GRACIE DOODLE'S HAPPY DAY!!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

FINALLY…it has been a long 10 months but finally I can come up for air and say that Gracie Doodle is back to her old self, healed and happy!!  YAY  It has been a long tearful journey but now the light at the end of the tunnel is burning bright and our sweet, silly, goofy, loving and happy girl has returned to us.  We are now down to 5 mg of Prednisone every other day for the next month and then she is off the medication completely.  The vet said that she has a 70% chance that the Masticatory Myositis won’t return. 

Gracie’s hair is growing back and filling in nicely.  It is coming in soft and silky and she looks like a hi/lo shag carpet at the moment.  The new hair is coming in darker than her apricot color and in some areas it is flat and coarse.  I am thinking that as it gets longer we may start to see a wave pattern come in.  Her tail is sort of funny looking.  She lost 80% of her beautiful plume and the hairs that remained looked like hanging fringe.  She still has the fringe but now the tail is covered in soft brownish hair.  As it grows I will taper down the fringe to start blending the old and new together.  Her bald legs and feet are now starting to get that Doodle look again.  The only lasting effect from the Prednisone that we can see is that her back feet collapsed a bit.  She went from the high knuckle (Poodle type feet) to being flat footed.  This caused her foot pads to strike in a different spot which got tender and bled.  With the help of socks and time the pads toughened up and now she is back to running and enjoying life.

What we are most thankful for is that her personality is back and there is that mischievous sparkle and laugh in her eyes again.  We have our sweet girl and best friend back and it is wonderful! 

I just want to thank all of you who constantly sent messages and checked up on us.  The last few I am late responding to.  We were so close to achieving this goal that I was afraid I would jinx it by speaking too soon.  Thank you all for your caring, prayers and well wishes.  Many of you gave me encouraging words which were a big help getting through all of this.  I had many very low days and it was nice to know that my DK friends were here thinking of us. 

And guess what…Gracie Doodle is catching and carrying TWO TENNIS BALLS again!!!  It doesn’t get any better than that in her book!  Love and hugs to you all!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm so happy to hear this great news!

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Oh such wonderful news! So very happy for you both!!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

So happy to hear that Gracie Doodle is nearing the end of this journey and has returned to her old self.  There is nothing worse than not seeing that spark in their eyes and knowing they don't feel well.  I'm glad that the Vet was able to get her thru this and truly hope it never returns.  Enjoy those tennis balls Gracie girl.

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

Wonderful news! <3

[DJ & Chance]

Such good news!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I am so happy to read this! I can only imagine how difficult this past year has been and am sure you are elated that Gracie is nearly back to her old self!  Your DK family is too!! 

[BG and Gavin]

My heart is soaring for you.  Enjoy your sweet girl!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I am cheering from the  top of the tennis ball mountains!   Yippie. Funny Nancie, but I was just thinking this weekend, you seemed like your old self.  Our dogs really make us sometimes.  So good to have you both back

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

I cannot tell you how happy I am to see this post!  I think about you and Gracie often and am so glad that she's doing so well!  Will hope that this last month of weaning off the Prednisone goes well and that her problems will truly be a thing of the past!!!  Hallelujah!!!!