Shelby, 2007-2022
Shelby’s Story, written by her caregiver
In October 2009, a 4 month old Papillon came into our lives and we were never the same. Shelby was a happy and spunky little girl who loved to travel with her recently retired mom and dad in our RV. All of that changed in the summer of 2017. Shelby’s paw pads began to form painful crusts and lesions. She became lethargic. In our travels that summer, we took her to 3 major Veterinarian offices across the country trying to find the cause. No one could diagnose her condition. She grew weaker and could barely walk. Upon arriving home to Madison, Wisconsin, she immediately went to the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Care. Shelby spent 3 days in the hospital and was quickly diagnosed with Hepatocutaneous syndrome, a rare, progressive and always fatal liver disease. She was given 3 months to live. The only known option was to give her transfusions of amino acids for relief. She took to the aminos and vastly improved. But other medical issues were brought on by the liver disease, including diabetes. She started 4 units of insulin twice a day and in her final days she was up to 26 units twice a day. The diabetes caused glaucoma and in the last year of her life, her eyes had to be removed due to the severe pain she was experiencing. When we were asked to be part of a study at Cornell, we jumped at the chance. Shelby was given a new diet of bison, egg yolks, sweet potatoes and lots of vitamins. She thrived. I truly believe that had she been diagnosed sooner, we could have gotten a better grip on the management of the disease. Those fortunate enough to receive a diagnosis and start the amino treatments are in for a rude awakening as to the cost of this procedure over the years and the additional medical issues than can be brought on by the disease. The Cornell study will assist Vets in proper diagnosis at a much earlier stage. Treatment can get started sooner. And possibly new treatments and an understanding of what causes this disease can be found. We lost Shelby on March 4, 2022 after living with this disease for almost 5 years. She died after a massive inoperable tumor was discovered on her liver. We truly hope that during her life Shelby helped in this important study and in her death, we hope the autopsy will shine even more light on the disease so dogs and their parents do not have to suffer Shelby’s fate. Through it all, Shelby maintained her joy of life and gave inspiration to all who knew her. She will be missed so very much.
In October 2009, a 4 month old Papillon came into our lives and we were never the same. Shelby was a happy and spunky little girl who loved to travel with her recently retired mom and dad in our RV. All of that changed in the summer of 2017. Shelby’s paw pads began to form painful crusts and lesions. She became lethargic. In our travels that summer, we took her to 3 major Veterinarian offices across the country trying to find the cause. No one could diagnose her condition. She grew weaker and could barely walk. Upon arriving home to Madison, Wisconsin, she immediately went to the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Care. Shelby spent 3 days in the hospital and was quickly diagnosed with Hepatocutaneous syndrome, a rare, progressive and always fatal liver disease. She was given 3 months to live. The only known option was to give her transfusions of amino acids for relief. She took to the aminos and vastly improved. But other medical issues were brought on by the liver disease, including diabetes. She started 4 units of insulin twice a day and in her final days she was up to 26 units twice a day. The diabetes caused glaucoma and in the last year of her life, her eyes had to be removed due to the severe pain she was experiencing. When we were asked to be part of a study at Cornell, we jumped at the chance. Shelby was given a new diet of bison, egg yolks, sweet potatoes and lots of vitamins. She thrived. I truly believe that had she been diagnosed sooner, we could have gotten a better grip on the management of the disease. Those fortunate enough to receive a diagnosis and start the amino treatments are in for a rude awakening as to the cost of this procedure over the years and the additional medical issues than can be brought on by the disease. The Cornell study will assist Vets in proper diagnosis at a much earlier stage. Treatment can get started sooner. And possibly new treatments and an understanding of what causes this disease can be found. We lost Shelby on March 4, 2022 after living with this disease for almost 5 years. She died after a massive inoperable tumor was discovered on her liver. We truly hope that during her life Shelby helped in this important study and in her death, we hope the autopsy will shine even more light on the disease so dogs and their parents do not have to suffer Shelby’s fate. Through it all, Shelby maintained her joy of life and gave inspiration to all who knew her. She will be missed so very much.