Checklist of common diseases:

NECROPSY REPORT

Cause of death: Renal failure; definitive cause unknown
(Owner and attending vet believe Buddy's cause of death was due to a stroke.)
Confirmed: Lymphoma
Endocardiosis—mital and tricuspid valves (not genetic)
Elbow Dysplasia—moderate to severe
Hip Dysplasia—mild
Arthritis—Hips, elbows, and stifles
Osteoporosis—ribs

One of the reasons we specificially wanted to have a necropsy for Buddy is because he was reported to the database with Degenerative Myelopathy confirmed by the DM Flash Test from Dr. Clemmons’ lab. The necropsy confirmed that this dog did not have Degenerative Myelopathy.

I first heard about Buddy when his owner, Debra, entered him into our Open Registry with Degenerative Myelopathy. Joanne Chanyi, our Database Manager, had e-mailed me that we had a confirmed case of DM, however, it turned out that the confirmation was from the DM Flash Test and not from ruleouts of Lumbosacral Stenosis or Intervertebral Disc Disease.

Around this same time, I received an e-mail from Ronda Beaupre suggesting I contact Debra since she might be willing to consider a necropsy when that time came. Because of the DM involvement, this was something I followed up on right away. I called Deb on her cell phone and to my delight, she was out walking Buddy. I felt like I got to know him as she talked to both of us during our conversation. I explained that the DM Flash Test was not a definitive diagnosis and explained that we would be entering it as unconfirmed in our database. We then spoke about the possibility of a necropsy when the time came—never having any idea that this would be in less than a week.

When the call came from Deb the following week, I was shocked. Buddy was only 8-1/2 years old. It was thought that Buddy might have had a stroke as he was receiving his last round of chemotherapy for the lymphoma. The staff at Arboretum View Animal Hospital receive the highest marks possible for going way above and beyond to make sure that we got the information Buddy had for us. At first, after many phone calls, they were going to try to do the necropsy themselves, but when they discovered how much information we wanted and that we needed to know whether or not he had DM, they realized they could not do it. But, they didn’t stop there. They got on the phone with the University of Illinois and made the arrangements for us to have them do the necropsy. Deb was in no shape to take Buddy the five hours required to the university so the vet staff stepped up again and one of the girls came in the following morning on her day off and did the five hour drive. I feel this is a case where the WSGP should not only send a card thanking them but possibly flowers or a plant to let them know their kindness was appreciated.

Deb and her husband, Jim, are in that rare group of people who just press forward and do what it takes for the good of the breed. We are all grateful. And, we are very happy for them as they have welcomed Regalwise Vincent Buddy into their home. They shared pictures and he is darling. Their hearts were raw without their big boy and this little guy is helping them heal.