I have been reading here too and Moo (my wife Linda) and I are saying prayers for Scoop.
Printable View
I have been reading here too and Moo (my wife Linda) and I are saying prayers for Scoop.
I keep looking for an update too. hugs to you Vicky
I keep telling myself this is weather related - the storm looked like it was pretty bad in your area so I am believing you have lost power. I am also believing you and Scoop are warm, dry and safe, and that we will hear from you when you have power back.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
I hope so too, thinking of you both and hope we hear from you soon
Mel
xxxx
Vicki, I too am thinking of you and Scoop and hope things are alright.
Hugs from me and Jasper
hello vicki again just checking in to see how you and scoop are making out....i am so sure i will pop in here again later before going to bed....sending you so many xoxox patty (milo)meka <3
stopping by to see if anyone has heard anything......
Nothing so far...
Thinking of you and Scoop, please post when you can
Mel
Xxxxx
Also just checking it out to see if anyone has heard anything. This is starting to scare me that we haven't heard from Vicki. Everyone say a prayer for her and Scoop.
Patti
vicki i too am scared at this point sweety..........my wishes for a good outcome from you xoxox patty and meka
OMG I'm so sorry. I seem to do this. I didn't mean to cause worry. Thursday turned out to be a long day. Waited for an ultrasound then for bloodwork to be run. Poor Scoop's on more meds. Now I have to start keeping a chart for his meds like I had to for his eye meds when he had his ulcer. I was so tired the last couple of evenings I wasn't on here. Sometimes it just hits me so hard. I will post more. Not sure how much will get done tonight. Thinking about it I should have just stuck my nose in here for a minute Thursday. Again I am so sorry. I just don't think sometimes. I appreciate everyone checking in on us.
Hope everyone and their pups are well.
Big hugs
Friends, Thank you.
I just read through all the posts for the last few days. I appreciate so much all the concern for Scoop. Again I apologize for the worry. Sometimes I get so tired and just drained I just don't bother going on the computer. I should have known better and I feel bad that you all worried so much.
Thursday turned out to be a longer day than I thought. Left the house at 9:30AM got home just after 2:00PM. The nurse didn't come out to get us till 10:20 then she stood there looking at Scoop's file for quite a while. It was pretty big. One of the ladies behind the front desk told me that Scoop's vet hand delivered the chart. I guess because it was so huge. Of course I had questions written down but things never seem to go the way I want them to go. So walked away not asking about everything. There's many things to tell but it's late and I will finish tomorrow.
Thank you everyone for caring about how my Scoop is doing.
Lots of love and hugs to everyone and their babies.
Hi Vicki
Big sighs of relief all around!! Look forward to your update tomorrow. :)
Trish xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
good to hear from you. will check back later to see what all has been found out.
Glad you are ok, look forward to hearing what was said
Hope you are both having a good day today, I am supposed to be working now so will check back later
Really pleased nothing is wrong, clearly we all have over active imaginations, I think it kinda comes with the territory we walk over together
Big hug
Mel
Xxxx
Hi Vickie,
~~whew~~ So good to hear from you and yes, some of us are major worry worts. :o Ain't you glad we don't know your address?! There would have been folks driving up and banging on your door all hours of the day and nite! :p
I hope they were able to at least answer some of your questions and provide some insight to what has been going on with our sweet boy. Let us know when you can and we will TRY to be patient and not chew our nails down to the quick. :D
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Good morning, Again, I feel so bad for causing worry. I am so sorry but thank you for caring so much. I am going to start writing about Thursday. It will probably take a while or maybe I could do it in segments.
Thank you and big hugs.
Scoop and I left the house around 9:30AM, got there about 9:45, waited, which I know happens. The tech came out 10:20 and spent quite a few minutes looking at Scoop's chart. She took us into a room and asked questions. When the IMS came in she spent pretty much time with us, talking. She took Scoop and did an ultra sound and bloodwork. The tech brought Scoop out to the waiting room to me. I asked if I could give him something to eat. It was OK. Good thing I took some food and water with me. He gobbled it up. His dry food and carrots he gives me a hard time with eating at home, he just gobbled up so fast in the waiting room. At his usual eating time in the morning, he went into the kitchen looking to eat. I just kept telling him it wasn't time to eat yet but then he wanted a drink of water. He went to the dish and kept putting his nose in it but it was empty. I didn't want to take the dish away. I thought it might mess things up since he usually knows where to find his dish since he can't see. He kept pawing at the dish and moving it with his paw. I finally put just a little water, maybe an ounce in a little measuring cup and let him have a drink. I didn't let him drink it all but he seemed satisfied to at least have a little. That water thing worried me because sometimes he drinks a lot in the morning, like today. Anyway he gobbled up the food and some water, took him out to pee and then we waited. They can run blood work right there so they said if we waited the IMS would talk to me about it and the U/S. I'll be back with more.
Waiting sucks :rolleyes: Patience is not a virtue I have been blessed with
Least you took him some grub and water, I can imagine seeing him ask for water at the bowl was heartbreaking x
Xxxxx
This is what is typed on a paper I got from Scoop's visit to the IMS.
CBC: Hct 56%, WBC count 13.52 x 10 3/ul with 11.12 x 10 3/ul, platelet count 639 x 10 3/ul.
Chemistry: Creatinine 0.3 mg/dl, ALT 515 U/L, ALP>2000 U/L, GGT 92 U/L, Lipase 5393 U/L
Blood pressure: 150/83 mmHg with a MAP 103 mmHg
She had me start Scoop on:
Ranitidine 75 mg
Ursodiol 150 mg/ml
Denamarin 225 mg
She also increased his Benazepril. He was taking 2.5 mg AM. She added 1.25 mg PM
She said:There is a lot going on with Scoop that is contributing to the clinical signs. In reviewing his previous blood work she suspects his diabetes could be regulated although his BG was normal today (97 mg/dl). She recommends a BG curve to be done either there or at his vets. They have to remember he did not eat that morning and had 1/3 his insulin when they got the 97 reading. She did mention to me a couple of times that it doesn't look like his diabetes is regulated and last time I talked to his vet I asked if we were going to do a curve, she said not now. I guess we will be doing one now. She did mention that she felt his Cushing's is being controlled by looking at his ACTH results. I mentioned about twice daily dosing. She said it's something she hasn't done with other patients but she's not opposed to it. I showed her the print out from Dr. Peterson. She said if it would be split to not split it and change to compounded Trilostane at the same time. She said would have to use all 10mg of Vetoryl. I just wonder if 30mg-10mg split would make a difference?
She said his liver values went up. I was told their machine only reads up to 2000 and in Jan. Scoop's ALK. PHOSPHATASE was 2029. I guess ALP on this report is the same thing which says greater than 2000. Jan. ALT was 447, Thurs. 515, GGT Jan. 68, Thurs. 92, Lipase Jan. 606(which was in the normal range), Thurs. 5393. Geez that is high. What the heck is Lipase?
Creatinine Jan. 0.5(normal) Thurs. 0.3 which is low.
The IMS said since blood work shows increases in liver values and Cushing's appears controlled she not sure what to attribute increases to. Then she says the gall bladder is distended and there is a lot of sludge which may be contributing to some of the liver elevations. So the 2 new meds are to help promote bile flow and provide anti-oxidants for the liver.
Crap!!! I just realized I've been giving him the wrong dose of Ranitidine. I bought 150mg tablets and she said to give him 1/4 of a 75mg tablet twice daily to help with gastric motility and reflux. I must have written the wrong thing down when I went to the store. On the paper the Ursodiol is written underneath it and I must have looked wrong. I sure am glad I was writing this so I caught it before I gave him any more.
Do you think that can hurt him???
I would check with the vets Vicki to ease your mind, otherwise you will be wondering and worrying
Will read through all the other bits later xxx
I have more to tell. I'll be back later.
Hi Vickie
The Lypase can be an indication of a problem with the pancreas. Did the vet say anything about this? How is the Amylase?
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Sweet, no wonder you needed a couple of days to get your head around it
Xxxx
Vicki:
So glad that you and Scoop are ok. I was very worried something was wrong. Take your time and rest up with Scoop. I know there is never just one thing going on with these dogs, it is always several things at once. That is why it is so complicated to deal with it. God Bless you and precious Scoop.
Patti
Leslie-Thanks. No nothing was said about the pancreas. The amylase isn't mentioned on the paper I got. What is that for? In Jan the amylase was 521, range 450-1240 U/L but it looks like things have changed since Jan. Hope you and the gang are doing fine.
Mel-More to come when I have time. How are you doing today?
Patti-Thank you. Hope you and Tipper are having a good day.
Waiting to hear back from the IMS office about my big blunder! Such an idiot I am. Scoop has enough problems without me causing more. I can't believe his problems just keep multiplying. I wish he could catch a good break for once. Here I go. Makes me so sad. I try to help him and I feel like nothing will.
Vicki
From what I read Rantidine is a stomach acid reducer to help ulcers, it also helps with inflammation of the stomach and esophagas. It says overdose is rare, signs are vomiting, diarreah, rapid breathing and muscle tremors
Don't beat yourself up, he has a lot going on and there is a lot to remember. Hope that IMS calls you back soon
I am avoiding work but ok :eek:
Mel
Xxxx
Ps we all feel like you do, just have to breathe and hope to Quote Trish, Paws up Scoop xxxxx
Thanks Mel, I thought I would have heard back by now. The nurse told me the IMS was in an appointment so she couldn't talk to her right away but that was how long ago? The signs of overdose are all problems Scoop has had at one time or another since he started with this horrendous disease. Why do our sweet babies have to deal with this?
I wish I knew. It breaks my heart too
I knew those blinking overdose signs were issue poor Scoop has had. Probably about 2 hrs now, was your appointment that long?
What time do they finish? Maybe give her 30 mins more then try again. Am sure it will be ok just be nice to know x
I think it will be OK. I think the nurse would have made it a point to talk to the IMS if she thought it was necessary. I just like to be reassured. The IMS is supposed to call with his triglycerides test results when they come in. Maybe she is waiting till she has time and just let me know herself. I have to go out in a little while. She'll probably call when I'm not here. Since Thursday I keep thinking of more things to ask her. I'll have to make another appointment just to ask her all my questions. I'm not sure if they finish at 5:00, I'm thinking but not sure. I just feel so helpless. I'm trying to do what I can for my Scoop and it's not enough.
Vicki
You can't think that what you are doing isn't enough, some people wouldn't do as much as you or can't, we all do the best we can
You are probably right re the call and results. Maybe when you speak to her say you have lots of questions and would it be ok to email.
I am off to the field to walk Boyce, it's lightly snowing again
Will check back later
Xxxxx
Thanks again Mel. Have a nice walk. Talk to you later
Vicki:
Don't worry you will get it all straightened out. We all make mistakes in dealing with the multitude of issues our cush. pets have. I am sure Scoop will be ok. The positive thing is you caught the mistake and can fix it. Prayers to you and Scoop.
Patti
How you both doing?
Scoop slept a lot today. When I tried to give him some chicken it took 4 or 5 tries before he took it. He would just turn his head away. Not gobble up chicken! Not like Scoop!. He did not finish his supper tonight and other times that has happened he has had one of his "episodes". Out to pee and poop and when he came in he was sniffing out Raleigh. He walked around a little and vomited one time. All the other times he vomited 3 times. This one didn't last as long as other times. Then he laid down and has been sleeping.
I never heard back from the IMS office about the Ranitidine. Unbelieveable!
I was reading about it on line. It says do not give with food, food will decrease it's effectiveness. Well I have been giving with food. How am I supposed to get Scoop to take it without food? It also says do not give to pets with kidney disease or liver disease. With the protein in the urine he could possibly have kidney disease. Man oh man.
I didn't realize at first the Denamarin must be given on an empty stomach about an hour before eating.
vicki you are one of the strongest women i know !!! scoop and raleigh are sooo lucky to have you as their mom !!! sending you peaceful,healing energy and pray all of you can get a good nights rest.... we are all here with you vicki !!! ttyl patty(milo)meka xoxox
On with IMS visit. She said Scoop has very thickened intestinal walls and she suspects he suffers from inflammatory bowel disease. While scoping is indicated you may want to address some of Scoop's other issues first.
She thinks it is worth pursuing a consult with a neurologist and she will contact a Dr. she knows. She said she can review Scoop's MRI results and provide guidance in a written report. She asked me if anyone talked about radiation. I said the neurologist Scoop saw in Nov only mentioned I could pursue it at the U. of Penn only after I questioned him. I told her that my husband is against the idea. He says you are just delaying the inevitable. She said isn't that what we are all doing?(something like that)
She said she suspects Scoop may suffer from cognitive dysfunction and said I could start him on selegiline but only after I give the other meds and make sure there are no side effects from them. She also told me you can get it over the counter but I found out you need a prescription for it.
She said Scoop's blood pressure was relatively normal and to continue to monitor it.
Scoop's cholesterol is extremely high which may be contributing to some of the clinical signs of dullness and gastrointestinal signs. She said a low fat diet would be ideal but may not be plausible given Scoop's finicky appetite. Since diabetes can contribute to high cholesterol she said she would attempt to control that before adding cholesterol fighting drugs. They sent out to get his triglyceride level checked. The other week when I asked Scoop's vet about his BG's she wasn't going to do anything right now. The IMS wants a curve done.
This is what she wrote at the end:
I know how difficult it is to manage all of the ailments that geriatric pets develope. This certainly has a large emotional toll on us as owners and you have to try and remember the goal is quality of life for as long as is reasonable. While there are age-related declines that we expect to see, the challenge is to manage what we can while minimally disrupting their lives. We all know that this is a battle we will eventually lose, but the journey is the true end-point and we will do our best to optimize this portion of Scoop's journey. The goal is more good days than bad days and you play the most pivotal role determining whether we are doing just that.
Thanks Patty but I don't feel very strong. I wish I was. This is so hard to watch the little one you love so much have so many problems and wonder why and wish you could just fix it.
i know sweetie... it is a rough time ...
Jenny's cholesterol was really high when her diabetes and cushings were not regulated. her vet wasn't too concerned as he said that is common until the diabetes gets under control.
her gallbladder is also sludgy. we opted not to give her gallbladder medicine.
on the diabetes forum a dog had super super high cholesterol and a diet of fish, green beans and rice brought it down.
we do the best we can Vicki. don't beat yourself up.
this geriatric dog thing is definitely tough though