14 year-old Shih Tzu With Recent Cushing's Diagnosis

[addy]

Hi Julie,

Sorry to hear things are still a bit of a roller coaster ride. Just wondered if the dogs could have some kind of parasite like Giardia.
It does seem odd they both are having the same tummy problems. Zoe was on ID for about a year. The canned is a highly digestible food.

If the Atopia worked somewhat then perhaps the increase will help Hannah. I am sure hoping for that. I dont blame you for wanting to keep her comfortable and happy and out of the cone and we dont know if she has Cushings for sure. Her birthday is right around the corner. Time is flying by, isn't it? Seems like the year just started and here we are looking at March.

Does the Atopia bother her tummy? I wonder if the licking is from that? It is always hard to know. Sometimes I think they lick to soothe themselves and then it becomes OCD.

Have a great weekend, Julie. I hope you can take a break.

[Trish]

HI Julie, Hannah and Izzy!

Sorry to hear the tummy and skin itchies still a bother. Really hope the food change does the trick. Gosh it seems to go round in circles and with it being both of them having problems on occasion, I do wonder if it something bacterial or environmental. Such a puzzle and I really hope it settles soon.

Sounds like if there is fluid in that gum lump it could be infected?? I bet you are hanging out for the dentist appointment, hope it is not painful for her. Looking forward to next update and hopefully read of improvement for you all

Trish xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[jmac]

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to stop by to let you know I'm taking Hannah to the dental specialist on Wed. morning to have the growth in her mouth evaluated. She will decide if she thinks it can be removed. My regular vet was not sure he'd be able to close the incision. Hannah will also turn 14 on Wednesday. Some birthday present, huh?! My poor little girl has to make yet another vet trip. I'm glad the appointment is finally here, but I'm nervous at the same time. If she does think she can perform surgery, then I'll have to decide if I want to move forward (depending on the cost) and have blood work done again to see how she's doing. Please keep us in your thoughts. I'll let you know how it goes.

Julie & Hannah

[molly muffin]

We'll be right there with you Julie. I hope it isn't anything serious. Does it seem to bother her at all?
Awww, poor Hannah, she'll need some special lovings on her birthday. Maybe the vet will give her a bunch of extra ear rubs so she'll be happier about the whole experience.
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[addy]

We'll be right there with you Julie, praying for some good news for our birthday girl. Fourteen is a pretty special year for sure.


((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))

Is it snowing yet at your house? I so hope the weatherman is wrong, we have no where to go with another 10 inches of snow I hope it misses you so Hannah does not have to cope with that too. We really need to go kidnap that dang groundhog and lock him up somewhere!!

[labblab]

Dear Julie,

I know I have not been writing very much but I have still been following all that's going on with you and sweetie Hannah. I am so sorry for the worry over this growth and I will be hoping SOOOO hard that the consultation goes well tomorrow. I will be thinking of both you and our Birthday Girl, that's for sure!!

Sending big warm hugs from across the miles,
Marianne

[Jenny & Judi in MN]

Thinking of you

[Trish]

Good Luck at the dentist today Julie and Hannah, hope your better at going to the dentist than me!!!!! Take all the drugs is my advice, but I am a wuss and I am sure Hannah will be much braver than me Looking forward to hear the update later today! xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY TO BEAUTIFUL HANNAH ..... I HOPE YOU GET CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[Squirt's Mom]

Happy 14th Birthday, Hannah!!

We hope you have a good day and get lots of goodies!

Hugs,
Leslie, Squirt, Trinket, Brick and Sophie

[jmac]

Thanks for thinking of us, everyone! And Leslie, thanks for the birthday wishes. Hannah started her 14th year at the dental specialist. She went over all of the possibilities of what the growth could be (and there are a lot of them) and then shared her thoughts. She seemed to have no concerns at all about the actual procedure (closing the wound, etc.) and basically said we need to know more before deciding what to do.

So I'm dropping Hannah off tomorrow morning at 8:00 and she is going to begin by sedating her, then doing a chest x-ray (to see if there are any tumors in her chest--if it is cancer, it could have metastasized already), then do a biopsy. If the sedation isn't enough then she would anesthetize her fully. If it seems like a cyst, then she will call me and could go ahead and remove it (it would cost about $2,000!!!), so I will have to figure out what to do. The procedure tomorrow will be about $800-$900.

I can tell my husband thinks this is crazy and thinks we should just leave it because it isn't bothering her. I don't know what I think. The procedure is scheduled, so she will get it biopsied at a minimum. I had her blood work checked at my vet today and the ALKP was 453 (very good!) and ALT was normal again. Her Hematocrit was low again at like 35.5% so she is still slightly anemic. That has been fluctuating for several months. Her BUN was also elevated, but he said that could be from dehydration. I'm hoping that is the case because she really hadn't had much water since last night. Her Creatinine was normal so he wasn't too concerned. At any rate, it was okay enough to do surgery if needed.

I'm very worried about my little sweets, but the doctor seemed so confident; she didn't mention even one concern or complication, so she must feel good about doing this procedure. I'll keep you posted and thank you for keeping is in your thoughts.

Julie & Hannah