Makita (15 y/o Husky Shepherd cross) - Makita has passed

[makita1996]

Makita is a 15 yr old Husky Shepherd cross and she was diagnosed with Cushings 2 years ago. She is on Seligilene as Vetoryl did not work for her. I was reading that some ppl have been using milk thistle to help with an enlarged liver - does this really work and would it be safe to give to Makita as she is taking Selegilene and Meloxicam. My Vet did not know too much about milk thistle so I thought I would get some feedback from others. Only obvious sign of Cushings is her heavy panting and a bit of a bloated stomach..... and yes, she has had all the test's for thyroid and Cushings. The Vet showed me an xray that showed her liver was enlarged.... any suggestions?

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi and welcome to you and Makita! :)

You mention only Vetoryl (Trilostane) and Selegiline (Anipryl) as treatments for Makita. Is Lysodren not an option for her and if not, why? I don't know where you are located, but if in the UK that may be why you didn't mention it.

Liver enzyme elevations and enlargement of the organ itself is part of Cushing's as the liver is working overtime trying to process all the excess cortisol the body is releasing. Until the cortisol is controlled, it is unlikely you will see much improvement in either area concerning the liver. Do you know what her cortisol level has been running since being on the Anipryl? Have you continued to test? I am a supporter of Anipryl while many are not but 2 years is a long time to see control of the signs with this drug.

Milk Thistle can help with the liver and many here use it for that purpose. My Squirt took it for a while but developed an intolerance because in my ignorance, I misused it and gave it continuously. Milk Thistle should be cycled; 3 mos. on and 3 mos. off, say give it Spring and Fall but not Summer or Winter.

Since Squirt can no longer take it, I have started using Burdock and Astragalus to help purify her blood. Both are tinctures and she gets 3 drops each/day.

We would love to hear more about Makita so the more you can tell us about her history, health issues, meds, herbs, supplements and of course the actual results of labs and the Cushing's tests she had done, that will help us a great deal in giving you more meaningful feedback.

I'm glad you found us and look forward to hearing back from you. I am sure there will be others dropping by to offer their welcome, too!

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls :D - always

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi and welcome to you and Makita from me and my boy Harley.

Could you do us a favor and check your emailbox (or spam folder) for a communication from us. Once you respond to that email, your membership will be finalized, and anything that you post will become visable on the the forum immediately. Until that time, your replies must be manually "approved" by a staff member before they are visable to the public -- so there may be a bit of delay between the time that you write your replies and the time that you actually see them.

Some members do give milk thistle as a supplement for liver support. Here is a link about milk thistle from our Resource Thread: http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=192

I don't know of any interactions between anipryl/selegiline and milk thistle. Here is a link to an article with info about anipryl/selegiline that does write about anipryl/selegiline interactions with other medicines: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_anipryl.html

Would you tell us more about Makita's cushing's diagnosis; the test/s that were done and could you post those results?

Is there some reason Lysodren was not tried?

We are here for you and Makita so please ask all the questions you want and we will try to answer them the best way we can.

Love and hugs,
Lori

[lulusmom]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry for the circumstances that brought you here but I'm sure glad that you found us. Congratulations on being an excellent pet owner. Makita's age is a true testament to the loving care you've obviously given her all these years. Amazing job!

Many of our members give their dogs some type of liver support such as milk thistle and SAMe. Uncontrolled cortisol does impact the liver but more importantly, Meloxicam, can have an even greater impact. For this reason, as well as Meloxicam's possible adverse GI effects, label warnings are very clear that "Metacam (Meloxicam) must not be administered in conjunction with glucocorticosteroids".....and an uncontrolled cushdog is producing too much cortisol, a glucocorticosteroid.

Selegiline is effective in a small number of dogs and even if symptoms are improved on the drug, chances are, it is having little, if any, effect on the cortisol. You would have to have an acth stimulation test done to make that determination. My vet prescribed meloxicam for my cushdog's arthritis; however, it was not until he was stabilized on an effective treatment that we figured out that he even had arthritis. Arthritis is usually not a problem for dogs with uncontrolled cushing's as the excess cortisol is the body's natural anti-inflammatory. All that cortisol will mask the arthritis until it is reduced at which time the arthritic pain becomes apparent.

Has Makita been diagnosed with arthritis and is your vet absolutely sure that the normal symptoms associated with arthritis, such as weakness, is not being caused by muscle wasting that is common with cushing's? Sorry for answering your question with a whole lot of other questions but Meloxicam can spell problems for cushdogs. Liver enzymes must be routinely monitored with this drug because of it it's adverse effect on the liver. If your vet is experienced with cushing's and Meloxicam, s/he should be very familiar with Adenosyl, which is a veterinarian dispensed liver supplement that is routinely given to dogs with liver issues. Again, if Makita's cushing's is not being effectively controlled, her liver is getting double hammered so liver support is a really good idea.

Can you tell us why Trilostane did not work for Makita? How long did you treat with Trilostane before switching to Selegiline? Again, sorry for even more questions but the more we know about your girl's history the better equipped we'll be to offer you more meaningful feedback.

[happydogs]

Hi and welcome, from another new member. Our dog was diagnosed with Cushings as well... to cut a long story short, he's currently on anipryl (selegilene) as well as on Marin, a supportive liver supplement which contains milk thistle. He's been taking it for about 6 months now, after an additional diagnosis of liver cancer. We think the Marin (along with other supplements like Zentonil, which is SamE) have really helped him. His liver function has become significantly better. I don't know if Marin has any interactions with Meloxicam.

Instead of Meloxicam, have you thought about trying something like Zeel? Zeel is a homeopathic remedy. I don't think it works on every dog but it really helped ours with discomfort/pain (mind you, his discomfort/pain seemed fairly mild). We also bring him to regular acupuncture treatments. So far, so good, it has kept him limber and active. Maybe it would help Makita as well?

[makita1996]

Wow.... thank you for the warm welcome's. It is so great to be able to ask these questions.... I will check with the Vet tomorrow and ask for the result's and will post them. To answer a few questions, yes I checked my email and registered, after reading your email, I went back again and it said I am in a 'queue' waiting to be added. Makita was adopted at 5.5 weeks old as she was abandoned by her mother who had parvo. She was born the runt of a litter of 11, bow legged, a cataract in one eye, poultry and grain allergies and now has Cushings disease.....She was diagnosed with arthritis at 2 years old..... I am from Canada so I am not to sure about the some of the drugs that were suggested. My Vet did say there are other drugs we could try but if she is managing on selegiline then it would not be worth it to 'try' other drugs as the side effects would be to harsh for a dog her age..... He said that we are at the point where we are to just make things comfortable for her........I asked my Vet about Meloxicam and Selegiline and the Vet did say that it is okay to administer both drugs... I am also giving her glucosamine/chondriton vitamins as the Vet suggested this. I would like to try the herbal suggestions - are they available in Canada? Thank you everybody for your answers - I have learned more today than in the last two years.... it is so comforting to know you are all there.....

[AlisonandMia]

Your membership has now been approved (no longer in moderation queue) and your posts will now appear instantly rather than needing to be approved first by a moderator.

Alison

[lulusmom]

Hi again.

If you have seen great improvement in Makita with Selegiline, then I wholeheartedly agree with your vet....at her advanced age, it's all about quality of life and making her comfortable. My concern was not the concurrent administration of Selegiline and Meloxicam, it is that Makita's cortisol is more than likely not being controlled and that can be a problem if treating with Meloxicam. As I posted previously, the manufacturer specifically warns against administering Meloxicam with glucocorticosteroids. A glucocorticosteroid can be either the synthetic form, such as prednisone, or the natural form, cortisol. If the Selegiline is simply treating the symptoms and not controlling the cortisol, Makita's body is swimming in a sea of cortisol (glucocorticosteroid). If I were in your shoes, I would definitely discuss this with my vet.

[makita1996]

Thank you for that info.... I did read the label that warned about selegilene and Meloxicam..... I asked the Vet and he was not concerned... that being said and what you said..... I will call him tomorrow for clarification..... thank you again for your suggestions and info.

[happydogs]

Hello again. I am also in Canada, and the Marin and Zentonil are readily available here, although they are not cheap. If you just want straight milk thistle, some human health food stores carry it or you can get it from pet stores like Tail Blazers which sell 'health food' for pets (mostly natural / raw / dehydrated / minimally processed foods). Zeel is also available at human and pet health food stores, or you can buy it online too.

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi,

I want to help you understand Glynda's point.

We are NOT concerned about the drug interactions. Drug interaction between Selegiline and Meloxicam is NOT our concern.

The Meloxicam itself is the problem.

Does this help?

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls :D - always

[apollo6]

Just a welcome from Sonja and Apollo.
Can't give input on the drugs being used.
I started Apollo on Animals' Apawthecary Milk ... $13.97 American dollars, shortly after his cushing diagnose to help his liver. I found out throw this website about it.
Apollo is on Trilostane.
Sonja and Apollo

[makita1996]

Okay, so here are, I guess what you can say are the lab results - not sure if it is enough info but let me know what you think (Still waiting for my Vet to call me).
*Notes from the Lab Vet.

Endocrinology April 04 2009
Cortisol pre - 144
Cortisol post - 797
*consistent with Cushings

Endocrinology March 10 2010
Cortisol pre - 111
Cortisol post - 662
*exaggerated adrenal response to ACTH adminstration is supportive of hyperadrenalism - cannot rule out other chronic disease, what are concerns?

Endocrinology March 25 2010
Cortiol pre - 32
Cortisol post - 32
*Concern dosage is too low, see below for monitoring values for post stimulation cortisols.

Endocrinology July 26 2010
Cortisol pre - 309
Cortisol post - 883
*recommend imaging adrenals to differentiate adrenal tumour versus pituitary dependant.

Have not had an ultra sound yet to determine if it is adrenal or pituitary.

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi,

Thanks for providing this info but I have a question - what are the units of measurement for these values? There will be some letters following the numbers like mnol/l or ug/dl, ect. Would you mind editing your post to provide those. They look like mnol/l units but I'm not sure.

What I am sure of is that her cortisol is not being controlled by the Selegiline at all. But I am glad you have seen some improvement in the signs for this long....and quite impressed! :) I have never heard of it working this long!

Was she on the Vetoryl when the March 25 test was done? If so, I can see why you thought it wasn't working for her as that is what is called a non-stimulatory response. But that didn't mean it wouldn't work for her or that she wasn't handling the drug. It could have meant something as simple as the dose needed adjusting.

I suggest you have an ultrasound done on Makita not only to see if there is an adrenal tumor but to also see how her other organs are. There could be a non-adrenal cause for her cortisol elevations. That was the case with my Squirt. A splenic tumor was found and when it was removed, her cortisol levels returned to normal. Be sure this is done on a high resolution machine. ;) You would at least know more about what is going on with her and perhaps find other options to help her.

I am still curious as to why Lysodren wasn't offered as a treatment? It is no harsher than Vetoryl and no less dangerous when misused so I am puzzled as to why Makita wasn't given this opportunity to improve the quality of her life.

Hang in there!
Hugs,
Leslie and the girls :D - always

[lulusmom]

I'm pretty sure the reporting unit for those results are nmol. I've converted those below to ug/dl for those of us that are more familiar with that reporting unit. I have also added comments in blue.

Endocrinology April 04 2009
Cortisol pre - 5.2
Cortisol post - 28.9
*consistent with Cushings

Endocrinology March 10 2010
Cortisol pre - 4.0
Cortisol post - 24
*exaggerated adrenal response to ACTH adminstration is supportive of hyperadrenalism - cannot rule out other chronic disease, what are concerns?

Endocrinology March 25 2010
Cortiol pre - 1.2
Cortisol post - 1.2
*Concern dosage is too low, see below for monitoring values for post stimulation cortisols.
At this point, it appears that Vetoryl was working a little bit too well as these numbers are low. The concern should have been that dosage was too high, not too low.

Endocrinology July 26 2010
Cortisol pre - 11.2
Cortisol post - 32
*recommend imaging adrenals to differentiate adrenal tumour versus pituitary dependant.
If an ultrasound has not been done, then I agree with Leslie that you may want to consider having one done. In addition to the reasons Leslie posted, I would like to add that if Makita has an adrenal tumor, it is 100% certain that the Selegiline is doing absolutely nothing to treat the cushing's. However, if Makita is having cognitive problems, it may be helping with those issues. As I mentioned above, it looks to me that the Vetoryl was working a bit too well, as far as dropping cortisol levels anyway. With the low numbers in March, Makita may have been showing signs of low cortisol such as inappettance, lethargy, weakness and even diarrhea. When this happens, the dog usually take a break from dosing and is restarted on a lower dose

Can you clarify why your vet felt the drug was not working for Makita?

[makita1996]

Spoke with my Vet today.... decided that we are going to do a full blood work panel to see if there are any other issues and revisit using Vetoryl. Once the bloodwork results are back then we are going to look at all the options of vitamins to help with her liver.... thanks for all your wisdom as it was so helpful when I was talking with my Vet today.... I actually understood what he was saying.....

[makita1996]

So after the test's we are now going to switch to Lysodren.... Selegilene was not working. Thoughts on this med?

[marie adams]

Hi There,

Welcome to you and Makita. We are on Lysodren and so far no side effects, but you are always looking at the numbers on the tests you have to have done--ACTH test. It has to do with the loading first and then the maintenance period. You get the numbers just right after the load and then pray they stay good on the maintenance, but this takes place with the trilo dosing also. This is nothing bad, just constant watching and monitoring fomr now on with this most wonderful disease. We just finished a 4 month maintenance and the numbers went back up so it looks like we have to stay on a higher dose for maintenance--we will see.

It seems like your vet knows what they are talking about, because I think I am moving on again for a new vet:( who knows more than I do.

Take care and you will do fine on Lyso--it has been around a long time.

[AlisonandMia]

So after the test's we are now going to switch to Lysodren.... Selegilene was not working. Thoughts on this med?

My dog was treated with Lysodren and did very well on it.:) If ever I needed to treat another dog for Cushing's I would choose Lysodren as it is what I know and are comfortable with as an owner. It is however not an easy med for a vet to use in many ways and for it to be safe and effective it is absolutely vital that the vet know and implement the correct protocols for dosing and treatment.

Like some of the others I am wondering in what way the Vetoryl didn't work for Makita. Judging from the test results you posted it lowered her cortisol very effectively. In fact maybe it lowered it a bit too far and I'm wondering if this made her unwell. If this was the case then this was simply a sign that she needed a lower dose rather than that the medication wasn't working for her. Because they are powerful drugs that work to lower cortisol (which a hormone vital for metabolic functioning) both Vetoryl and Lysodren need to be very carefully dosed and monitored.

Alison

[makita1996]

Vetoryl made Makita very lethargic... in fact she would just lay in the middle of the yard, alert but just laying there. I told the Vet this and more test's were done and the Vet said that we had been overdosing her on the Vetoryl. As this is a fairly new drug in Canada and new for my Vet we felt it might be better to go back to the Selegilene... I panicked as I was scared about the effects of the drug and went back to selegiline...I don't remember a conversation about continuing her on Vetoryl but at a lower dose.....I have mentioned several times to my Vet (all 3 of them) that I had concerns about her being lethargic and panting a lot - to which they all said are signs of an older dog....b/c her water intake had not increased they did not seem to concerned.... even this week he told me I needed to understand that she is an older dog and my issues are consistent with an older dog.....that all being said.... I was told today that Makita has a serious pancreas infection..... so she is on antibiotics and pepcid ac to help with the acid build up.... I like my Vet but I just feel that they did not take the concerns seriously b/c of her age..... I would change Vets but given her age and her illness starting with another Vet probably doesn't make a lot of sense....No one told me I was to bring her in for regular testing/monitoring.....In fact the staff told me about the antibiotics and then said 'Is that crystal clear?' When I hesitated she told me that instructions were all printed on the labels..... which has limited info..... oh I can't forget they gave me a small post it note with instructions from the Vet that I did not understand.....Not that I am blaming anyone..... I will ask about a lower dose of Vetoryl vs Lysodren..... he has told me to continue with selegilene every other day until we switch medications but given she is on antibiotics I am not sure if I should be putting all those chemicals into her......

[makita1996]

Any thoughts on why Makita is now becoming a picky eater.... food she loved yesterday she is now turning her nose up. Vet said it is normal given her pancreas issues. She is not eating her dog cookies but likes the soft ones.... was eating her cuts in gravy but now is ignoring it.... Tried oatmeal for a while but doesn't like it now. She is taking some antibiotics could this be the problem? Everything was normal until this afternoon... weakness in her back legs also increased. I stopped her selegilene two days ago, as per the Vet, as we were supposed to start Lys. today....Seeing the Vet on Friday....

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi,

How is Makita doing today? Did you start the Lysodren as planned?

The ABs could effect the appetite for sure as they can make you feel ucky at times. The leg weakness could be from the cortisol as this is a sign for our babies. Stopping the Selegiline after so long may have some effects on her behavior, mood, and how she feels in general, too.

Let us hear from you and how Makita is doing, ok?

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls :D - always

[makita1996]

Thanks for the support and information... Makita did not start the Lsyodren b/c we are trying to get her pancreas under control. The up & downs of this disease are so overwhelming and draining, emotionally.... One minute she is fine and back to a puppy, the next minute you are lifting her up and carrying her..... this morning I found her hiding under a table, heavy breathing and shaking.... after lot's of cuddles, words of encouragement and some breakfast.... she is feeling better but still has weakness in her back leg.... My Vet wants to wait until after the results of another test on her pancreas but after telling him about the weakness he is thinking we may start on Friday....I have an appt. for bloodwork tomorrow morning and hopefully he will have time to talk to me about starting Lysodren. I just wish there was more I could do for her. Thankfully she does not seem to be in any pain... no whimpering, yet..... and today she has a ravenous appetite where as yesterday she would not eat..... :confused:

[makita1996]

Makita has pancreatitis and the Vet has said to stop her Meloxicam and Selegilene. Problem is, she is very weak in her back right side and is having difficulty getting up. Good news is her appetite is back. Has anyone else had this happen and do you have any suggestions on dealing with this. When she was on selegilene her back legs were not as weak, it helped her with canine cognitive disease (she is 15) but did nothing for her Cushings (that is why we are stopping)...... as soon as her pancrease heals then she will be starting lysodren. She is on antibiotics which has helped but the Vet wants to keep her on them for another week....... just so frustrating to see her struggling...

[frijole]

First off I would make sure there isn't a wash out period for anipryl/segeline. I know with lysodren and trilostane it is a MINIMUM of four weeks.

Second - be sure you have all pancreatitus issues resolved prior to starting the lysodren. You don't want to give lysodren to a dog with stomach issues.

If you aren't already, I'd start giving fish oil, glucosamine supplements now because the back leg issues will worsen once you use lysodren and cortisol levels are reduced.

My Annie's hind legs are very weak and fail her often. I am avoiding steroidal drugs if at all possible and started using a product called "Duralactin" 30 days ago. It hasn't cured her but it has helped her a great deal. Google it and you will see some very positive recommendations. We discussed it in this thread:

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2635

Kim

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi,

My boy Harley has pancreatitis and I did try to load him on Lysodren. Unfortunately his pancreas couldn't tolerate the Lysodren, now Harley was a dog that never showed signs of pancreatitis.

I am not saying your Makita will have the same outcome because all dogs are different and react differently to the meds.

If you are going to start any kind of fish oil supplement make sure the pancreas is healed completely and then start this supplement very slowly.

Best of luck to you and Makita.

Love and hugs,
Lori

[Squirt's Mom]

I want to second what Lori said about the pancreatits and fish oil. Fish oils are lipids (fats) and fats are the worst nutrient for an inflamed pancreas. Makita will probably need a low fat, moderate protein diet if this is a chronic condition. Once the inflammation has subsided, then you can add fish oils to help with the arthritis if you wish (it is a good supplement for this! ;) ) but do start slowly and watch for any signs that would indicate a recurrence of inflammation in the organ before upping the dose. When using fish oils, you will also want to add natural Vitamin E, which works as an anti-oxidant, which is also an oil.

Seconding Kim in saying do not start the Lyso until the pancreatitis is under control. To start it while she is sick with this would be a recipe for problems! :eek: Primarily because it would be toooo easy to mistake the signs of being loaded as nothing more than the pancreas. As for a wash-out between Anipryl and Lyso or Trilo, the experts say it is not necessary. However, when Squirt was on the Anipryl and I was considering Lyso for her, I wanted a wash-out just because I am an anal old broad! :rolleyes::o:D

Since Makita is a Shepherd cross, she may be experiencing hip problems as that breed is very prone to hip dysplasia. If you haven't had her hips Xrayed recently, it might be worth it to have them looked at. Every Shepherd or Shepherd cross I have had developed this condition and it is very painful and debilitating. :(

Keep in touch and keep up the good work! Do let us know how she is doing, ok?

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls :D - always

[makita1996]

Thank you so much for the info.... You all have been so helpful, calming and made me feel a whole lot better....Makita finally has her appetite back... she is still struggling with walking and getting up. She seems to be favouring her right side, shaking her head and a shaky back leg. The Vet keeps telling me to be patient and wait it out b/c we need to deal with her pancreatitis..... he thinks it may be neurological:confused:.... but he said to not give her anymore drugs, including selegilene until the pancrease is healthy.... once that is better then we will deal with the other issues. I wish we had just started with the lysodren.

[marie adams]

Hi There,

Just to let you know my Maddie is almost 12 yrs old next month and since all of this Cushings stuff started she has gotten weaker in her hind legs. The right one seems to be the worst one. She had the shaking before I knew this is what she had, but she still has it just not as bad. The shaking seems to depend on her cortisol levels and even with the maintenance period it has gone up--the numbers. She is stiff at times when she gets up. Sometimes on our walks her right hind paws seems to buckle under a little, but she is a trooper and I have to stop stressing about her short comings--I have to remember she is getting older and some of this comes from that...:rolleyes:

The best thing you can do is--if Makita can deal with it and adapt, then so can you. They do adapt and go on with their daily routines--do we have to watch them and curtail some of the activity they use to do just to make sure they don't get hurt--yep we have to do that. Can I say I don't get stressed out and want it to go back to the way she was at 10 yrs old --oh yes, but I have to deal with how she is now and enjoy her--she is still the same ornery Maddie,:D:D that hasn't changed--haha!!:D

[makita1996]

Thanks Marie..... what you described is exactly what I am experiencing.... Makita does not seem to be in any pain and yes her cortisol levels are not good.... hopefully we can start Lys. soon and manage her Cushings.... and what you said about adapting is soooooo true....

[makita1996]

So the Vet called and still not able to start Lysodren. Her levels actually increased from the recent test and now they think it may be an underlying problem with her liver. She still has pancreatitis but the antibiotics are not working..... she is going for an ultrasound on Wed. and will be seeing an internal medicine specialist. The Vet originally told me that he suspects there may be a tumour on her pancreas..... then after speaking with the specialist thinks it may be something else.....Makita is still alert, eating and does not seem to be in any pain. Not so good with her back leg and is falling over all the time.... and she is not a morning person lately....

[Harley PoMMom]

Her levels actually increased from the recent test and now they think it may be an underlying problem with her liver.


Just curious...What "levels" increased and what test was used to determine this increase?

[makita1996]

The test was to test her enzymes, which are elevated in her pancreas and liver (he told me the name but I can't remember b/c all I heard was the word tumor). He said that the test they use is a 'new test' and he is not sure how accurate the results are. Is there a common test they should be doing.....to summarize, he said the antibiotics should have cured the pancreatitis but this is not happening.:(. One positive thing is that she is not panting anymore.

[Harley PoMMom]

The test they should be doing is a Spec PL test. Is this the test? The Spec PL test has an unprecedented accuracy—With more than 95% specificity and sensitivity at diagnosing pancreatitis in dogs.

Here is a link to info about this test:

http://www.idexx.com/view/xhtml/en_us/smallanimal/reference-laboratories/testmenu/innovative-tests/spec-cpl.jsf?SSOTOKEN=0

[makita1996]

So it turns out that Makita has a large benign growth on her liver and has had it for a long time. She does not have pancreatitis... the reason she had a bad reaction to Vetoryl is b/c of the growth on her liver. She is back on Meloxicam and Selegilene to help with her arthritis and canine cognitive disease (as per the Internal Medicine Specialist).... Taking her off these medications is what caused her weakness in her back legs to increase. Once we deal with the growth on her liver then we will start the lysodren. Did I mention how happy I am to have Pet Insurance :D

[Harley PoMMom]

Mitotane/Lysodren is mainly metabolized through the liver. Is your vet ok with this?

[makita1996]

We haven't really talked about Lysodren but he was clear, as was the specialist that we would not discuss Lysodren until the liver issue is dealt with.....

[makita1996]

The ultra sound came back with a 3 - 4 inch benign tumor on her liver. We are not able to start the Lysodren until we remove the tumor. Thing is, she is back to her normal self. Her legs are better and her appetite is normal. A lot more energy since she has been back on the Selegilene and meloxicam.... So the Vet has suggested we wait a while before the surgery as there is no rush to remove the tumor. It is growing slowly and she has had it for a while. At first it was an urgency to have the surgery done so we can start controlling the cushings and now we are going to wait a week or so. Given her age and that she is back to normal the Vet is in no rush. And on top of everything she never had pancreatitis !!! the antibiotics and taking her of her regular meds were not needed..... that all being said any thoughts on removing this tumor on a 14.5 year old dog? I have pet insurance so $$ is not an issue but I am concerned about the surgery and her recovery....... and her overall quality and quantity of her life.

[makita1996]

Makita went in for surgery to have a 4" tumor removed from her liver. At the age of 15, I was a bit hesitant & nervous about this surgery and what was best for her. After an hour drive to the a Vet who could do the surgery and over night stay for her at a 24hr clinic... she came home the next day..... within 24 hours she was back to her normal self... she has, to the amazement of everyone, recovered nicely from her surgery and now on to treating her Cushings with Lysodren. We will have to wait a minimum of 14 days before she can start. On another note, the Vet also removed 2 lbs of fat tissue from her naval area - a tummy tuck..... I think she is loving her new body (lol). :) Does anyone have a suggestion besides Meloxicam/Medical for arthritis. Just wanted to do a bit of research on medications that are available before I talk to my regular Vet.

[Casey's Mom]

Wow that is amazing - go Makita!! :D:D

I use monthly Adequan injections from my vet for help with Casey's arthritis and she will also soon be 15 and is doing very well. I also use glucosamine chondroitin, L-Glutamine and Salmon oil as supplements in her food to help with Arthritis. Its all working for her and she doesn't take any pain meds.

Hope this helps,

[makita1996]

So we made it through the surgery but...... after an emergency visit to the Vet, Makita has been diagnosed with Vestibular Disease... she has all the classic symptoms.... She was fine and then crashed again. She has not been able to stand up on her own, whole body tilting to one side and collapsing. Her left ear seems to have a bit of fluid in it but the right ear is dry..... she has no strength to lift herself up to go to the bathroom and is urninating where she is lying. The Vet is aware of this and said there is nothing they can do but to wait it out.... I am giving her gravol and she is still drinking water but not eating. According to the Vet this is normal. Has anyone else experienced this and if so any experiences you can share. The Vet did say if she has not improved within 72 hours that I am to bring her back to the clinic...... this is the worst illness to deal with....

[BestBuddy]

My keplie Nelson (long since passed away) had no other health problems and he suffered a vestibular problem. He was quite active and was actually out walking with hubby and several miles from home just collapsed and couldn't get up, his eyes looked strange and he had a head and body tilt.

Within several days we had great improvements and in the weeks after even more. I wouldn't say he ever got 100% improvement but about 98% which we could easily live with. It's such a scary thing but the outcome can be ok.

Jenny

[Spiceysmum]

Hi,

Brin, my 14 year old non-cushings dog, had a vestibular episode last year and it is very frightening at the time. He could stand up on his own but just collapsed in a heap when he walked especially on the wooden floor. He was sick a few times too. He had no medication for it and was alot better within 3 days. I hope you see an improvement in Makita in the next day or two but take her back to the vets if not especially as she is still recovering from surgery.

Linda

[rtopicz]

I have seen several cases of this at work. I understand your distress it is very disturbing to watch. Our Doctor always says to wait it out, everything should subside in about 7 days. Good luck.

-Rebecca

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi,

How is Makita today? Hope you are seeing some improvement!

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

[makita1996]

Makita is moving her head around a bit more, trying to pull herself up. Still cannot walk but can stand for a bit when I lift her up..... drooling a lot but is drinking water.... still not eating....today is day 4 of dealing with vestibular.... I hope she can recover a bit more....

[frijole]

This has got to be awful to watch but as others have said... so many times it just goes away in a week and we are certainly all praying for Makita that it does. Sending strength and love to you. Kim

[makita1996]

Thanks for all your kind words and support....just need to hear that that there is some 'normal' in what Makita is going through....

[makita1996]

Soooooo.... Makita has not improved and has take a turn for the worst. She has not been able to walk in 9 days. She will eat some food but not enough.... She has also had diahrrea.... the Vet does not think she will recover from this.... so it is palliative care now. I have made that awful decision to have her euthanized on Monday... not the easiest decision but the best for my beautiful 15 yr old baby girl....She will spend her last few days with lots of love and cuddling... thanks again for all the kind words...

[Squirt's Mom]

I am so sorry Makita does not seem to be able to overcome this latest battle and that you have had to make plans to release her. :(

This is a difficult thing to do but it is wonderful that she will have these next few days with you lavishing her with love as only a mom can. It is such a blessing that only we know what will come. All she will know is that you are with her as you always have been, loving her and comforting her.

Know we are here if you need to talk and that we are with you and Makita in spirit.

May peace be at your side in the coming days.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

[BestBuddy]

It is such a hard decision to make but when you are making it for the right reasons it is truly a gift.

Spend these next days showing Makita how much she is loved. Try not to let her see how sad you are because all she wants is to make you happy.

Jenny

[Bichonluver3]

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry to hear your sad news. My heart goes out to you and your family. It is so hard on us humans when our furbabies don't have as long a lifespan as we do. It just doesn't seem fair. But Makita has had a wonderful life with a loving family. She could not have had anything better. She has the best mom and you have proven it by deciding to make her pain yours and give her an easy journey over the Rainbow Bridge. I know it is not an easy decision to make but it is the greatest gift you can give her. Please give her an extra big hug from us. We will all be standing beside you in spirit on Monday and will be sending all our love and healing thoughts. God bless you all.
love,
Carrol & Chloe

[makita1996]

Soooooo. Now she has decided that she has an appetite again and is struggling so hard to get up..... her head is tilted to the side b/c of the vestibular disease so she has no balance. Now that she is eating again I am not sure if this is the right decision..... the Vet did say she would pull through it but when he heard she was not eating he had second thoughts......if she can get through this obstacle... I don't want to end her life for her......

[Harley PoMMom]

We have members with pups with vestibular syndrome, here are some links to some posts:

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showpost.php?p=22842&postcount=385

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showpost.php?p=21478&postcount=323

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showpost.php?p=21716&postcount=326

Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.

Love and hugs,
Lori

[frijole]

Sending love, prayers and strength to you and Makita. Kim

[littleone1]

You and Makita are in my thoughts and prayers.

Terri

[Squirt's Mom]

If it is not her time, I believe she will let you know and as closely as you watch her, you will hear her message. Keep doing what you are - loving her and comforting her and giving her all the strength you have.

I so hope she is going to rally and beat this!

Prayers, healing white light, and hugs for all,
Leslie and the girls - always

[zoesmom]

Foooo - I just wrote you a long note and lost it.

Had to comment because Zoe had a severe case of CVS just over a year ago. Started suddenly, like around Dec. 10. I thought it was the end. And it was the hardest thing ever to watch. In the hospital for over a week - barely able to stand or walk,, falling over into walls, pooping and peeing in her kennel there. And we were due to leave on a Xmas trip shortly after it happened. Vets said be patient, but I didn't know if she'd ever improve enough to leave her in our absence - at the petsitters or the vet hospital. We stopped all her regular meds during the hospital stay, thinking that letting her cortisol rise would help inflammation. They tried a/b's but not sure it made a difference. Anti-nausea drugs also - but just for a few days.

It was pure torture and I cried every day. It WAS absolutely the worst thing that I've ever gone through with any of our dogs. Finally brought her home after a week so we could spend the last few days with her,, thinking it was all over. There was some improvement at home and so she was able to go to the petsitters, who gladly made all sorts of special accomodations for Zoe. When we returned in early January, she was doing much better. Will post link to that nightmare December if you wanna read it. Long story short. She continued to improve after we got back from trip - took about 6 weeks total to get to where life was somewhat normal and we were blessed to have another 3 months with her - with a decent quality of life. She never got back to 100% as she would still lose her balance sometimes, or weave - especially on uneven surfaces. But I would have always wondered - if we'd given up and let her go in Dec. - if it would have been a mistake. So I'm glad we didn't.

Have some tips: for stairs, we allowed no more than two (in and out of house) and that with holding onto her collar. For feeding, had her lie down sphinx style and then put bowl in between legs. That eventually wasn't necessary. Lights - at night - helps them see, and thus easier to keep their balance. And switched to a shoulder harness for walks - pulling straight up to give balance. Other than steadying her on stairs and using the harness for her walks, the other things we were able to discontinue in January.

In March, she woke up blind one morning (it came on overnight) so don't know if the CVS was a pre-cursor to that or not. (possible brain tumor, although most cases of CVS are not from tumors). Will never know for sure with Zoe, but since CVS dogs must see to keep balance, the loss of sight was the last straw for her. I could tell my little fighter had lost her fight. But felt blessed to have those last 3 months with her. Will get that link to her thread. Sue

As you will see, I nearly gave up hope. It was a constant roller coaster of doubt and uncertainty in the first two weeks. But maybe Zoe's experience will give you hope and help you see how this condition progresses. This is the page where the CVS started. You can scroll thru to find the updates I posted as there were a lot of well-wishes in between each of my updates.
http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=551&page=12

[zoesmom]

Have they tried the antinausea drug on her - as that's supposed to help with the not-eating. I think it's a motion sickness medicine but forgot which one. It might be in Zoe's thread. Also, I see that Makita is about 11 days into this horrible condition. That was about the same time that I started to feel a little more encouraged about Zoe's progress and the possibility of a good outcome. Sue

[Bichonluver3]

A glimmer of hope - how wonderful! We are pulling for you sooooo hard. We will be praying every second of today and as long as is needed for your precious baby. Please keep us updated. We are thinking of nothing else but Makita today. You know her best and if you feel it is not her time, then it is not.
All our love,
Carrol

[zoesmom]

Forgot to add (think I did in my post that got lost) - the incontinence was totally related to the imbalance - being unable to stand, squat and keep her balance in the process. Once we got her home, it started to improve. I could tell she hated pooping and peeing on herself in her hospital kennel. After coming home, sometimes she'd accidentally lose her balance while peeing and looked awkward when squatting to poop, but it got better with each day. Also, she lost a lot of strength in her legs due to being inactive and unable to stand for so long. So the legs took awhile to regain strength. Theyy weren't good to begin with so that was another struggle. We just started with really slow and really short walks at first. Had no choice, really, since she couldn't go down a whole flight of stairs to our yard. Only option was to walk her a block down the street to an open common area. Sue

[makita1996]

Thanks for sharing your stories with us...... problem is, it has been two weeks, she is 15 and she can't even lift herself up....when I help her she just falls over.....when I hold her back legs all she wants to do is walk backwards.....and then sit down....still will not even sniff dog food.......

[zoesmom]

I understand. Zoe was not quite 13 when it happened, so that was my concern for her, too. That her age was making her recovery much more difficult. And it did, I'm sure. Thirteen was a ripe old age for a dog of her size so I knew that any extra time we got with her was probably going to be limited, regardless.

Makita is even older so perhaps she's lost the will to fight on. So I totally understand. I came very close, several times throughout the ordeal, to making the same decision to let go. It becomes a question of 'how much is too much' for them - and maybe this is just too much for Makita at her age.

Either way, you know we are here to support you. If you've already decided it's time to release her, and it sounds like you have, then just give her all the love you possibly can. I'm sure she already knows how much you love her. My heart goes out to you. It is such a rough time. That is what we faced in March with Zoe - knowing that it was time to say good-bye and yet trying to keep a happy face for her as the hours ticked down. THink of it as ia gift you are giving her - release from an old body that has worn down and no longer can do what she wants it to do. She will run free and fast again very soon. Hugs to you and Makita. Sue

[Bichonluver3]

Just to let you know we are thinking of you all the time. We are sending our thoughts, prayers and strength. We are all here for you if you need us.
All our love and tight hugs,
Carrol

[Squirt's Mom]

My thoughts and prayers are with you today tho I continue to hope for a miracle for our sweet Makita.

Remember, you are not alone, no matter what, you are not alone.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

[makita1996]

"I guess you don't really own a dog, you rent them, and you have to be thankful that you had a long lease"....Joe Garagiola

Today Makita died as she had lived, in my care, and surrounded by my love.

[Spiceysmum]

So sorry to hear that Makita has passed away. Thinking of you.

Linda

[Squirt's Mom]

"Today Makita died as she had lived, in my care, and surrounded by my love."

A beautiful epitaph for your precious girl. I know she is grateful for that life as well as for the gift of freedom from her damaged body.

We continue to be here for you in the time to come. If you wish to talk, share memories, whatever, we are here any time.

Makita's name has been added to In Loving Memory for 2011 where she will be remembered with love by her family here.

Our deepest sympathies,
Leslie, Squirt, Trinket, and our Angels, Ruby and Crystal

[littleone1]

I am so sorry to hear about Makita. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Rest in Peace Makita.

Terri

[Bichonluver3]

Oh my gosh, here I am at work, sitting at the desk of the children's department in a public library, crying. My heart is broken, as I'm sure yours is. For some reason, in the short time I knew her I came to love Makita and was praying so hard for her. But God (and you) knew what was best. It was the greatest gift for a life lived well. I hope you can feel my tight hugs and all my love and prayers are being sent your way.
To Makita: If only we could have been blessed to you better. You had the best mom in the world who treasured you. She will keep you in her heart always, as you will keep her in yours. Run free, sweet princess, on strong legs, through the fields of heaven surrounded by the many new friends who have gone before. Feel the warmth of the sun on your face and gentle winds at your back. I will check tonight in the desert sky for our newest, brightest star. Watch over your mama and know that we are here to help her through this sad time. Til we all meet again, precious angel..........godspeed and God bless.
Carrol

[frijole]

I am so sorry. RIP dearest angel Makita, RIP. Hugs and strength to your family. Kim

[zoesmom]

Godspeed, sweet Makita. You will always be in our hearts, and most especially your mom's. Sue

[fivebichons]

I am so very sorry for your loss of your precious baby. Godspeed Makita.

God bless,
Heidi and the bichons

[Casey's Mom]

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss of your Makita. Sending lots of love and strength to try and help you through this difficult time.

Love and many hugs,

[k9diabetes]

I am so very sorry to learnof Makita's passing... no matter how long they are with us, it's never long enough. But I hope you can take some comfort in having contributed to Makita having a long and wonderful life.

Natalie

[Franklin'sMum]

I am so sorry to read of Makita's passing. Sending you love. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Jane, Franklin and Angel Bailey xxx

[BestBuddy]

Makita was very much loved and even in the last you did not let her down. It's such a hard decision to let them go but it is the only choice sometimes.
I hope you can soon only remember her whole and strong.

Jenny

[Sabre's Mum]

I am so sorry for your loss of your dear Makita. My thoughts are with you.

Angela and Flynn

[mytil]

My heart is with you - I am so very sorry to read about Makita's passing. We are all here for you.

(((((hugs)))))
Terry

[jrepac]

So sorry to read about this...

I am sure she had a fine life and was very loved.


Jeff & Angel Mandy

[Pumpkin's Mama]

Dear Makita's parents.

My sweet Pumpkin left us a little earlier in the day yesterday. I am sure that she met Makita at the gates with a big fat tennis ball. She and Makita have a lot to talk about. Especially the love and support that they had in this world. I am so sorry for your loss. My heart aches for both of us tonight.

Love to you and your family,
Pumpkin's Mama

[Dave Ruske]

Sorry to hear about Makita's passing, but glad that she had such a loving advocate fighting for her. All dogs should know such care.

Dave

[Babysam52083]

So sorry to hear about your loss. Just remember All dogs go to heaven...b/c if they don't I wouldn't want to be there xoxox

[Bailey's Mom]

I'm very sorry to read Makita passed away. You had quite a struggle in those last weeks.

Remember that we are always here. We will prop you up when you need it.

Rest in peace Makita.

Susan

[marie adams]

So sorry for your loss, I know your pain. It has been almost a month since my Maddie left. It gets better -- you have your ups and downs, but everyone here helps with the pain.

Take care!!!

[makita1996]

Only a week has passed but it feels like it is much longer..... just wanted to say that I miss her.... she is here with me in her little box...

[Bichonluver3]

I am so glad to see your post. I was worried when didn't hear from you. Please stay with us. Times will be rough for a while yet and we are here to help in any way we can - even just to listen. I am glad she is with you but I also know her beautiful soul is running strong and free with all her new friends.

Dear Mom, the pain has gone at last.
And, yes, this week has gone so fast.
But now I am whole and out of pain
And, someday, I know we'll meet again.
I see your tears and feel your sorrow
And send my love to fill the hollow.
The greatest gift, you gave to me.
You loved me so, you set me free.
Do not cry, my Mom so dear
In your heart I'm always near.
At heaven's door I'll wait for you
And greet you when your work is through.
But for now, Mom, know this much
Your love is with me, I feel your touch.
You are my heroine, my friend so true
I was blessed to have a Mom like you.
Love, Makita

[Bailey's Mom]

Oh how I know how hard those first few days, weeks and months can be. Don't hesitate to come and post. I have found by doing that that it eased my pain and I knew I was not alone-and that your friends here really do understand what you are going through. The pain is so great because you shared such a deep love. You will move forward and you will, in time, have a smile on your face when you remember all the times you shared.

Susan

[makita1996]

I do come on here everyday and read.... and then cry....and then be thankful that ppl whom have never met Makita and I, will say such kind words and words of encouragement...and then I cry again... I have learned a lot about the loss of a pet from this site and it has put some 'normalcy' into what I am feeling.... Makita was my first and only dog I have had since being an adult....she was my....'baby or a puppy' child...we chose a puppy...She was born from a litter of 11, abandoned at 3 weeks old at the SPCA, bow legged, partially blind in one eye....she would develop allergies, Cushings and had arthritis in her hips since she was 2.5 years old....I always told our dog sitters that if anything happened to Makita.... they better move..... when we divorced all I took was Makita (and some furniture)....she adapted to living in an apartment, she adapted to living with another man....she just adapted. She loved to eat cat poo and anything dead.... the 'deader the better' I would always say....I have received so many letters and phone calls from friends who offer their condolence and a quick story about their memory of Makita...the best one was how a friend said she admired my devotion to Makita and when she thought of me, she thought of Makita riding in the front seat of my car, paws balanced on the side view mirror barking at every car'..... another friend who lost his fur baby this year told me that "dog's never live as long as we want them too.... but they manage to share a lifetime of love with you in that short time"...my favourite story is the time she was 'suspended' from Doggie daycare for fighting.....I didn't know whether to be mad or proud....she was 9 years old, a female and made her way to become the oldest and first female Alpha Dog at the daycare....problem was, she bit the ear of a younger male dog who challenged her.... she loved swimming and when she could no longer swim like the other dogs, we would still go to the beach everyday and hang out in the shallow water where she would float around me and get a back rub..... when she was ready to go home, she would just get out of the water and head for the car....Sh would have symptoms of canine cognitive disease, the standing in the corners, forgetting where she lived...not remembering ppl...when she came down with Vestibular disease and could not eat or walk... I laid beside her all the time, just cuddling...at nightime I would make a bed and sleep next to her... just in case she needed something.....I would carry her in and outside (she was 70 lbs) and sit with her in the yard....I would hand feed her and hold the water bowl for her.... In her last few days I would make her scrambled eggs, chicken livers and would share my KFC with her... even though Sushi was her favourite (she would spit out the avacado)...although oatmeal was another favourite....I did this for two weeks.... I just knew she would never walk again..... I have all the feelings of guilt and 'would of's... could of's'....I cannot go out into my back yard without crying..... I know..... I will laugh one day about her.... My baby girl Makita (Drillbit, Kiki, Makitakins, Muffin, Armpit(long story), cuddle girl, Kita, fur baby and Cush Pup....)... there is so much more I could write... this was to be a little note about her and it has turned into a short story..... I never really wanted a dog (or a baby)...I thought they were dirty and smelly.... well they are still dirty and smelly but I am now a dog lover... Makita changed me......:)

[Pumpkin's Mama]

What an angel. Hang in there. I am right here with you too.

[Bailey's Mom]

Hey Makita's Mom-I have looked back over the thread and cannot find your first name anywhere......that only leaves me with "Hey You!" Would you mind posting your name the next time you have a post to post?

There is no doubt in my mind that you took the appropriate action for makita. We hesitate because we don't want to miss any time, but when you finally go in for the shots, you are giving the most love you can give and an entirely unselfish act of love. I held Palmer in my lap. IT was very peaceful. The vet was most gentle and he never jerked at the needle nor the liquids being administered,

That happened early one Friday afternoon. I had called our son and said this looks grim, if you want to see Palmer to say goodbye, you need to come now.We felt we had the weekend to smother Palmer with love. When we got up on Saturday, my husband let Palmer out the back door. Bob carried him back in and then was when we noticed the large weight loss. Bob was crying and asking how long are we going to go on with this?

Palmer was not eating. He didn't drink much. He did not want to go for walks. He just wanted to cuddle up with me. If we kept him over the weekend, we were going to have to flush fluids through his system each day. We had done that one earlier and that was the only test/exam that Palmer ever complained about. I did not want to put him through that kind of pain. "You" reach a point, I think, when it comes pretty clear that it is time to do something. We wanted Palmer to have some peace. He had just been through a barage of tests. It was time.

At 1pm that Saturday the three of us took Palmer to the vet for the last time. We all stayed in the room. I had Palmer in my lap---a very familiar place for him. He never twitched or struggled or gave any indication of feeling any pain. She gave him a medicine to put him to sleep first. Once she verified that he was asleep, we went on top the final injection. And as she did that, the three of us all started sobbing quietly. The vet told us to let it out. Cry. You did everything you could for this little boy and you';ve been very strong. You don't need to be that strong now.

It was a rough weekend. We did not leave the house-I said I didn't think I could manage that. So we ordered some food in and kept comforting one another. I don't regret one thing. I was under the impression that his life span was about 15 and if we got time after that it was a bonus. Our first poodle mix lived to be 17 1/4 years old. We had to put her down as well.

As I've said - they leave out two important pieces of information when they sell puppies. We had forgotten how tough the house training had been for the first dog. We survived that, plus other training. As we approached/recognized signs of sickness with Palmer I was just sure he was going to live to 15 at least. Without realizing it I was unprepared when his time was up....and I remembered how hard it had been with Peaches, but as these weeks and months have passed now I am still surprised at how easily tears come up. And I let them do just that. This time it was harder because except for the first two years of his life, Palmer and I had been together 24/7 pretty much. I've long ago lost count of how many surgeries I have had. Palmer stayed right with me,.We just were so close we could practically read each others eyes. We watched our house being built and Palmer was right there checking things out. The workmen loved him and he was just happy to be going somewhere.

I had to steer clear of Palmer's picture for the first 6 weeks or so. Everynight when I went to bed I would cry because I was used to Palmer greeting me when I came in. It's just tough. But here I am with all this so fresh and we will have a puppy here in just over 5 weeks....All the training and accidents, all the health issues we may face and perhaps this will be doggie #3 that we'll have to help over......it still is no comparison to the unconditional love you get from your doggie. They sense when you need a hug. In time some of this will start to fall in place for you.....on your timetable-not anyone else s.

Keep stoppng by and let us know what's going on and how you are doing. We all understand and we all care. :)

-Susan

[Shadow's Mom]

No words will ease your pain only time. How much is surely debatable. It will be 5 weeks since Shadow left us and although we don't cry everyday like we did in the beginning, theres still a huge hole in our hearts. We're praying for you and your family for strength and healing. I believe that grief is God's way of letting us know that we've loved with every ounce of our soul and hopefully in time, the happy memories you have stored up in your hearts of Makita will be all you remember.
Karen

[bgdavis]

I'm so sorry for your loss of Makita.

Bonnie and Angel Criss

[makita1996]

"I guess you don't really own a dog, you rent them, and you have to be thankful that you had a long lease".

Joe Garagiola

[Truffa's Mom]

Oh Joe I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing all your stories about Makita (banned from daycare!!!!), you made me laugh and cry. Godspeed sweet baby.

My thoughts are with you, please take care of yourself and keep coming here, it really helps

[makita1996]

Thank you for the kind words and yes, the daycare story is one of my favourites..... I also keep forgetting to sign my name.... so used to everyone knowing that Makita and Heidi are the same thing. (Joe is the person who wrote that quote)... On another note I did take Makita's food to the SPCA (after some crying)... and spent some time with a Husky Cross... although the SPCA felt this doggie would not be a good fit (may end up buying from a breeder, I know, I know!!!) ..... we would have taken him home that day....
Heidi

[jrepac]

That daycare story IS quite funny! My Mandy was always a little bossy and headstrong as well....even when she was a senior citizen. You can't help but love them :)

It will take time for the sadness to ease no doubt. I've got a new puppy in the house, and as Susan noted, you can forget what that's like. The little one is keeping me busy (all 3 lbs of her chihuahua self). But, now and again, her antics remind me of my Mandy...there's always a twinge of sadness there, tho' I like to remember her in her puppy days as well. Young, playful and healthy. :)

You will never forget your Makita, I am sure; but it's nice to remember all the fun times...


Jeff & Angel Mandy