Last Friday was Maggie’s yearly wellness exam and testing. Maggie is now almost 12 1/2 years old. She has lots of lumps and bumps on her and one on her right shoulder has grown quite fast so I had my vet do a fine needle aspirate on it. The results on that are “friendly” epidermal inclusion cells. Yay!
Had a geriatric blood panel drawn on her. She had some elevated liver and pancreatic enzymes which my vet was a little concerned about but also didn’t indicate liver disease. I, of course, instantly think the cancer might be spreading as I have read that STS goes to the liver and lungs. She prescribed Denamarin for her (silymarin/milk thistle) and recheck blood in a month.
She also found that Maggie has a Grade 2/3 heart murmur. Maggie does cough a little bit now and then and this could be the cause of that. Again, I was instantly thinking lung mets when I would hear her cough. She’s been doing it now all winter. NOT a lot but…
I told her about Maggie’s lack of stamina these days and how a 15-20 minute walk really seems to tire(or sore?) her the next day. She stated she may have the start of arthritis coming. Based on Chloe’s recent update, being a rear leg tripawd too, I am probably sure that is what is going on with Maggie too. I didn’t x-ray her. She also stated that the heart murmur could be part of the cause of less stamina.
Her urinalysis, fecal, heart worm and Lyme tests were all negative. 🙂
So, I left there thinking I need to review all of this with Maggie’s homeopathic vet, Dr. Charlie Loops in NC. So I made an appointment for a phone consult.
Here’s his take (I emailed him Maggie’s test results):
Dr. Loops said Denamarin OK for her liver but in Maggie’s case he feels milk thistle would do just as well and a lot cheaper. And could use Milk thistle long term.
He said her numbers are really not a problem. He said the GGT liver number is even an unreliable measure in people. The ALT number not all that high. I told him the number of last year and year before as a comparison. The one number that is really high is Lipase, which is a pancreatic enzyme. He asked me if she is showing signs of pancreatitis, like vomiting. I said no.
He said if her cough progresses than yes, an issue, but if it isn’t (it is not) than all is OK in his mind. He also isn’t terribly concerned with her heart murmur. He said she is 12 1/2 and things get more constricted in the valves, etc. He did say it would be good to give her CoQ10 to support her heart and to give her 60 mg. per day.
I asked about the Hawthorn berry as I read that is good for the heart. He said it is ok, an herbal diuretc..doesn’t know if she needs it but it won’t hurt her.
I told him about her lack of stamina and not able to handle much for walks anymore(the day after she is mopey and seems maybe a tad sore based on her balance). He says it all sounds normal to him based on her age and her being 3 legged. He did ask me if I had her on a joint product. I said oh yes.. He figured I had but wanted to be sure.
So, he isn’t going to change her cancer homeopathic remedy protocol.
Put her on the Denamarin and recheck blood work in a couple months.
After Denamarin put her on milk thistle long term.
He sees nothing that points toward cancer progression 🙂
I feel better…I have an aging 3 legged dog that just needs less walking, more doting on and a couple new supplements.
Here’s a couple photo’s I took of Maggie….as you can see she’s getting grayer – like the rest of us, I guess!
Tripawds rule!!
Mom, this is MY blog - why is little rug rat sister in MY blog?
Well, that’s all from this neck of the woods…keep on hoppin’…even if just a little slower these days…
Tracy & Maggie(oh and Haley too!)
Author: maggie
Maggie was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma on her left knee. She had amputation done on October 20, 2009. Four days after surgery she had a low grade fever and was off her food for two weeks! Trying times.. I am grateful and so pleased with how she is progressing now.
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10 thoughts on “Maggie’s yearly wellness check results..”
Great check-up for Maggie! Glad to hear she’s doing so well!!
more doting, less worrying!!!! sounds like maggie is doing great, i just love her so much, as she and gayle entered this journey together. it’s difficult to remember that none of us is immortal, and eventually our bodies wear out…here’s hoping maggie’s parts keep working for a long time to come!!!!
charon & spirit gayle
You bring tears to my eyes Charon…Gayle and Maggie had so much in common…from their types of cancer to I’m pretty sure their temperaments 🙂
Hugs to you 🙂
Tracy
What “hoppy” news! Love to hear pawsitive updates. Maggie is a grand gal and little sister Haley is regal.
Heather & Spirit Shadow
Thumbs up Mags! Glad to hear your check-up went well too (and that you are lucky enough NOT to have worms…). I never would have thought Chloe had arthritis yet had it not been for the x-rays, but I guess it is inevitable being a rear amp ageing tripawd (like beautiful and goofy Chloe and Mags).
I hope Mags continues to live a long and hoppy life (even if that means shorter walks :). Paws up to you girls!
-Nicole and Chloe
All things considered Maggie sounds like she is doing great! Quad pug Tani is giving me my first 12 year old (almost). I am really enjoying this part of her life, but it does come with challenges. Here’s hoping for many more years of Maggie-moo adventures, even if they are a little slower and shorter.
Karen and the pugapalooza
All this aging dog stuff can be such a double-edged sword when the dog’s a cancer survivor. We hold our breath when signs of aging set it, but we’re so delighted they “get” to experience old age. I know that once Dakota turned 10 (maybe in Feb.), I thought of him as arriving at being a senior. But he’s been an old fart for years. Hopefully both Maggie and Dakota will age gracefully, get old, and finally pass peacefully from this world due to plain old age. It’s kind of nice to just let it happen the way it’s meant to be.
Shari
I hear ya guys that’s for sure! Somehow I had it pictured in my head all these years that Maggie would just leave this world due to plain old age…and maybe she will but with one less leg.
She was up at 3 a.m. “boofing” at me…up and down…I think she was upset that Haley was on her bed. Finally, I got up and fed her and now she’s back to sleep…me, now I’m up!! Think that may be some of the old dog syndrome? Thanks Mags 😉
Tracy
Wonderful words Charon…..some to be remembered as we all go about this life, aging……:-)
Maggie is amazing for a Tripawd, let alone a Shep mix at her age. You can thank yourself for all of that Tracy, she couldn’t have done it without you. Very nice photo of the girls 🙂
Thanks Gina! I stopped and looked at Maggie yesterday…really stopped and looked at her as she was gazing into the field next door…thinking Maggie you are one lucky girl to still be here..we love her that’s for sure! 🙂
Great check-up for Maggie! Glad to hear she’s doing so well!!
more doting, less worrying!!!! sounds like maggie is doing great, i just love her so much, as she and gayle entered this journey together. it’s difficult to remember that none of us is immortal, and eventually our bodies wear out…here’s hoping maggie’s parts keep working for a long time to come!!!!
charon & spirit gayle
You bring tears to my eyes Charon…Gayle and Maggie had so much in common…from their types of cancer to I’m pretty sure their temperaments 🙂
Hugs to you 🙂
Tracy
What “hoppy” news! Love to hear pawsitive updates. Maggie is a grand gal and little sister Haley is regal.
Heather & Spirit Shadow
Thumbs up Mags! Glad to hear your check-up went well too (and that you are lucky enough NOT to have worms…). I never would have thought Chloe had arthritis yet had it not been for the x-rays, but I guess it is inevitable being a rear amp ageing tripawd (like beautiful and goofy Chloe and Mags).
I hope Mags continues to live a long and hoppy life (even if that means shorter walks :). Paws up to you girls!
-Nicole and Chloe
All things considered Maggie sounds like she is doing great! Quad pug Tani is giving me my first 12 year old (almost). I am really enjoying this part of her life, but it does come with challenges. Here’s hoping for many more years of Maggie-moo adventures, even if they are a little slower and shorter.
Karen and the pugapalooza
All this aging dog stuff can be such a double-edged sword when the dog’s a cancer survivor. We hold our breath when signs of aging set it, but we’re so delighted they “get” to experience old age. I know that once Dakota turned 10 (maybe in Feb.), I thought of him as arriving at being a senior. But he’s been an old fart for years. Hopefully both Maggie and Dakota will age gracefully, get old, and finally pass peacefully from this world due to plain old age. It’s kind of nice to just let it happen the way it’s meant to be.
Shari
I hear ya guys that’s for sure! Somehow I had it pictured in my head all these years that Maggie would just leave this world due to plain old age…and maybe she will but with one less leg.
She was up at 3 a.m. “boofing” at me…up and down…I think she was upset that Haley was on her bed. Finally, I got up and fed her and now she’s back to sleep…me, now I’m up!! Think that may be some of the old dog syndrome? Thanks Mags 😉
Tracy
Wonderful words Charon…..some to be remembered as we all go about this life, aging……:-)
Maggie is amazing for a Tripawd, let alone a Shep mix at her age. You can thank yourself for all of that Tracy, she couldn’t have done it without you. Very nice photo of the girls 🙂
Thanks Gina! I stopped and looked at Maggie yesterday…really stopped and looked at her as she was gazing into the field next door…thinking Maggie you are one lucky girl to still be here..we love her that’s for sure! 🙂
Tracy