Big on Beagles Rescue

Summer Stay-Cation with my beagles got put on hold yesterday when we got the results in on Dolly’s ACTH Stim test. It’s confirmative for Cushings. So now we’ve got to move quickly on starting treatment in advance of her Adrenalectomy.

Medical costs for Dolly are climbing but we are thankful for one thing. We had a donation of Trilostane (the recommended medication for Cushings) kindly donated to us some time ago. While some has sadly expired, we’ve still got 3 good boxes left that we can use for Dolly. Trilostane is not cheap. Always keep us in mind for donated medications. 🙏

The next couple weeks will involve close and careful monitoring for Dolly followed by a repeat Stim test to ensure we’ve got the right dosage on board. Only then can we proceed with the intricate surgery to remove the Adrenal mass and excise the growth on Dolly’s nose at the same time. It’s a lengthy process to get to the finish line including lots of trips to the vet but at least Dolly LOVES the car…and clearly her foster mom.❤️

It’s been a whirlwind of worry for us this week. Not the least of our worries is Dolly who underwent an ACTH Stim test for Cushings yesterday. Her CT scan at TVEH last week in advance of a potential Adrenalectomy prompted this further testing. If it is determined that Dolly has Cushings, the TVEH team wants Dolly to begin treatment prior to her surgery to better stabilize her for this intricate procedure.

Surgery to remove the mass on Dolly’s Adrenal gland is tentatively booked for August 18th. The growth on her nose will also be excised. Although her nose bauble is likely benign, it’s clearly bothering her and affecting her vision.

But of course, the greatest concern is the adrenal mass. Without surgery, Dolly’s life is at serious risk. Despite the staggering $10K estimate, we’re choosing Dolly.

We’ll be setting up a fundraising campaign for Dolly shortly and we hope it will be a great success. She deserves no less.

Needles & Pins for Esther now! She underwent a cardiac ultrasound yesterday so anxiously awaiting the results! 🙏

Esther doesn’t seem all that fussed though…

We have news on Marmalade! She doesn’t have Cushings! Great news but we still don’t know what’s troubling her. Our vet is now looking at the possibility of Diabetes Insipidus. We’ll be starting a pill trial shortly.

Please keep thinking positive thoughts for sweet Marmalade…seen here practicing her subtle powers of persuasion for an early supper! Nothing says “I’m hungry” like using her dog bowl for a pillow!

PHANTOM PREGNANCY

This is a first. In all our years rescuing mostly senior beagles, we’ve never encountered this diagnosis. But here we are.

Yesterday, we took little Islay here to the hospital worried her heart condition was worsening too…just like our beloved Freya. Either that or she was finally developing mammary cancer. Islay could not be spayed at time of rescue due to her heart disease and advanced age. We knew she was at risk for it especially since nodules along the mammary chain were detected previously.

We also know Islay looks like a puppy herself but she’s likely one of our oldest beagles in the program (besides Spirit aka Doug) guessed at 16+ years old!

Islay has been acting strangely these past few days. Restless at night, hiding away in closets, fussy appetite, swollen mammary glands which we feared could be a sign of cancer. But her cough was worsening too which we feared could be a sign her heart condition was worsening.

Alas, it was neither. Turns out, Islay just thinks she’s pregnant! Poor Islay had been overbred prior to rescue. It was obvious given her pronounced mammary glands. But her days of producing puppies is definitely over. It’s just her body doesn’t know that. Islay had a mild heat cycle in the spring. Apparently, a dog can then experience a false pregnancy a few months later. Although our vet (who hails from the UK and has seen many cases of Phantom Pregnancy) has not come across it in a dog so old.

Typically, it should resolve in a few weeks but given Islay’s age and health issues, our vet wants us to keep an extra close eye on her and watch for Mastitis - a painful infection of the mammary glands often triggered by false pregnancy. We’re on it!

Please keep little Islay in your thoughts!

We need a HAPPY post right about now and Little Tony Soprano is always up for the job!

Here he is taking a yawn break at the office of BOB Tail-Quarters! ❤️

While we stress over the upcoming results of Dolly’s CT scan at TVEH yesterday, we worry over Marmalade’s 8 hour adventure at her vet clinic today to determine whether she has Cushings disease. It’s turning out to be a tough week at the beagle repair shop. 😔

Here with sweet Dolly at TVEH for our appointment with Internal Medicine.

Our heads are spinning and our hearts are aching.

Dolly is undergoing a CT scan as I write this. It’s a necessity before proceeding to surgery for her Adrenalectomy. We will clearly need to launch a fundraiser with a staggering estimate of $12-14K all in. Anything for Dolly.

Please send your positive energy. There’s a possibility that the mass on her adrenal gland is malignant and that cancer may have spread elsewhere. We are trying to remain optimistic. We’re not giving up hope yet. Not by a long shot.

*Just to clarify once again, the growth on Dolly’s nose is not the issue. We’re referring to a mass on her adrenal gland. The growth on her nose is benign and will be removed if we’re able to proceed with the surgery to remove the adrenal mass.

The blood and urine results are in for Marmalade.

Sadly, it’s pointing towards Cushings Disease. There was also a secondary finding of low thyroid levels. But first, we’ll need a definitive diagnosis on the Cushings so we can start treatment as soon as possible to stabilize the condition and reduce the symptoms.

Marmalade is scheduled for her 8 hr Low Dose Dex testing next week. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. And as always, THANK YOU for making it possible for us to always say these words when it comes to the care of our beagles…”Yes, absolutely. Whatever our beagle needs, we are prepared to do. They’re worth every penny.” 🙏

Anyone who insists on having their dog front and center on their Wedding Day is our kind of folk.

We lost a kindred spirit on July 1st.

Not only was Robin Hicks a huge dog lover with a quirky sense of humour (an absolute necessity when living with dogs),

she was a steadfast friend of this little beagle repair shop.

You might remember her overseeing bids at the Silent Auction tables or selling our wares as a friendly salesclerk at the Merch tables for our Annual BEAGLE BASH FOR CASH over the years. When she wasn't bobateering at events, she was whole-heartedly supporting them with her thoughtful and generous donations, and always spreading the word about the beagles in our care on her FB page. The only competition our beagles ever received on that page was from her own beloved dog, Cruz. He got the most posts.

Obviously because the earth, moon and sun naturally rose and fell on her beautiful Cruz.

There's no denying he made such a handsome ringbearer on that sunny September afternoon just 2 years ago.

Robin, like Cruz, we are going to miss you with all our hearts.

Thank you for being our friend and thank you for helping us repair a whole bunch of beagles so they too could know what it is to be loved as fiercely as you loved Cruz.

Please light a candle for Robin tonight.

Just a little help from us to light the way to her new place in this Universe.

Wherever that may be, we've got a hunch…there will be dogs.

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