.jpg)
.jpg)
%202.jpg)
Winslow as most of you know is the mascot of Dog Trot Farm, he is the dog with the trot. For the past month there have been many highs and lows regarding Winslow's health. For a brief period our weekly vet. visits began to show much improvement and then a slippery slope of declining health set in. Winslow's blood sugar remained high, as in off the meter high. Our once weekly visit evolved into twice weekly with some all day stays. The word Cushing's disease remained lurking in the conversations with our vet. I had declined to further educate myself on Cushings as I knew it was not going to be good, not an easy disease to treat in dogs. One day as I was checking out an owner brought in a Cairn. Princess was ten, as is Winslow Homer, but appeared much older. In a matter of a week with declining health Princess was diagnosed with diabetes and had become blind. I was looking at the worse case scenario. My heart sank. Along with the diabetes Winslow has a skin condition. Unable to take steroids due to the diabetes Winslow is on a antihistamine. To top it all off he has a collapsible trachea. What was first diagnosed as Kennel cough and then bronchitis turned out to be his trachea. This condition does occur in dogs and treatment could consist of having his trachea rebuilt or as benign as a cough suppressant and stress management. We have opted for the later. Now for the good news, Monday Winslow's blood sugar was near perfect and his heart and lungs sounded clear and strong. No need to see Dr. Rust for two weeks, two weeks....I could jump for joy! Our day begins at 5:30.... breakfast and an insulin shot and one doggie treat between breakfast and dinner. It's difficult, Winslow takes after his human mom we love our treats, but if tough love is going to keep Mr. Winslow Homer with us for a few more years than that is what we are commited to. So there you have it dear friends....today was a good day for both Winslow Homer and myself.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
WINSLOW HOMER
Many of you kind friends have inquired as to the well being of Winslow Homer, our Cairn Terrier.
Winslow as most of you know is the mascot of Dog Trot Farm, he is the dog with the trot. For the past month there have been many highs and lows regarding Winslow's health. For a brief period our weekly vet. visits began to show much improvement and then a slippery slope of declining health set in. Winslow's blood sugar remained high, as in off the meter high. Our once weekly visit evolved into twice weekly with some all day stays. The word Cushing's disease remained lurking in the conversations with our vet. I had declined to further educate myself on Cushings as I knew it was not going to be good, not an easy disease to treat in dogs. One day as I was checking out an owner brought in a Cairn. Princess was ten, as is Winslow Homer, but appeared much older. In a matter of a week with declining health Princess was diagnosed with diabetes and had become blind. I was looking at the worse case scenario. My heart sank. Along with the diabetes Winslow has a skin condition. Unable to take steroids due to the diabetes Winslow is on a antihistamine. To top it all off he has a collapsible trachea. What was first diagnosed as Kennel cough and then bronchitis turned out to be his trachea. This condition does occur in dogs and treatment could consist of having his trachea rebuilt or as benign as a cough suppressant and stress management. We have opted for the later. Now for the good news, Monday Winslow's blood sugar was near perfect and his heart and lungs sounded clear and strong. No need to see Dr. Rust for two weeks, two weeks....I could jump for joy! Our day begins at 5:30.... breakfast and an insulin shot and one doggie treat between breakfast and dinner. It's difficult, Winslow takes after his human mom we love our treats, but if tough love is going to keep Mr. Winslow Homer with us for a few more years than that is what we are commited to. So there you have it dear friends....today was a good day for both Winslow Homer and myself.
Winslow as most of you know is the mascot of Dog Trot Farm, he is the dog with the trot. For the past month there have been many highs and lows regarding Winslow's health. For a brief period our weekly vet. visits began to show much improvement and then a slippery slope of declining health set in. Winslow's blood sugar remained high, as in off the meter high. Our once weekly visit evolved into twice weekly with some all day stays. The word Cushing's disease remained lurking in the conversations with our vet. I had declined to further educate myself on Cushings as I knew it was not going to be good, not an easy disease to treat in dogs. One day as I was checking out an owner brought in a Cairn. Princess was ten, as is Winslow Homer, but appeared much older. In a matter of a week with declining health Princess was diagnosed with diabetes and had become blind. I was looking at the worse case scenario. My heart sank. Along with the diabetes Winslow has a skin condition. Unable to take steroids due to the diabetes Winslow is on a antihistamine. To top it all off he has a collapsible trachea. What was first diagnosed as Kennel cough and then bronchitis turned out to be his trachea. This condition does occur in dogs and treatment could consist of having his trachea rebuilt or as benign as a cough suppressant and stress management. We have opted for the later. Now for the good news, Monday Winslow's blood sugar was near perfect and his heart and lungs sounded clear and strong. No need to see Dr. Rust for two weeks, two weeks....I could jump for joy! Our day begins at 5:30.... breakfast and an insulin shot and one doggie treat between breakfast and dinner. It's difficult, Winslow takes after his human mom we love our treats, but if tough love is going to keep Mr. Winslow Homer with us for a few more years than that is what we are commited to. So there you have it dear friends....today was a good day for both Winslow Homer and myself.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
28 comments:
I'm jumping for joy with you!! Sending prayers that Winslow Homer's health remains stable. He's such a sweetie.
Oh Julie, thank you for the update. I am so sorry he and you are dealing with this but I am thrilled he is doing well. It is just crushing when our babies are sick-especially when it is serious. Poor Princess. My dog, Pappy, who is 11 has been going to Ohio State for several months and had a major surgery due to cancer. He is on chemotherapy and just today got a great report. His tests were clean and they are amazed at how well he’s doing so I can relate to these terrible struggles. What a wonderful doggy mom you are for starting your day at 5:30. You can tell how much you all love WH and I know he is a loving little guy. Bless him :)
Hugs, Amy
It is so hard when they are sick. they just can't come and say what is wrong so it all comes down to guessing. I wish winslow homer and his mom many many good days.
cathy
Oh I saw the title of your Post and my heart stopped. I was so afraid. I know all that you say is true as my sister has had two. I am so glad he gets to not see the doctor for two weeks. I do and will keep the lovely Winslow Homer in my Prayers. And his owners.
I am so glad he is better.
Good news about Winslow's latest results. He is a tough little guy. I hope his health continues to be on the up swing. He looked so cute the other day with his snowy little face.
Winslow is a sweet little doggie. I hope you hear only good things from the vet from now on. :)
Julie,
You had me scared to click on your blog today! I was so afraid something had happened to Winslow Homer!
We have gone through similar experiences with our Smokey ( Bichon Poo). He gets 6 cc of insulin 9:00 am and fed about an hour later. I cook oatmeal and always have cooked chicken from those frozen chicken breast I buy at Walmart. I mix a good quality dog food in with that Nutro Ultra. He gets fed again about 5:00 PM. Believe me he doesn't let us forget what time it is! Everyday he is out in the kitchen at that time and HAS to eat. He also developed a skin condition last winter. No steroids but he was on Cyclosporin for most of the winter. He did great and didn't have to be on it all summer. Early December the skin condition returned and he's on Cyclo again. That stuff is expensive $2.00 for one pill. I did get him down to one pill every other day but still!!!!! Is there any doubt we LOVE this dog!! Sounds like you are doing the best things for Winslow Homer....... our Smokey isn't going blind yet either ( he's 8 yrs. old now).
Hang in there you guys! Give Winslow Homer a hug for me!!
Hugs!
Cathy G
I am a fairly new reader, but have read your posts about Winslow's health trials. Being a dog owner with a "pet pharmacy" in my kitchen, I can sympathize with dealing with all of this. I am happy for his/your good doggie health news, and will look forward to reading about Winslow's future adventures. He is one sweet boy and I'm sure is happy with less car rides to the vet! :o)
Bless you and Winslow Homer,Your a
good mom! Cheri
OMG, I am a lurker and don't think I have every commented, but this post got my attention. I am so glad that Mr Winslow Homer is doing better. I was so scared reading this post!!!! I love reading your posts everyday and am so sorry I have not commented before. Hope you don't mind my snooping around everyday!!
Linda in Ms
So happy for both of you!!! May Winslow Homer continue to do well.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren
Good to hear that Winslow is doing well this week. You can take a break from worrying so much. Just wish we could tell our babies what's wrong and why we have to give them medicine and why they might be feeling bad. '
Best wishes for Winslow's health to stay within normal ranges!
Whew....you scared me there till I got further down in the post! SO happy for your news, Yay Winslow!!!
Karen
I must admit that I was thinking the worst as I read this post but I am so very glad that Winslow is doing better and that things are looking up for him. B Baggins sends his best wishes too:)
Glad you two had a good day, I hope it is the first of a good long string og good days.
Ali
I am so sorry about Winslow Homer. I didn't know dogs/animals could get as sick as people. Just never think about an animal having sugar problems, etc. But, I do know pets are members of our family. When I was growing up, we always had dogs, wired hair fox terriers. So I am a terrier girl. Hope you have a good day, snow is melting here. smiles, Linda
That is good!!!
Take care and you both are in my thoughts.
Winslow is such a lucky dog!
Hugs and kisses for him!
Wonderful that Winslow is doing well today, I love my two fur kids and don't like it when they are sick.
Thanks for the update Julie, I was starting to cry, until I saw you had GOOD NEWS!!. Big hug to Winslow and you as well. Have a wonderful day with your little guy.
I love you, Winslow Homer! You stay healthy, good boy, and continue to keep those sugar numbers low.
You and Daisy Lu both have big spots in my heart. I can just see our three pups - Winslow Homer, Daisy Lu and Roxy Louise - running around like mad together and regaling each other with their best and worst stories of life with chickens and guinea hens. This image brings a HUGE smile to my face.
I am so happy to read this post. At first I thought it was going to horrible and hard and I didn't know if I could do it so I jumped down to the comments. WHEW! Then I read...I'm so happy for you and that darling, darling little dog! YEAH!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Glad to hear the good news about Winslow Homer. We've gone round and round with our Corgi Gus's health this past fall, so I can sympathize. It is hard to see them suffer. Gus ended up with the Cushings and has daily meds. The diabetes must be a challenge. My son has type 1 and I know the drill.
Hope things continue to move in this positive direction!
All my best!
Courtney
That is such good news. We're all rooting for Winslow here and sending him lots of hugs!
~Andrea~
Dear Winslow Homer, So glad you have a little reprieve in between your Drs. visits. Yoy are such a good little patient. Your mom and dad take such good care of you. They need you strong and healthy to keep those girls in line.
Whew! So glad to hear this precious little guy had a good day, and it does appear that things are looking up. You are the best doggy mama.. hugs to you and Winslow! -Tammy
Oh Julie...I don't know how I missed this post! I think you are doing a wonderful job managing Winslow's diabetes...it takes real commitment to keep going as you are. And, love.
Hoping Winslow will feel better. It is tough when critters have health issues. I know too well what that is all about. I know that Winslow is in loving hands.
Janet
Post a Comment