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Thread: Hi we are new here! - Chloe (12 y/o Australian Cattle Dog)

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    14

    Talking Hi we are new here! - Chloe (12 y/o Australian Cattle Dog)

    Hi, my name is Kelly – and I have a best furry friend, named Chloe – who is a red Australian Cattle Dog, almost 12 years old, the apple of my eye, and diagnosed with (pituitary dependant) Cushings in March 2008. She is treated under the watchful eye of our wonderful specialist and his team, and they have been great. The first year of starting Trilostane treatment (60mg x 2 daily) was great and trouble free, breezed through all her tests. At this point, her levels became low and she was reduced down to 30mg – and then started showing symptoms of Addisons disease. She went into ‘remission’ for about a month before her Cushings symptoms started to return. After an ACTH stim test which came back negative – we had to start testing for other nasties, however a suppression test confirmed it was just a negative ‘negative’ – and it was just Cushings (better the devil you know I guess LOL!).

    Since about August, she’s been a little erratic and has changed dosages a few times. She’s currently on 5mg once per day – a very low dose after a few close calls with Addisons. We thought she may have been in another remission, however off medication her levels started climbing quite quickly. She seems to be holding with the 5mg daily nicely at the moment. Since late last year when we were having problems with the dosages, she has been on the liquid form of Trilostane (makes it much cheaper when dosage needs to be adjusted).

    So, close to 2 years after diagnosis – and apart from a few issues with getting dosages right, she is well. She’s just come off a course of antibiotics for a tummy upset (which had many Addisons symptoms so she was rushed to hospital). She had an ultrasound to check for any tumours on her organs (all clear – woohoo!), and all her blood work came back fine. So apart from the dreaded Cushings, and a bit of arthritis from 2 tibial wedge osteotomy surgeries on her knees, she is in top health (although her weight has been an ongoing issue for a few years now).

    Anyway, with things being so up and down for us lately (hopefully will stay good for a while now) – I was recommended to come here and learn a bit more, and may even be able to contribute a little from the knowledge I’ve gained on our journey with a Cushinoid.

    It will be nice to be amongst people who surely understand the roller coaster ride that Cushings can be and the financial strain it can bring. And it will be nice to actually chat amongst people who won’t ask… ‘what’s Cushings?... Never heard of it’ LOL.

    I hope we make many new friends here.

    If I can figure out how to post a picture, I would love to share my beautiful, brave girl with you all.

    Have a great day all!

    [IMG]D:\Photos\Photos\IMG_3255[/IMG]

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    2,832

    Default Re: Hi we are new here!

    Hi Kelly and Chloe,

    Welcome to k9cushings and am glad you found us. Looking forward to hearing more about Chloe and her diagnosis. Sounds like you are up to speed with this dreaded and diffuicult disease and happy Chloe is doing well at 12 years old. Good for you and good for her.

    It will be nice to be amongst people who surely understand the roller coaster ride that Cushings can be and the financial strain it can bring. And it will be nice to actually chat amongst people who won’t ask… ‘what’s Cushings?... Never heard of it’ LOL.
    Couldn't agree with you more.
    John (Roxee & Rozee's Dad)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    14

    Default Re: Hi we are new here!

    Thank you for the warm welcome John! My Chloe is a very brave trooper! Can't wait until I am at home and can read the threads more in depth to share others experiences too!!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    York, PA.
    Posts
    11,037

    Default Re: Hi we are new here!

    Hi Kelly,

    Welcome to you and Chloe from me and my boy Harley! You have not only made many new friends here but now have aquired a new family!! We are so very glad that you have found us but so sorry for the circumstances that have brought you here, and yes, we do understand.

    Below I have pasted a post from one of our administrators, Marianne, that she posted to another members thread on how to post an avatar and album.

    If you have any other questions, please do not hestitate to ask, ok.

    Love and hugs,
    Lori

    Quote Originally Posted by Kelly_Louise View Post
    Hi, my name is Kelly – and I have a best furry friend, named Chloe – who is a red Australian Cattle Dog, almost 12 years old, the apple of my eye, and diagnosed with (pituitary dependant) Cushings in March 2008.

    I hope we make many new friends here.

    If I can figure out how to post a picture, I would love to share my beautiful, brave girl with you all.

    Have a great day all!
    Quote Originally Posted by labblab View Post
    Welcome from me, too!

    Here's a couple of hints to help you add some photos of MishMish so that we can all see his sweet face!

    First of all, in order to add his photo as an "avatar" to accompany your username at the top of all of your replies, these are the steps to follow:

    Go to your Public Profile Page (just click on your own username and you will be taken to your Profile page);

    Click on the "User CP" option on the upper left-hand side of the page;

    Find the "Your Control Panel" menu on the left;

    Go down to the "Settings and Options" heading, and then click on "Edit Avatar." You'll then be able to upload a photo to serve as your avatar.
    Additionally, in order to set up a complete album of photos, here's a link that will tell you how:

    http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/faq....faq_vb3_albums


    Marianne

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    1,420

    Default Re: Hi we are new here!

    Hi Kelly and Chloe,
    I am so glad you have joined our team and as Lori stated a new family. If you stick around, you will grow to love everyone and their pups in no time. I joined nearly 5 months ago when my 7 year old lab was diagnosed with PDH Cushings. And I can assure you at this point, I will never ask "what is Cushings, never heard of it". 5 months ago, yes, that was exactly my reply when my IMS gave me the terrible news. Princess was started on 2 60mg of trilo once a day, however, at her 14 day stim, her levels came back extremely low, probably heading toward an Addison's crisis. Thank God for that stim, and thank God for the amazing, wonderful people here who held my hand during that period of time. Since then Princess has been off the trilo and in remission from her Cushings symptoms, i.e., thirst, appetite. She is doing great, is happy, energetic, and I am really enjoying her again. In a nutshell, all I wanted to say was, you couldn't have picked a better place to be than right here. Welcome, and I look forward to exchanging experiences, valuable information and emotions with you. Best regards to you and licks to Chloe...xo Jeanette

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Posts
    2,111

    Default Re: Hi we are new here!

    Hi Kelly,

    Corky and I would also like to welcome you and Chloe. You have found a very wonderful group of people. As others have said, we are a family, and you are now a member of our family.

    It seems like you have been doing so good taking care of Chloe. I'm sure your experience with Cushings will also be helpful to others.

    Terri and The Corkster

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    14

    Default Re: Hi we are new here!

    Oh wow, what a fantastic welcome! And such a relief to be around people who truly understand. Very heartwarming! We already feel part of the family!

    Thanks so much for the photo and avatar link... will make my attempts!

    Again, really looking forward to getting to know all of our new family and thank you for allowing us to be a part of it!!!

    We also have another furry family member - her name is Sasha, and she came to us from rescue just over 1 year ago now. She is almost 4 years old - and she is a beautiful Ridgeback x Mastiff (apparently) with very unusual markings. We love her very much, even with her quirks, and thankfully she is healthy and Cushings-free!!

    Oh and by the way, we are from Sydney, Australia!!

    Will try to get around to doing a photo album when I'm not at work!!
    Last edited by Kelly_Louise; 01-28-2010 at 10:41 PM. Reason: Additional info

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Nebraska
    Posts
    5,606

    Default Re: Hi we are new here!

    Welcome from me as well! My cush baby turned 16 in December. My other one has quirks too. Glad you found us, Kim

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Sault Ste Marie, ON
    Posts
    856

    Default Re: Hi we are new here!

    Hi Kelly and Chloe,

    Welcome to you from me and my dog Casey. You have joined a wonderful group of people and yes it will be a new family for you. My girl was eventually diagnosed a year ago and will soon be 14. Thanks to the people here that guided me and my vet she is doing wonderfully and runs in the park with me every evening. I too have another dog Desi who is happy and healthy but also just still a young dog at 5 (she is Havanese so pretty small).

    We have a few other members from Australia who will likely join in to welcome you - I love having them because they help me in the middle of the night when everyone here is usually asleep. Alison is great for that . . . I am in northern Ontario Canada. Very cold tonight -23 so Australia sounds good!

    Hugs from us,
    Ellen, Sweet Angel Casey, Desi and Oreo

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Papamoa, New Zealand
    Posts
    543

    Default Re: Hi we are new here!

    Hi Kelly

    You made it over here. Welcome to our "cushings family". As I told you elsewhere this group here has a lot of knowlegable people so if you do have problems with Chloe someone may have an answer or something you may be able to get your IMS to look into.

    Once again WELCOME.

    Angela, Sabre and Flynn
    (Yes Red Dog on DOL forum - for those wondering an Australian dog forum)

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