Hypothyroidism-Cardiomyopathy Shahni's Story

Health

SHAHNI'S STORY

Shahni was born on 31st July 1994 and was a normal, happy (if not a little over dominant) puppy, until she was 7 months old when she had her first season. Her phantom after this season was just terrible, I had no idea a dog could be so depressed, bad tempered and downright miserable in the way that she was and this went on for about 3mths altogether.

She had loads of milk, poor little thing, and to my surprise, this milk did not go away. About 4 months after the start of her season I took her to the vet as she was obviously running a temperature and had a nasty looking vaginal discharge. He put her on anti-biotics. He expressed surprise that she had so much milk at this stage of her cycle and suggested giving her some tablets to take the milk away. Not knowing any better, I agreed.

The infection cleared up, but the milk did not go away. In fact, the milk never went away completely, not until after she was spayed at 6 1/2 yrs old.

After the next season, 9 months later, her phantom was even worse, she got yet another infection and was very ill indeed. Marie Howitt and the vet suggested stopping her next season to see if this would help to 'kick' the hormones back to a normal pattern and also give her a well earned rest. So I agreed and she had the injection. I cannot remember what it was, except that it was not Delvasteron. She did not have a season next time, but the milk remained as always and she still had a dreadful phantom at about the time she would have had, if she had not had the injection.

She was really messed up now.

I decided not to give her any more injections, as it hadn't helped one bit, only made things worse. This caused big trouble with MH, who believed in stopping bitches seasons so their show career could continue uninterrupted. But I stayed firm and refused to agree.

The production of milk was still continuous and by the age of 2 1/2, she had never had a day without milk since 7months old. She was plagued with vaginal infections, at least one every 8 to 10 weeks and seemed to be on almost constant anti-biotics. She was very miserable most of the time which affected her performances in the ring on many occasions. I persisted with taking her to shows, as I never knew from one day to the next what sort of mood she would be in.

Someone suggested that she should be tested for HT as some of her symptoms fitted the bill. So when she was about 18 months old, I took her to my vet and despite his opinion that she did not display the right symptoms ie: overweight, dull coat and poor appetite, he reluctantly did the test. The test result showed that her thyroid was not working at all and she was immediately put on Soloxin.

I was so relieved that there was something they could do at last to improve her quality of life, I didn't even stop to think of the implications of having such a condition. So, I started her on her 'magic' drug and waited for the transformation to occur.

Well, I waited and waited, but she was just the same. The dose was altered, but still she was the same. She didn't even want to go out for a walk any more and used to hide under the table when I got the lead out. I used to take her anyway and tried to encourage her to enjoy going out. One thing that did improve however, was the vaginal infections, they cleared up altogether. One day, after a few weeks of being on Soloxin, on one of her better days, we went to the park, where she was actually having a good time for a change, chasing after the swifts (on lead of course) when she stopped to pee. I looked down and watched in total horror as she passed out masses of dark, bloody urine. I rushed home and took her down to the vet, taking a tissue with me that I had used to soak up some of the urine to show him what she had passed.

He was appalled and immediately took some blood to send off to the lab. He warned me that it could be very serious indeed, although Shahni looked in remarkably good health at the time. The tests came back negative for every thing, though she continued to bleed. This bleeding continued for 2 weeks and because my vet was at a loss what to do, I decided to take her down to Cambridge.

The vet examined her thoroughly and was puzzled by her seemingly good health, beautiful coat and healthy looking membranes. In fact, I think that he was beginning to doubt my story, as he asked me to take her outside and see if I could get a sample from her. This I did and was surprised when she obliged almost immediately. I held the sample tray under her and once again my heart sank as the dark red liquid filled it to the brim. This was not a case of a drop of red blood in half a pint of liquid, it did not even resemble the colour of red wine, her urine was completely opaque, very, very dark red, almost black at times.

I took the sample into the vet, who was visibly shocked. He looked at it and said just one word, "Bizarre"! This time, he said he would need the whole day to properly examine her. She was needled, prodded, poked, x-rayed, scanned and given internal examinations and at the end of a very long and distressing day, he told me that this was very serious indeed and that no dog could survive losing that much blood several times a day for weeks on end. He did not know exactly where the blood was coming from, the bladder or the uterus, but said it made little difference. He said he was so sorry, but that there was nothing they could do. The constant bleeding would result in her soon going into shock and apart from putting her on constant transfusion, he said he could not help her. He told me very kindly and gently to take her home to die.

I drove home partially in shock, but partially in disbelief at the 'death sentence' he had given her, as she still looked so well and was enjoying the journey home, looking out of the window and giving me the occasional kiss on the back of my head.

The bleeding continued for 6 long weeks, with everyone who witnessed it, being convinced that the vet was right and that she would not survive for long. Janice Holmes saw the blood she passed one day and was so upset and shocked. She too was convinced that Shahni was not long for this world.

I decided that as she was going to die anyway, I would stop the Soloxin tablets, especially as they were making no difference to her anyway. So I stopped them and to my surprise, the bleeding stopped two days later. I presumed it was a coincidence, but just in case it wasn't, a week later I again gave her Soloxin and within 3 days the bleeding once again returned. I stopped the Soloxin straight away, of course, but the bleeding this time took another 3 weeks to stop. But this time, it never returned.

The HT test was repeated and to my surprise, it came back negative. So did that mean that she never had HT in the first place, or had she been 'cured' somehow? The vets didn't know, it was all new to them. However, what hadn't changed were the infections. So it seemed, we were back to square one. The milk was still there and had been without a days break for over 2 years, the vaginal infections were still there and the heartbreaking phantoms were still there. She was so bad during these times, I sat and cried with her for many an hour.

When she was just coming up to four years old and was reasonably happy, MH said that in view of the negative HT test, and as she wanted to have another litter, would I agree to Shahni being mated as she was the only bitch of MH's breeding available. My first reaction was no, because of her dreadful hormone/health history, but MH said that having a litter could actually 'cure' the problem. I eventually agreed, (she usually got her own way!) believing that she would never get in whelp anyway, so it didn't really matter. In any case, to be perfectly honest, I would have been too intimidated to refuse MH at that point. (yes, I did get brave later, unfortunately much later!)

So the stud dog was chosen (no input from me, naturally) and the single mating took place in August 1998. To minimise the chances of another infection, Shahni had a preventative course of AB's, two weeks before the mating. Not that it made any difference. Just 10 days later she had yet another dreadful infection. Masses of green discharge and yellow pus seemed to signify that there would be no puppies from this mating. She had more AB's of course and we carried on as normal. It was about a week later when I realised that she had become the sweetest and most affectionate bitch on the planet and I began to suspect that she may be in whelp after all. MH didn't believe it was possible, or if she was in whelp, she said that all the pups would have died and that she would soon abort or absorb. But my precious girl had already proved that she didn't follow any rule book except her own. A couple of weeks later and it was obvious that I was right, she was indeed in whelp.

She gave birth to 9 puppies, 6 dogs 3 bitches, on the 24th October 1998. She had secondary interia, so the last 6 pups were born by C section.

Shahni did not recover from the section as quickly as I would have anticipated. Her breathing was very laboured, so the next day I took her back to the vet. She was not interested in the pups (except when MH went near one, then she tried to take her head off!), and was still shaking and distressed. After examining her, he said that she had severe cardiomyopathy, probably as a result of the stress of the birth. He said her condition was so severe, I should not expect a happy outcome. He told me the best I could hope for was that the pups could feed for a couple of weeks to give them the best start, but that this was optimistic. Once again, in the space of 18 months, a vet was telling me to take my Princess home to die.

I was utterly distraught this time. I believed wholeheartedly that this vet would be proved right, as she was so weak and sickly. She was breathing so heavily, her whole chest and stomach heaved in and out and she was panting frantically. I didn't want the puppies. I didn't care whether they lived or died, I just wanted my Shahni to stay with me. At that moment I hated MH for 'making' me breed from my precious girl. I also was angry at myself for being so weak and pathetic at not standing my ground and just going along with her wishes. My guilt was tremendous, I thought Shahni would die because of my cowardice.

But, for the second time in her life, she defied the expert's opinion. She slowly got stronger, but was not really capable of looking after the pups very well. She had loads of milk - not surprisingly! - and after the first week, the pups were fat and content, but then the trouble started again. Shahni got another vaginal infection and then a stomach bug of some kind. I won't repeat what happened to the pups at this stage, as I have already detailed their experiences on Jo's 'Weaning' thread, suffice to say that they all survived - just.

After Shahni had recovered from these infections, she astonished us all by being healthier and happier than she had ever been before. Her heart problems had apparently sorted themselves out and I started to show her again and only 14 weeks after giving birth, she went RBIS at the BAHS open show. For the next 18 months she enjoyed life to the full and I was beginning to think that MH had been right after all. Having the litter seemed to give her a new lease of life and for that 18 months there was no sign of infection of any sort. She was better tempered, more energetic and her tail never stopped wagging. I thought that our troubles were over.

In May 2000 she suddenly became ill and I knew that the infections had returned. The vet said that she should be spayed immediately, as Pyometra was now very much on the cards. She recovered from the op very quickly and once again I had a happy, healthy bitch who enjoyed life to the full.

The first sign that something was very wrong, was in the early hours of the morning of 25th July 2003. She had been fine earlier on, had had a short walk (it was too hot for anything else, and had eaten her normal meal). I had gone to the dogs room for something, can't remember what and I heard a really strange noise coming from her. Her mouth was open and she was making rasping noises. Her whole body was heaving in and out with the effort of breathing which was very rapid and shallow. I immediately rang my vet and arranged to meet him straight away. I put her in the car and by 3 am we were in his surgery.

He examined her and at first, he thought that there could be an obstruction of some sort in her throat. Then I suggested it could be LP (Larangeal Paralysis). He agreed that it was a distinct possibility and gave her a steroid injection and a tranquilliser and told me to bring her back the next morning, when he would give her a light anaesthetic and look down her throat.

I took her home, still wagging her tail, despite her distress and slept with her in the lounge. I can't actually talk about that last night, just can't go there.

The next morning I took her in and left her there. She was still the same, still wagging her tail, but was in a great deal of distress with her breathing being so laboured. The vet mentioned just before I went, that her ribs seemed to be on the large side and had I noticed this before. I must admit I hadn't really noticed until he pointed it out. I suppose it must have happened so gradually I didn't spot it. I began to worry a bit more at this point, as he had looked rather more serious than he had done the night before. I said a very quick goodbye to Shahni, as I was only leaving her for about 2 hrs, I was to pick her up at midday.

At 11.30 I answered the phone to one of the vets receptionists and she said my vet wanted a word with me. Then came the bombshell that I shall never forget. He said that her throat had been completely clear, so they had done an x-ray while she was still under the anaesthetic. He said they were shocked by what they saw. She had an enormous tumour actually attached to her heart, which was so large that it had pushed out her ribs, spread to her spleen and had pushed her lungs right up into her chest. He said there was nothing anyone could do and that it would be kinder not to let her wake up.

Got to skip to the next bit, no way I can cope with talking about what happened after that.

So, in the space of a few hours I lost my beautiful Princess Shahni, to something that I didn't even know she had and what broke my heart, was that I didn't even get to say a proper goodbye. I was so sure that I would be picking her up in a couple of hours, that I just casually stroked her head and said, see you soon, sweetheart. She was 6 days short of her 9th Birthday and I feel I have been robbed of a dog that only comes along once in a lifetime. She was a very special part of me and there will never be another like her.

She was bad tempered; hated other dogs; wasn't too keen on strangers; loved children, wasted more show entries than I have had hot dinners, and could be a right royal pain in the butt; but she loved me with a passion, as I did her. We were connected somehow, probably because we went through so much and she was so completely mine. She trusted me and put her faith in me to look after her and protect her, and that is why I feel so bad, because I let her down.

When I read Hazel's story, I felt a huge wave of guilt wash over me, as I realised that due to my ignorance, I was probably responsible for my girl's tragic ending. If I had known more about HT and its implications for the future I wouldn't have been satisfied with the test results that I got. I wouldn't have so easily believed that she was 'cured'. But worst of all is the fact that I compromised her already overloaded system with a pregnancy and resulting C section, which nearly cost her her life.

Our hounds pay for our lack of knowledge and ignorance of health matters and I shall never forgive myself for not taking her health issues more seriously. I shall also never again accept a vets diagnosis and treatment as Gospel, they cannot know everything and it is up to us to try to fill in the gaps with respect to matters concerning the afghan hound.

Now, I have to admit that the reason I never talked about Shahni's health problems when she was alive, was because MH ORDERED me not to.
I was told I could not ever mention that she had had HT problems because it was thought to be hereditary and would affect puppy sales. I was also told not to mention the heart problem, as this would also affect the puppy sales and more importantly, would tarnish her hard won reputation as a breeder of good quality stock.

Even though MH died a few years ago now, I still haven't told anyone about it, that's how much she still intimidates me! I know its stupid, but no one can possibly know what those 6 yrs in her company were like for me.

If anyone thinks that I am out of order to speak ill of the dead, please email/post me privately, and I will be happy to explain my reasons. She cannot hurt me now, but the details are not for public viewing.

I am sorry that I did not talk about this years ago, but I am keeping a very careful eye on Shahni's children. I am in touch with all of them and am monitoring the situation very carefully.

Sorry that this has turned out to be such a long story, but that is how it was, long, complicated, painful and very, very sad.

Run free, my precious girl and know that I will not ever let the same thing happen again.

Cathy

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