Alivia was recently diagnosed with Cushing's - Alivia has passed

Hi Mary Beth,

I am so sorry to hear about Alivia's problems. :( I hope your IMS can find what is causing her such pain and have a plan to give her some relief asap. Nothing quite so bad as your baby hurting and them not being able to tell you where or why. Keep in touch and let us know what you learn, ok?

About the milk thistle - most pups handle it just fine but be sure to run it by your vet before you start using it. Milk thistle works best in a cyclic pattern as in giving it for 3 months in the spring and fall, and off of it for 3 months in the summer and winter. Basically, give it for 3 months then don't for the next 3, then back on it. Squirt took it for some time but I didn't know about cycling it and she took in daily all that time. She started throwing it back up - the capsule would be dissolved but the herb came back up still in the capsule form! :eek: I tried a liquid form after she had a break from it but it still made her sick and I haven't tried it again since. Like I said, tho, most dogs do just fine with it!

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Hi Mary Beth,

I am so sorry that Alivia is ill. I'm sending positive thoughts and healing prayers that the root of the pain will be found, and that it is nothing serious.

Lori, Leslie and Terri -

Thanks for your messages. I strongly suspect pancreatitis, but, I have not heard anything, yet. I have a feeling she will not be coming home tonight. It breaks my heart but, she is probably better off there so they can manage her pain and give her fluids. She had two abcessed molars, with "infection to the bone" and never showed a sign of pain. This pain must have been horrific for her, because it was very evident. :( I hope she never has that much pain again.

It's a good thing I didn't start the Lysodren on Friday. I just knew she wasn't herself.

Thanks for keeping her in your thoughts. I'll let you know when I hear more. Give your pups an extra hug from me tonight.

Oh Mary Beth, I just logged on and saw your post and am so sad to hear this news. I am saying all the prayers I can the Alivia will pull through this and come home tomorrow.

Please keep us updated.

Love,
Addy

Pancreatitis is a very serious disease but it is manageable. Please let me know if you need information about pancreatitis as I have a lot of bookmarks on this disease. :eek::)

Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. Sending big loving hugs too...Lori

Thanks for the messages everyone. Alivia spent the day in the hospital and came home tonight. While she was there she saw the ER Vet and her IMS. She had chest and abdominal x-rays, blood work, BP check and a CPL Snap Test. They said she does not have pancreatitis. They both think it is "spinal pain" from some arthritic changes in her spine, but no neurologic deficits. :confused: They gave her an injection of Hydromorphone while she was there and she was released on Methocarbamol and Tramadol and instructions for limited activity and no steps at all for 6-8 weeks.

I am having a very hard time with that diagnosis. To me it doesn't explain why she had a fever of 104.9 when I took her in (I think I incorrectly posted it as 104.2 earlier). When the vet called, I was so relieved that they thought she was well enough to go home that I didn't think to ask about this specifically and I didn't talk to the vet when I picked Ali up. I did call back to ask, but the vet had gone and the tech had no explaination, other than to say her fever came down while she was there. She has not eaten anything since about 5:00 PM Saturday and that was with coaxing.
She is still in a lot of pain. She can barely walk and cannot seem to get comfortable. I am sitting up with her and seriously considering taking her back to the hospital or to the other specialty hospital for a second opinion. To me this does not seem like back pain. Too severe and too quickly. I am also very concerned about some of the changes in her blood work in just two weeks. The most dramatic:

On 3/24
Alk Phosphatase 205 (5-131) U/L
Amylase 1393 (290-1125) U/L

Today 5/8
Alk Phosphatase 693 (23-212) U/L
Amylase 2813 (500-1500) U/L

Her ultrasound 2 weeks ago showed a gall stone. She has an enlarged liver so I am wondering if this might be a bile blockage issue.

She is sleeping off and on. When she wakes up she is in obvious pain. I'm sleeping on the floor with her tonight because I don't want to hurt her carrying her up the steps (she yelped when I lifted her into the car from the vet's).

Oh, they said not to start Trilostane or Lysodren for now, but milk thistle would be okay. She was just sleeping, yelped and sat up. I'm taking her to the other hospital...

Dear Mary Beth,

I am so sorry to hear about Alivia's pain! It must be so difficult for you to watch her suffering. I have not had the chance to write to you before, but I have been following your journey and I am hoping for the best possible result for your little girl. I regret that I have no words of wisdom to offer. But if it is feasible for you to get a second opinion from a reputable specialty clinic, I believe I would opt for that if I were in your situation. Because I agree with you, it surely does sound as if there is something else going on aside from the diagnosis that you have been given. We have had at least one other dog here who suffered from misdiagnosed and untreated gall bladder issues, so I am thinking that you may very well have hit the nail on the head. But whatever your course of action, please know that I am thinking of you both and hoping so much that sweet Alivia soon gets some relief.

Sending many hugs and healing thoughts,
Marianne

Thank you, Marianne. I do appreciate the kind words. I almost took her to the other specialty hosptial last night for another opinion. I laid on the floor with her all night. Just about the time I was sure I was going to take her, she'd start resting a bit more comfortably and then I didn't want to disturb her. The tramadol she is supposed to get every 8 hours seems to only take the edge off of her pain for about 2. She is not much better this morning, so I am taking her for another opinion. Actually, this will be a third opinion since she saw two vets yesterday.

I agree, I would go get another opinion and ask them why that would cause fever. It always helps me to write down all my questions and trains of thought including any possible health issues not discussed previously.

I hope you get some answers today, Mary Beth. I know hard hard it is to feel helpless when they are so sick. You can table both Cushing drugs for now. You could not start until she is better.

Sending prayers and hugs for you and sweet Alivia.

Love,
Addy

Mornin' Mary Beth,

You are very wise to seek another opinion. While I know how painful spine problems can be for humans and that fever can result from trauma causing pain, I would want a better explanation of her condition. I, too, think the gall bladder should be considered in this situation. ;) Methocarbamol is a skeletal muscle relaxer so that tells me the vets she saw do think this is related to her skeletal system in some manner. That doesn't, however, mean they are right nor does that mean there couldn't be something else in addition to the spine so getting that second opinion in the face of her continuing pain and discomfort is a smart move IMHO.

Please let us know how things are going. We are keeping your all in our thoughts and prayers, and sending healing white light and strength to Alivia.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang