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

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day in Pittsburgh. Sunny, warm but not nearly as hot and humid as it has been....and, even better, I came home from work to find Alivia happy and full of energy! She did a few of her "Jack attacks", where she runs a lap around the house and then stops at my feet for me to pet her and make a fuss, then she takes off and does it again. It was good to see her so happy and with so much energy. :)

CELEBRATE ALI...And I hope (excuse me for saying) You Broke Wind While Doing It!

Oh Mary Beth,

That is a wonderful welcome home from Alivia. Those are the moments to treasure, aren' they?

I am so glad:D:D:D

Love ya,
Addy

No, Rene...can't say that I did that! ;) But, it sure made my day!!!

Thanks, Addy! She has me scratching my head....no pot belly and no signs of Cushing's at all! They told me at Ohio State when she had IMHA, she did things that were medically impossible and that they had absolutely no explanation for them. It would be so wonderful if she was again doing the medically impossible!

It's another perfectly beautiful day in Pittsburgh! I'm going to take off work early and take my dogs to the park!

Happy weekend everyone!!!

Hi-
Just wanted to drop in and say how great it is that Alivia is doing well-and hopefully doing the medically impossible. Doesn't it feel wonderful when things are good?! Enjoy the beautiful day and your time at the dog park!

Julie & Hannah

Thanks, Julie! I really appreciate your post! Yes, it is wonderful when they are doing well. Those are the times we all have to treasure and take full advantage of. I am not sure how or why Alivia seems to have gone from full blown Cushing's symptoms to absolutley no sign of it whatsoever, but I am going to enjoy it for now! :) I am curious to have her cortisol tested again, but truthfully, afraid to rock the boat! I am kind of feeling I should leave well enough alone for the moment and just enjoy this break.

Just baked a birthday cake for Maxwell. Tomorrow, he and Alivia will have cake to celebrate Maxwell's 11th birthday! It is truly frightening how quickly time goes by. I posted a picture of his cake and will add some tomorrow of his "party".

Alivia sees the dermatologist tomorrow afternoon. She is doing great and I am now pretty sure I over reacted with thinking she had calcinosis cutis. :o I still want to know why she has hundreds of black freckles now, though, and will feel better having her checked out by a specialist. Fortunately, she continues to be doing very well! Even her energy level is up. She's been playing with a treat ball, rolling it around the house and eating the treats as they fall out. Max follows behind hoping to get any leftovers she misses! :p For being 11 and 13 they both still have a lot of spunk!

MB, I would bet money those black freckles/splotches are age spots. I had a silver schnauzer and a white one... both of them got them when they got old. Freaked me out as well but you get used to them. :) Enjoy the cake! Kim

Kim -

That is what I am now thinking. What freaked me out was that the first time I saw them was when she had the Pyoderma and lost some fur - so there were sores mixed with black freckles and it very much resembled pictures of calcinosis cutis! Then as the Pyoderma resolved, I realized the freckles are everywhere so most likely are not related to the Pyoderma. :o Alivia's dermatologist is going to think I'm a nut case because I asked them to get her in ASAP because of what I thought it was. Anyway, I am hoping to hear that they are just age spots!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAXWELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you and sister Ali have a great time at your party!!!!!


Mary Beth- don't worry about freaking out, we all do it. The other day I had diagnosed Zoe with a macro tumor:eek::eek::eek::eek:

After I read Dr. Allen's email to me, I realized he blew a hole in my theory and I felt much better:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Cushing parents are paranoid parents, at least that is the conclusion I have come to:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

HAVE A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY FOR MAXWELL

love,
Addy

BARK, WOOF, BARK-that is Zoe and Koko sending birthday wishes;););)

Thanks, Addy! They both enjoyed the birthday cake. I tried to get them to just dig in, but neither would touch it until I cut them pieces! They are so polite sometimes! ;) I posted pictures.

Alivia saw the dermatologist today!!!!! :D:D:D:D
ALL GOOD NEWS! The pyoderma is resolved. The black freckles are age spots. :o Her fur is growing back. Her blood work is just about.....NORMAL!! Her liver enzymes are NORMAL, NORMAL, NORMAL! The vet said Cushing's doesn't get better (we all know that) but that she could not see any sign of it. She wondered out loud if there was something like a UTI that screwed up her previous cortisol test results. She said Alivia looks great! She has her itchy butt seasonal allergies that she seems to get every August, but that is all! She even thinks that they Pyoderma was related to the seasonal allergies and nothing else! I was going to have a consultation with Dr. Peterson and she felt that would be a waste of money because she is doing so well!

Alivia HAD Cushing's. She had all of the symptoms, including the pot belly and the blood test results that supported it, too. Now she has NONE of the symptoms, no pot belly and her blood work is close to perfect. Any explanations, anyone??? It seems like Alivia has once again done the medically impossible!!!

I AM HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!!!!!

Mary Beth, you and Ali so deserve a break and you certainly got one today!!!!!!!

HAPPY DAY FOR HAPPY NEWS ON MAXWELL'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!


I am jumping for joy with you:D:D:D:D:D

going to looks at pictures,

love,
addy

Thanks, Addy!

I am THRILLED! I knew she seemed better and looks better, but it is wonderful that her blood work is so good and to hear a vet say it! And, to say that she looks "great". It is the wierdest thing - she had the cushing's pot belly for quite awhile and now it's GONE! My little miracle dog!

:D:D Woohoo!!!

Way to go, Alivia and Mary Beth!!! :D:D

http://www.imageenvision.com/150/431...4-by-julos.jpg
Hallelujah...Go Ali!!!

Yay! That is GREAT news! I'm so happy for you!

Julie & Hannah

Thanks, Julie. There's no explanation for it but I'm not complaining!!!!:D

Wow!! Awesome news!! She is one heck of a fighter that Alivia. I am thrilled to hear of another miracle. :D
The birthday cake looked amazing - I think I would have eaten a piece myself! I bet Maxwell and Alivia were wanting to eat the whole thing.
Enjoy and celebrate all weekend long!

Lauri

Hi Mary Beth, Alivia and Maxwell,

Just checking in with you as I watched the news yesterday and they were showing film about the floods in your neck of the woods.

Hope you are all okay.

Love,
Addy

I saw that, too, Mary Beth. On the news here last nite they showed a car being paddled down what I assume was a road!

Please let us know you and yours are alright.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Hi, everyone.

Sorry, I've been out of touch. Just haven't been feeling well, so I haven't had energy to do much in the evening. Alivia is still doing great, though! Thanks for your concern.

There was some flash flooding here. We are fine, but unfortunately 4 people drowned. Then we felt the earthquake here on Tuesday. My building shook pretty much, but no damage. Strange weather!

I hope everyone is doing well. I'll try to catch up on your threads.

Good to hear from you, Mary Beth. On the news here, I saw a car being paddled with oars in Pittsburgh! :eek: Glad you and yours are safe from the floods and the quake!

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Sorry to hear you are sick but glad to know Ali is fine.:)

I have had sinusitis, so I know being sick and working is no fun!!!

Feel better soon MB:D:D

Hugs,
Addy

Hi Mary Beth just checking back in on you guys. Hope your are feeling better. Has Ali been keeping you entertained with any of her "Jack Attacks?"

Rene & Snoop

Thanks Leslie, Addy and Rene!

I am hanging in there - still not feeling great, but I keep doing what I have to.

Alivia continues to do very well! No cushing's symptoms whatsoever! Even her fur has grown back!! Her belly was bare from being shaved for an ultrasound in March and it has finally grown back! The spot she lost from the pyoderma is not even visible and that's only been a few weeks! Most amazing to me is the pot belly I had gotten used to seeing her with is gone! Her energy is better than it's been for ages. She has occasional mini jack attacks but she's 13 1/2 years old, so I think that is normal. She still wants to play. Life is good right now and I am enjoying her!!! :D

Mary Beth, I cannot express how happy I am to read how well Alivia is doing. Sorry you are still feeling a bit under the weather, though. I am hoping you get to enjoy a 3 day weekend and perhaps that will be enough to knock the bug out of you.

Enjoy Maxwell and Ali and just take it one day at a time.

Love and hugs,
Addy

Thanks, Addy!!!

I am THRILLED that Alivia is doing so well! When I came home from work today she wanted to play her old "Faster, faster" game. She runs up to me and does a play bow then turns around and runs in a circle and comes back to me and I am supposed to pet her and make a fuss...then she takes off and does it again! She goes "faster and faster" and circles the whole first floor. :D Anyway, it is soooo good to see her feeling so well!

Yes, I have a three day weekend! Woo hoo! Wish it was just a bug I needed to get over - I have Crohn's and RA and am in the midst of a medication change that is not going so well. I can really sympathize with our poor pups changing meds and dosages all the time!

Alivia just barked to go outside. Her and Max FLEW down the steps of the deck into the backyard. I have no explanation, but right now, today, there is NOTHING wrong with my little dog! :D:D:D

Wishing everyone a GREAT holiday weekend!!!!

Hello!
I've been so busy getting ready for a new school year with my 24 third graders that I haven't been able to check in for a while. I am so glad to hear Alivia is doing so well-not showing symptoms AND feeling so happy and playful. Isn't it wonderful?!

I hope she continues to feel great!

Julie & Hannah

Thanks, Julie!

It is WONDERFUL!!!

Sounds like you will be really busy this school year!!! Good luck!

Hi Mary Beth,

Just wanted to check in on you and Ali. I am so glad that your girl is on a high and making you smile. I too understand issues when not feeling well and hope by now they have figured out for you and you are feeling better. That is no fun and a big drain. Little Ali knows and is trying to be a comic for you, im sure . Snoop is the same way.

With Love,
Rene & Snoop

Hi, Rene -

Thanks for checking in when you have so much going on with your little one. I appreciate it.

Alivia is doing unbelievably well. She is happy - playing, eating and drinking normally and has lost her pot belly. Even her fur has grown back! I will post some pictures soon - maybe later tonight. The vets cannot explain it, but I am THRILLED! Her last blood work was NORMAL. Once again Alivia has them all scratching their heads!

Just Enjoy It!!!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

We can never figure any of it out so don't even try, just run with it for as long as it lasts:):):):):):):):):)

I am thrilled for you and Alivia. You know, Terri's Corkey went in to remission for awhile after he was treated with antibiotics I think for a UTI.

Hugs and love,
Addy

Really??? You know I suspected the antibiotics had something to do with it! She was on them twice a day for about a month for the Pyoderma. My attention was focused on her skin and then I realized she no longer had a pot belly or any other signs of cushing's. That nasty skin infection may have been a blessing in disguise!

Alivia continues to be doing amazingly well! It was a beautiful day in Pittsburgh, so we went for a walk in the park. Alivia did really well and her and maxwell had a ball. I added some pictures today, so you can see how well Alivia is doing. Her pot belly is gone and her fur has grown back!

Mary Beth,

Aliva looks so good! She has gotten a little belly to :D it seems. Im sooo glad things are going so well for her.

Give her a squeeeeze.

Love,
Rene & Angel Snoop

Hi Mary Beth,

Ali looks great! :) It is so good to hear how well she is doing.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Thanks Rene and Leslie!

I'm actually wondering why Alivia does seem to be getting a bit of a belly. Her pot belly had gone away completely and she was looking really trim. I hope it is just because of a few too many treats and not anything more! She still seems to be doing well and has no symptoms of cushing's and her fur is grown back.

Happy Friday to you! Thanks for checking on Sassy - so far so good, she hasn't gotten sick from the Trilo & today was her 8th day.
Hope you and the puppies have a great weekend! :)

Hi Mary Beth,

Any Ali updates?

Rene & Angel Snoopie

Hi, Rene!

Thanks for checking in on Ali. I have not been on here in almost a month, as I have been having internet connection issues for weeks. After multiple service visits and calls, it appears that this morning they finally corrected the problem.

Anyway, Alivia continues to do well! No sign of cushings! Her fur has all grown back and it is soft again - for awhile it seemed very dry. Her doctors have no explaination! That's my Ali!! :)

And you? How are you doing? How's your husband?