It’s been a quiet few months on my end—no dog updates, no pet therapy stories. Life has been, well, lifey. But today, I’m popping in with an update about Elsa, our beloved Giant-Schnauzer/Husky mix and pet therapy superstar.
Since mid-July, Elsa hadn’t been herself. Her signature Husky ‘Woo Woo Woo’ was gone, replaced by coughs and soft, breathy huffs. Her energy was low, and she was clearly uncomfortable. Watching her struggle without clear answers was heartbreaking. She had to take a break from pet therapy too.
The good news? Elsa is finally recovering from a long and mysterious illness affecting her lungs and bronchial tubes. And the best part—SHE’S WOOING AGAIN! That joyful, sassy Husky voice is back, almost at full strength.
It all started with a cough in July. Bloodwork and X-rays were inconclusive. She showed symptoms like excessive drinking, panting, fatigue, and weight loss. We ruled out scary possibilities—no tumors, no tick-borne diseases, no blasto. Initial treatments didn’t help much.
Eventually, a short course of prednisone and a stronger cough suppressant gave her some relief. A specialist recommended a higher dose of prednisone, and while it helped, it came with side effects—voracious appetite, muscle loss, and more weight loss. She dropped 10 pounds in under three weeks.
Follow-up tests showed worsening lung conditions and high white blood cell counts. We adjusted her treatment: reduced prednisone, added antibiotics, and increased her food intake. Slowly but surely, she began to improve. Her energy returned, her weight stabilized, and the coughing subsided. I have accepted that I may not ever have definitive answers how or why it all started, and I am fine with letting go of that as long as she is better!
Almost two weeks ago, she Woo’d again, and she hasn’t stopped since. No more coughing, more strength, and a whole lot of sass. She’s even considering returning to pet therapy, working with kids again, and maybe mushing—whatever she feels up to.
This journey has reminded me to appreciate the little things. Every Woo, every tail wag, every moment with Elsa is a gift. I’m just so grateful she’s feeling better and no longer suffering.
Tricia Sutton is one of the co-founders of Paws for Kids for Paws. Despite complaints from her spouse, she spends a lot of time with her dogs Elsa, who also is one of the board members, and Koyuk, who helps in our youth programs.