It's September 2010, And A Wonderful Dog Is Fighting The Battle Of His Life

There are some dogs that you just naturally take to. Some because they're so friendly; some because they're so handsome. And some have … something … about them that you just can't put your finger on, except you know that you're glad when they're around and you think of them when you're not.

That would be Joey. He's a very handsome piebald, with a manner that is dignified without being stuck-up, friendly without being obsequious. And he has some of the most soulful eyes we've ever seen.

We have more than once directed you to The Long And Short Of It All, the blog that Joey maintains with his sister/littermate Maggie, and an occasional assist from his dad, Carson, who has the opposable thumbs in the family. Most weekdays, we know that we can go there for the latest news about dachshunds, stories about celebrities owned by dachshunds, fine photography, poetry, videos and marvelous miscellany.

Carson and Maggie have been doing the updating during August, because Joey has spent weeks in the hospital, including a few days when his future was looking really dim.

It all started mildly enough in late July, when an e-mail from Carson to a few friends noted that Joey and Maggie had just been to the vet for checkups and that there was good news and bad news for both. It was such a mild statement that we didn't follow up right away..

When we did, we learned that Joey's bad news was that he almost certainly had Cushing's disease, caused by too much adrenal hormone in the body. The disease can be treated, according to its type and severity, but both drug therapy and surgery carry many risks and side effects.

That was bad news, and it got worse quickly.

Further tests and ultrasounds confirmed in short order that Joey did have Cushing's. And while the disease can be caused by a tumor on one of the two adrenal glands, Joey had tumors on both. If that wasn't enough, one of the tumors was pressing on the vena cava, the vein that returns blood to the heart after its journey through the body. The prognosis was grim. Without surgery, Joey would be gone within four to six months from heart failure. Many dogs don't survive the delicate surgery.

And the surgery would take both adrenal glands out of his body, which would present him with a lifetime of maintenance medications.

Surgery was scheduled, and Joey's many fans waited all day with breath held and fingers crossed. And the news was good! Both glands were removed, and the tumor that was pressing the vena cava was not attached to it.

We all breathed a sigh of relief. Too soon.

The recovery period was tough, and Joey started showing signs of severe pancreatitis. He was discharged from the hospital, but he was back the next day and going downhill fast.

Carson, with all the other worries on his mind, posted regular updates, and the comments came in from all over the world. Messages of encouragement and love. And Carson printed each one out and took them to the hospital to read to Joey each night.

We're writing this on the evening of August 31, and Joey's story is one without an ending. The battle is not over, and there's little doubt that he has some tough times ahead. Please keep him in your thought and prayers. The world's a brighter place with him in it.

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