The “Tail” of Wolfie

I adopted this sweet blind and deaf senior Cocker Spaniel this past August. He was surrendered to Chi-Town Pitties Inc. and was previously under Police Orders due to his neglected condition. I’m told he had 5 pounds of mats removed and underneath all that fur, extremely dry eyes were found which made him blind. He’s been getting prescription cyclosporine ointment 3 times daily for life and it’s helped lubricate his eyes.

I met him after weeks being in foster care and immediately was drawn to him. I’m guessing his previous life did not show him any attention as he was just a quiet, sweet dog that needed quite a bit of help to navigate the outside with different surfaces, decks, concrete, blacktop all scared him. Within a few weeks I noticed he was becoming very anxious in the house and was constantly walking/pacing. It became so bad that he was limping on his front legs unless I leashed him to his safe place, his bed.

I immediately got him into my vet to examine him and we did bloodwork. When the bloodwork came back, it suggested that Wolfie may have Cushing’s Disease which is a serious health condition that occurs when the adrenal glands over produce cortisol. We then did more testing that required him to stay the day at the vets and it was sent out to several universities for the results. Unfortunately, it came back positive for Cushing’s Disease. All during this time he became even more anxious which happens with this disease, constant walking. This is a nasty disease.

We have a diagnosis, and the medication was started. More testing post 2 weeks of starting or changing dose. Once he is/was adjusted - 2 months before another test to make sure it is holding the cortisol level. All during this time we tried expensive Chinese herbs, melatonin, reiki, and numerous anxiety medications. In order to help those arthritic front legs from all the walking- he’s successfully on prescription carprofen.

This fella surely has been on a journey and he’s worth all the energy. He remains sweet, patient and content. Some days his anxiety is better than other days, but we manage, it certainly isn’t his fault. With the weather getting better, he enjoys going on “sniffs”/short walks, nose always to the ground. He enjoys his 3 meals a day. And seems very content on car rides and doing enrichment work. My goal has always been to make him feel safe and loved.

I’ve always adopted senior pups and Wolfie has taught me so much. Wolfie is different than most dogs. And his uniqueness has shown me, even in dogs, it’s ok to be totally different. I love him for who he’s become over the challenges he’s been through. I can’t change anything but want to be here to keep him content and give him the best life he deserves.

It’s been a long and very expensive 6 months. To date I have spent $2,500, on his Cushing’s expenses (labs, office visits, anxiety medication, dry eye medication.) His Cushing’s medication costs $172 per month. Each lab test to check his cortisol level runs between $150 to $200 per test that needs to be done with all changes to his Cortisol level. Once he’s within range, testing needs to be done every 2 months.

2/28/2022 Update - This past week Wolfie was scheduled to go to the vet clinic for his 2-week post change in Cushing’s medication (Vetoryl) to make sure his Cortisol level went down based on the new dose that was needed. He also needed his electrolytes tested as well to monitor. Good news- at present all levels were within margins for Cushing’s Disease. Bad news, the cost for testing was another $190. The next test is suggested in 2 months. I thank everyone for helping with Wolfie’s medical bills. This sweet dog deserves a good life.

Every Day With Your Dog Is A Good Day