Hi All...Time for a Gracie Doodle Update

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I have had quite a few PMs asking how Gracie Doodle is doing.  I figured it was time to update you all on her continuing condition.  I am not sure where I last left off but I am pretty sure that I told you that she was treated for one month.  Great for a month or two and then it came back, started treatment and then the day we were to start cutting back on her Prednisone the jaw pain came back so we have since then continued to give her two 20 mg each pills a day.  

Gracie has a autoimmune disease that is called Masticatory Myositis which affects her jaw and head muscles. This is causing her to not be able to open her mouth wide to catch a ball or yawn.  Also, the top of her head becomes tender where the muscle is on the side of the head bone (she has the Golden Retriever bone bump).  There is no how or whys to this.  She at 5 years old and always in perfect health just developed it about 4 months ago and it will be with her off and on for the rest of her life.  We do hope to wean her off the Prednisone after 6 months of treatment starting from the second time we put her on it.  What is sad is what the Prednisone does to her.  She pants, drinks water constantly, is starving, won't sleep with us, won't kiss us anymore (this is a new thing in the last month) and when I walk by her while she is flopped on the floor she won't raise her head or wag her tail when I talk to her.  She is totally indifferent to me except when I enter the house after being gone or grab her tennis ball to take her outside to play catch.  I WANT MY LOVING DOODLE BACK!!!!  My DH was even mean enough this morning to tell me on his way out of the house that Gracie told him that she didn't love me anymore!!!!  WTD...how could he??  She isn't much better with him but he at least can get a tail wag.  I have tried crawling on the floor to where she is laying down and kiss her and whisper in her ear and she pulls away...maybe I need to have "bone" breath or something!  Also, my non-shedding Doodle is losing some of her hair.  Not a lot but enough that I find it...especially her tail.  Her tail is fur and not hair though.  She has the Golden Retriever tail so maybe that is why she is losing it.  Though she is looking a little thin at the top of her head where her poofer is.  Also, the bone has lost some of it's muscle so it is more pronounced than ever.  She also lost 5 lbs so we have been bulking her up.  Gracie has always been very fit and thin Doodle so the weight loss is huge on her frame.  On Prednisone they are suppose to gain weight but she did the reverse.  I how have her back up to 65.4 lbs and her norm is 67-70.  Gracie has also been on an antibiotic because the Prednisone has compromised her immune system and so the daily bacteria that we and animals all have on our bodies is causing sores.  Today was her last day of a three week dose.  

So as of today we continue with two pills a day and then in about 3 weeks we will go to one a day for a month and then one every other day for a month.  After that we go off all medications and wait and see how long before it rears it's ugly head again.  I am told that once she is off the Prednisone I will have my sweet, loving, funny, goofy Doodle back.  The skin irritations will go away as well as the hair loss.  The only thing that won't return is any muscle loss or damage.   The good thing is that she is currently pain free and again enjoying yawning and catching two tennis balls!  And she continues to get to go to the beach and swim.  I am just so in love with this big fuffy sweet Doodle that it breaks my heart to be putting her through this treatment even though I know it has to be done and is the only option.  

Thank all of you for your kind thoughts and prayers.  I am sorry that I have not replied to each of you individually.  The last month has been filled with grandkids, grand-dog, travels up and down the coast (with Gracie Doodle of course), and constant family staying in our tiny house.  Five grandchildren is a lot of kids!!!!  

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

So glad you posted this update.  I was wondering about you and Gracie just today!  I'll continue sending you all positive thoughts.  Hopefully, Gracie will be successful in getting off the Prednisone, the pain will stay away, and you'll have your Gracie Doodle back!!  :)   

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

I am sure that Gracie still loves you.  She just has strange feelings and cann't figure them out so this is how she is reacting.  Once she is off the medication I'm sure she will be her same old self.

 

Hugs

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am glad Gracie has responded to the treatment. .It is so sad to see her not being herself and having some complications. I hope when she goes off the steroids she can stay off for a very long time, forever would be great :-) Gracie may be out of sorts but she loves you no less.  I'm sure you enjoyed the grandkids despite any crowding.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thank you so much for the update.... Of course Gracie Doodle loves you to pieces... I am on high doses of prednisone and I do all those things too except lose weight ... I am very swollen from it......Your Gracie girl is in there... Keep doing what you are doing..keep loving her, keep giving her reassurance.

I can't imagine how you feel, I can feel the heartache in your post and it made me tear up.... I will be praying that her flare ups never come back after she finishes this course of Prednisone.

We all love you and Gracie so much.... I don't have experience with what you are dealing with or even a longer term illness in dogs but so many people do on here and I am sure they can be a better support..

I just send my love and hugs to you both...

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Paws crossed that this nasty nasty thing will not rear it's ugly head ever again!! I cannot imagine how much your heart must hurt not having your little girl these past months. I pray she gets back to her self asap!!!!!

Sending hugs to you!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Nancie, I have been wondering about you and Gracie. I hope once the medicine is over you will see her return to her happy, go lucky self!! Hugs to all of you!