Jovilea's Classic Dimension
CDX, NA, CGC
June 1990 ~August 1999
My dear, sweet Woody,
you were special from the start.
An unexpected surprise,
you quickly claimed my heart.
Your spirit was strong and loving
your beauty more than was seen,
You loved to play and frolic,
in and out of the ring.
A bad hand you were dealt,
but above it you did rise,
and conquered more than any
who reached up for the skies.
So now you had to leave me,
for other worlds to seek.
Yet in my heart you'll always live,
as you lay down at God's feet.
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Woody was born into my hands
on June 29, 1990. When I held his little body, I cried tears of joy. He
was perfect. As the only puppy in the litter, he waxed fat and healthy
on his mothers ample supply of milk and loving. He grew to be a handsome
70 pound male. He was intellegent and athletic, and earned his CD with
5 straight shows, qualifying every time. He earned his CDX at 2 1/2 and
was shown in conformation on one circuit before trouble struck. Just after
that circuit, he started exhibiting strange symptoms, like swollen ear
tips, puffy joins, hair and muscle loss and syncope. Some days the arthritic
pain was so bad he'd scream in pain. More than once I almost had him put
to sleep. Although the vets could not determine a cause, prednisone seemed
to relieve the worst of the symptoms. I went ahead and had him neutered,
and his dam, Sarah, spayed, because I didn't know if this problem was hereditary
or not. Finally, after 3 yrs he was put on Thyroid medication "just to
see". Within a month, his symptoms disappeared. He began to regain the
lost muscletone and became active once again. The recovery was so miraculous
that he went on the earn his Novice Agility title at the age of 7. I tried
to continue his obedience career, but the 3 years he went undiagnosed left
him simple-minded. He could no longer concentrate long enough to complete
the Utility exercises. Woody lived 3 more years after starting medication
until his kidneys finally gave out, no doubt from the heavy doses of predinisone.
His simple-mindedness made it difficult for me to know just when the "time"
had come, for he was always a happy boy. But the day came when I looked
in his eyes and knew. He went to the rainbow bridge peacefully in my arms,
while I whispered the words of love that were born the moment I first held
him, I love you.
Woody suffered from Hypothyroidism.
This is a common occurence in many breeds and generally does not create
serious problems. But sometimes, as in this case, it's effects can be very
serious and life-threatening. Simple thyroid tests can give false negatives
and positives, so breeding animals should have a thorough Thyroid workup
done by Michigan State University, including a Thyro-Gobulin Auto Antibody
(TGAA)test. |
 
 
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