Hobbit: A long day

My brothers and sister say it's their turn to contribute to the Doggy Diary, but I had a really big day so I think I have more to say. I'm very tired because I spent several hours at the veterinarian's office. My mommy took me there early this morning because it was time for more blood tests. You see, I have been diagnosed with Cushing's Disease. My adrenal glands produce too much cortisol. I don't know what that means, but I know how it makes me feel. I am often thirsty. I pee a lot. I am hungry almost all the time. I get hot and pant frequently. It can be rather uncomfortable. On top of that, I have skin problems and my fur quit growing on my back. Anyway, I was on some kind of medicine called Lysodren and it wasn't working, so Dr. Sarah, (my veterinarian), put me on Trilostane. My blood work today showed that I am not responding to it either. She decided to double my dose. I heard my mommy ask Dr. Sarah what it would mean if it didn't work. I didn't like the answer. If this new medicine doesn't work, then there is nothing else that can be done. My mommy and daddy are sad. They have done so much to help me. I try to stay positive, though. I keep a nice skip in my step, wag my tail, and talk to them. I try to tell them that I'm happy and that I don't feel pain - just uncomfortable at times. That's the cool thing about being a dog - you just accept, adapt, and move on.

Things are a little somber around the house not only because of my health issues, but because my foster brother Huck will be going to his new home next week. Mommy and Daddy say it's bittersweet. They know they are doing the right thing for Huck because he needs to be in a home with fewer dogs, plus his new mommy and Huck are a great match. It's just that Mommy and Daddy will miss him. He really is a nice doggy. A bit excitable for me, but he's not that bad. Things will be quieter around here, but I think that's what our home needs. Gus, Buster and I are getting older and we can't handle too much activity anymore. Gus is 11 1/2, can't hear as well as he used to, and prefers to spend time alone upstairs on the bed sleeping with his stuffed toys Molly Meerkat and Sebastian Bunny. Buster and I are both about 9 1/2 and we're slowing down a bit, too. Buster is getting cranky these days and I'm sure it doesn't help that he has arthritis. That will leave us with Abby, but even she is starting to calm down. We hope she's coming out of the terrible two's.

Like I said, earlier, it's been a long day, so I'm going to go to sleep - my favorite!