her age to be free of all problems. Usually it is cancer. Her quality of life is still excellent so we'll take it as it comes.
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Date: 2023-05-10 02:02 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-05-11 21:02 (UTC)