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Sunday, October 10, 2010

A Note From Joey and Maggie: Please Stand By

Your 'Long and Short of it All' hosts Joey 'n Maggie, Fall, 2008

We're going on vacation, but we'll be back in a few days with more breaking Dachshund news, pop culture, vintage fun, awesome reader features and great videos.  Speaking of great Dachshund videos, you won't want to miss the return of 'Gauis' in the follow-up video to his smash hit Play?  Stay tuned!
On the home front, we've got some great news!  Well, it's bad news which could be much, much worse, so we'll call it great news!   If you remember in one of the first posts about Joey and his Cushing's disease, we stated that Maggie had some unresolved issues as well - drinking a lot, pot-bellied appearance, etc, like Joey, but Joey's off-the-charts liver values led us to start surgery on him right away.  It turns out that after a urine specific gravity test, urine cortisol test, ACTH stimulation test, and Ultrasound, that Maggie does indeed have Cushing's disease as well, just like her littermate brother.  That's the bad news.
However, the great news is that she does NOT have tumors on her adrenal glands the way Joey did, so her Cushing's is pituitary dependent, and surgery is NOT required for her.  Even our vet said that he wouldn't be surprised if Maggie had the adrenal tumors like Joey since they were littermates. 
Honestly, Joey's vet bills were so astronomically insane - like the price of a brand new mid-size car - that we had no idea where the money was going to come from if Maggie needed to have surgery.  It is such a relief to know that she can be treated with medications instead of surgery - you have no idea.  The guilt of being able to provide surgery for one dog and not the other was too much to handle.  But she is starting on trilostane to treat her Cushing's disease today - the sweet little girl. Hoping all goes well.  2010 has been quite the year for us.
So, we'll be back soon, and give your furry friends a BIG GIANT HUG.  In the meantime, enjoy the archives, and also we've got something really special for you if you haven't already seen it - our dear friends at Dachshund Delights have penned a beautiful poem in honor of Joey and his trials this year.  Don't miss it over at Dachshund Delights in their Newsletter Feature of the Month.

Yours in Dachshund Love,
Joey and Maggie

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's definitely fits the description of good bad news about Maggie. Its mindboggling how a simple physical exam can be for a dog, much less surgery and postsurgical care.

Enjoy your time off!!! Hopefully you will find some doxie items to photo or buy or whatever!

H/T/C

Podgirl said...

Stay strong everyone.

Schatzi and Hedwig

Anonymous said...

Hugs and kisses to you all. I wish there was a way that you would let some of us give a donation for Joey's medical bills. You bring so much to each of us every day with this wonderful blog and it would be so nice if we could give back. It feels sooo good to give and help out those who have done so much to enrich our lives. Please think about it!
Have a wonderful and restful vacation!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Joey and Maggie, please have a great vacation. Joey, so glad to hear you are continuing to heal. Maggie, here's hoping the medicine helps quickly and gets the Cushings under control. So glad it can be controlled by medicine instead of surgery.

The poem is excellent.

Have a wonderful vacation!

Keren Hening said...

Donations? Visit www.wienerwritings.com, click on "Donate" memo and memo "Long and Short Joey." We'll get it done!

Keren Hening said...

The poem at Dachshund Delights is beautiful!!

Debi said...

Sending prayers for Maggie that her treatments will be successful, and that she will never need surgery.

Hope you have a great vacation!
*hugs*

~Debi & Ringo

Taffy said...

First of all, Joey, you look fabulous! So happy to see you. And very happy to know that Maggie will not have to have surgery of her own. *happy dance*
Have a great vacation!
Snuggles,
Twix

Robin said...

Hi,
This is the first time I've come across your blog and I'm having so much fun reading it! So sorry to hear about your babies though. The initial shock is hard but you'll be amazed at how you'll come through at the other end once you've had time to process and do research on it. Give acupuncture a try, or at least a consultation to see if it will help the both of them.
My hounds send you good thoughts and we wish all of you the best of luck!
-Robin

Anonymous said...

That is definitely good(bad) news! A medication regimen is so much better than surgery! Hope you enjoy your vacation, I'm sure it is much needed (and definitely much deserved)

Sending our warm wishes for good health for Joey and Maggie (and you too)!

Becky and Michael

Anne said...

Dang, Joey -You are lookin' GOOD!!!! And, Miss Maggie hang in - girl!! We get meds EVERY DAY for our bellies!! We just wanted to give you a shout out - "Bow Wow" to feeling better!

love,
Roxie Lou, Coco Bean and Auntie Annie Em

Anonymous said...

Maggie, we hope you do well with your treatment! Joey, you look amazing!

Best wishes from South Carolina,
Faith, Tigger, Petie and their mom

Jablana said...

hello from Slovenia! poor Maggie:/ we'll be there for you as well...
till then we hope all goes well..
kisses for the three of you! J&L

Anonymous said...

Hi Anonymous, Shilo-Baby-Bean, Sass-the-Bold, LollyPop-Wiggle-Butt
and Miss Maggie Muffin from Quebec Canada thinks its a great idea to HELP with Joey's on-going and now Maggie's treatments. Gee, its tough enough to have one baby with cushings but 2 babies with high ongoing medical bills is really hard on the moral and pocket. We told mom we are willing to give up treats and send a donation, (international money-order). Mom advised us that the internet is not a safe place to send money. If Joey's and Maggie's fans or friends know who the regular vet is maybe they can get his vet office to set up a fund to help cover treatments. Every small donation helps as the more people involved it dosen't take long to build a fund. What do ya think folks, can we do this? Cheers from Canada PS Don't forget to post the vet's address for us here.

Penny Watson said...

Have a great vacation. My first doxie Rudy also had Cushing's Disease. I hope your dogs feel better!

kalyxcorn said...

Happy Vacation! Goodness knows your gang deserves it!! :)

Kim said...

So sorry to hear that Maggie is also suffering from Cushing's disease. It's fortunate that she does not need surgery. Let's hope it stays that way!
You both look great! I hope you all enjoy your vacation. I would be more than happy to donate to a Joey's surgery fund or to the vet directly in honor of my two dachshunds.

Anonymous said...

Open your heart and wallet and let us help. For all u do for us it is well deserved. I like the vet account idea. It may not be much but it will help. Come on - you don't realize what a dachshund family you have.

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