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

Hi Mary Beth,

You and Ali were on my mind this morning and then here you are! I hope this is simply a UTI and a round of ABs will take care of it.

Please keep in touch and let us know how things are going.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Hi Mary Beth,

So good to read your thread. I try to be here as much as possible, but life tends to get in the way.

I am hoping for the best for Miss Alivia. I remember when Maddie got all her fur back--a little different kind of fur, but it was fur!!!

You always do a wonderful job with her and I know you enjoy each day!!!

Is it Chocovino time????:D

Hi Addy, Lori, Leslie and Marie,

Always nice to hear from you guys! Ali does have her fur back, Marie, and it's beautiful and shiny! All things considered we have been very lucky, so hopefully this is just a little blip. I haven't gotten any results back from the culture and blood work done Tuesday evening. Hopefully, I'll hear tomorrow otherwise with the holiday weekend it may not be until Tuesday. I hate waiting. She does seem better, though. Her appetitie has been great for the past 2 days!

Ali's internist has a new tech and she told her when she first met Alivia and heard her history she did not expect to be treating her for very long, but that was 6 years ago. She told the tech that Alivia has defied the odds and has had several miracles that really can't be explained. Alivia is one tough little 16 pound cookie! :D

Thanks for checking on us and I'll let you know when I get the results.

Chocovine sounds pretty good to me RIGHT now!

Quote:

---

Alivia is one tough little 16 pound cookie

---

and oh how we love that cookie!!!!!

Waiting stinks, especially over a holiday weekend!!!

I truly hope it is just a UTI, MB, saying many prayers for Alivia and you.

love,
addy

Alivia had the blood work and a urine culture Tuesday evening. I hadn't heard any results so I called them Friday and they faxed me her blood test results. Urine does show bacteria, but they were isolating the type and the internist did not want to prescribe an antibiotic until she had the specific results...so we are still waiting and now I doubt I will here anything until after the holiday. :(

Unfortunately a lot of her blood results were not in the normal range, although some just slightly outside normal. I haven't talked to her specialist since getting the results, but it seems like some of the abnormal results could be related to the UTI and some I'm sure could be age related (Alivia is 14 years 3 months old). I'll post the test results and maybe Glynda or another expert can weigh in.

Albumin 2.6 (2.7-4.4)
Albumin/Globulin Ratio 0.7 (0.8-2.0)
Alk Phosphatase 192 (5-131)
Urea Nitrogen 50 (6-31)
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 50 (4-27)
Amylase 1233 (290-1125)
Comment: Hemolysis 1+ No significant interference
Platelet Count 610 (170-400)
Neutrophils 80 (60-77)
Lymphocytes 11 (12-30)
Absolute Neutrophils 11360 (2060-10600)

T4 0.6 (0.8-3.5) Note new canine reference range.
The total T4 result is less than 1.0 mcg/dl. A Free-T4 by equilibrium dialysis may be helpful in supporting the diagnosis of hypothyroidism in patients demonstrating clinical signs compatible with hypothyroidism.

Urine MIC Culture
Preliminary: Bacteria isolated. Identification and sensitivity to follow.

Alivia seems to be drinking a little more (but not like a cush dog) and peeing more. Her urine has color and seems to have more odor than usual. I think that is probably consistent with a UTI. She had visible blood in her urine one time about 2 weeks ago. She seems a bit more tired recently but really has no other symptoms of hypothyroidism or cushings, either. Her fur is thick and soft. She lost one pound since her last vet visit (6 months ago!!). Her appetite was decreased for a few days, but now is normal (not excessive). She is still licking/biting at her rear end and has it red and irritated. I have her on a grain free diet and I've used tons of prescription and OTC shampoos, sprays, etc. but can't get that under control. Her specialist says a round of antibiotics may also help with that, but wants to wait for the urine culture result before determining which antibiotic to prescribe.

Sorry this is so long but I was trying to be thorough. Any thoughts and opinions would be appreciated.

Hope everyone is having a good holiday weekend!

Update: Alivia is taking Clavamox 2 x a day for 2 weeks for a UTI. I hope that is what caused some of her abnormal blood results I posted the other day.

I hope so too, MB, crossing fingers and paws!!!!

Day 3 of Alivia's antibiotic. Over the years Ali has become an expert at detecting pills in anything. She will not even eat an empty Pill Pocket if it were the last treat in the house. I crush her blood pressure pill and sprinkle that along with her compounded aspirin into her food. She has been on both of those for so many years that I think the taste of them is probably normal to her. But, it is not easy to introduce ANY new medication. In the past I've made her homemade meatballs, tried peanut butter, cheese, pretty much every trick. This time I made her roast beef au jus and start by giving her a little piece plain, possibly a second one plain...then around the third time when she is happily snatching it, I wrap a piece around her pill. That worked GREAT...for a whole day and a half. She caught on and started taking the plain ones and spitting the pill out on the floor. So, I have to force the pill into her mouth, hold her mouth shut while dangling a piece of roast beef in front of her. Eventually she swallows so she can have another piece of beef. Only 11 more days and 22 more pills to go... :p

Awww, it is harder when they dont like pills. My hoover vacum, Zoe, will eat the pills with nothing on them if you tell her it is chicken:D:D

Alivia is the resident expert pill finder outer:D:D:D:D:D

I hope her UTI is gone soon.

I heartily agree with your comments on my thread. Zoe is not ready to go anywhere except to nap or play with Koko or have a chicken walk. Ali is our miracle girl for sure. And I hope her miracles keep on coming.

Thanks, MB, for being there.

Oh, I didn't mention that after I shove a pill in her mouth and hold her mouth shut till she swallows I still have to pry her mouth open and make sure it's gone. She can somehow appear to swallow and then I would step on a pill in another room and have no idea what day it was from! I've even dipped pills in olive oil hoping they would slide down her throat! I think I have tried every trick and she continues to outsmart me. She is a master at finding ways to not take her pills! 10 days, 20 pills to go.

Addy, you are so lucky that Zoe doesn't mind "chicken" pills! I hope Koko is feeling better!

Hi Mary Beth,

My Izzy is like that. I have no idea how she knows there is a pill in there because I try all the same tricks you have, but she knows!!! I have found them in the other room as well, and then have to play detective and figure out which pill it is, which dog it belongs to, etc. because there are so many pills being taken around here. Usually it is Izzy because like Addy, I also have a Hoover named Hannah who would probably eat a pill plain as well. She only needs the tiniest dab of anything to be happy with her pill! And she thinks her Denamarin liver pills are treats and begs for them in the morning! She sure makes it easy on me.

Good luck for the next 11 days! If you are able to figure out enough tricks during that time, you're my hero! :)

Julie & Hannah

Hi, Julie!

I even bought two flavors of "Flavor-Doh" online. It looks like Play Doh and you pinch a piece off and wrap it around the pill. It sounded like a great idea, but no luck. She found it! I dread pill time.

I wish Ali was more like Hanna and Zoe when it comes to pills. She will not even take a meat flavored supplement of any kind. What's really strange is years ago when she had IMHA, I had to give her injections twice a day for awhile. She was fine with those! I would just tell her it was time for her shot and she'd come sit in front of me with her head down and looking a little sad, but she'd be perfectly cooperative. Any kind of pill or supplement, though, and she acts like I am trying to murder her. :eek:

9 1/2 days and 19 pills to go. If I come up with anything creative I'll let you know...

I found this poem and it makes me cry every time I read it. I wanted to share it with everyone here:

Before humans die they write their last Will & Testament, give their home and all they have,
To those they leave behind. If with my paws, I could do the same; this is what I’d ask…

To a poor and lonely stray I’d give:
- My happy home.
- My bowl and cozy bed, soft pillows and all my toys.
- The lap, which I loved so much.
- The hand that stroked my fur and the sweet voice that spoke my name.

I’d Will to the sad, scared shelter dog, the place I had in my human’s loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds.

So, when I die, please do not say, “I will never have a pet again, for the loss and pain is more than I can stand.”

Instead, go find an unloved dog, one whose life has held no joy or hope and give MY place to HIM.

This is the only thing I can give…the love I left behind.

-Author Unknown

That is beautiful, Mary Beth. Thanks so much for sharing.

How is Ali doing?

Thanks for sharing that, Mary Beth. It brought tears to my eyes. It is so true. It is so hard to say good bye to a pet you've shared such a close, special bond with, but there are so many homeless pets out there waiting for a chance to be loved. We were a one dog family when I was growing up, and ever since my parents adopted the first dog when I was in high school, they (and now I have not stopped). My parents have had four rescue dogs at all times for the past 10 years (because that's the limit before you need a kennel permit in our city). I have had two for the past 10 years.

It is so hard to lose one, and it will be incredibly, incredibly hard to lose my Hannah, as she will forever be that special "once in a lifetime" dog for me, but in time, I know there will be another. It is so good to be able to provide a good home, good care, a lap, and lots of love to a pet who needs it so much.

I recently told my husband that I wasn't sure I would be able to get more dogs after Hannah and Izzy are gone because the thought of losing Hannah is almost more than I can bear; however, I know that won't be the case forever, and this poem was a good reminder.

Thanks again for sharing. I hope Alivia is doing well!

Julie & Hannah

Hi MB,

lovely thoughts, thank you. Hope Ali and Maxwell are well. I hope Zoe can be a miracle dog like Ali.

Thinking of you all.

Well, Ali had been doing amazingly well until the week of the 4th. She was going out the door and it looked like there was a spot of something on her back. When I checked it out a 2 inch diameter circle of fur was crusted at the roots and came out completely in my hand! Pyoderma, again. And, checking back here it was exactly one year since she had it before. Of course it was a holiday, but fortunately I had a refill of the antibiotic she had for it before and started it right away. Maxwell had just started itching, too....just like last year at this time. I had gotten flea stuff for them but hadn't put it on either of them, yet (I kept procrastinating thinking I would bathe them both first). I remember her vet saying the Pyoderma could be a reaction to flea bites, so I am thinking that's what it was! I felt so bad since I probably could have easily prevented this!! Anyway, the antibiotic has kicked in, the flea stuff is on and her bald patch is growing back in already. Which, actually makes me feel good because when she was having cushing's issues her fur would NEVER have grown in like that! She still continues to have the itchy butt problems that I can never quite get cleared up. That was really bad for awhile, but has also improved recently. Always something! But, overall, I shouldn't complain...Alivia is 14 1/2 and she's doing well. Max is 12 and looks and acts like a puppy!

Oh MB, I am glad you are able to nip it in the "butt" oh, I mean bud:p

What the heck does that expression mean anyway?

Have three glasses of Chocovino!!!! One for Zoe, one for Maxwell, one for Ali.

Good catch, Mary Beth! It does sound as if the fleas could be the culprit, huh? So glad the treatment went to work so quickly. Trinket got into a seed tick bed last summer that did a number on her skin just above the tail. For quite a while, it was raised up and felt like a hard welt, red for a bit, too. You are so good to watch Ali close and take action quickly. Our miracle girl has a super mom! :)

Addy, my understanding of that saying - nip it in the bud - means if you nip a plant at the bud it won't flower; if it won't flower, it won't seed; if it won't seed, it won't spread/come back; so nipping the bud prevents growth in areas you don't want. But I have been known to be waaaayyy off base. ;) I love sayings like this and learning what different areas of the country/world think they mean and I love how different areas will have different slang for the same thing. I just find linguistics interesting. Yeah, I'm weird - SURPRISE! :p

Keep in touch and let us know how Ali does. I hope it is a bit cooler in your area than it has been in ours. I really think our ticks and fleas have been charbroiled. :p

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Hi Leslie, Addy and all,

Checking in while I seem to have internet access. Alivia continues to do very well. The skin issue has resolved and the fur grew back VERY quickly - good sign. Her itchy butt issue is also MUCH improved. It seems like after much trial and error, many prescriptions and a ton of OTC things, the best thing is a combination of hydrocortisone spray, and human grades of hydrocortisone cream and antibacterial cream. I rotate between the three and it has cleared up dramatically. Not completely, but much better than it's been in months. We have had NO trips to the vet since Alivia's last regularly scheduled six month check up a few months ago. :D

Me, on the other hand, is a different story...I am finally starting to get better after being sick for two months. Long story, but the short story is I have a compromised immune system (RA and Crohn's) and the injections for that lower my resistance to infection. I had severe flu like symptoms that turned into an antibiotic resistent ear infection - had to get a tube put in my ear to drain the infection, which took weeks - along with multiple meds. And, it's been a Catch 22 - had to stop the injections because of the infection which has caused the RA and Crohn's to flare up...that was a long short version!

So, since I'm a mess, it's been doubly good that Ali has been doing so well!

Oh MB I am so excited to hear from you. I just was asking where you were with the chocovino:D:D:D I need about a case and a half:p:p

I am so glad Ali is doing well but sad to hear you have been sick.

I hope your ear gets better. Please take care of yourself. Two months is a long time to be sick.

BIGGEST hugs and also belly rubs to Maxwell. Please give Alivia a big kiss from me too. Whenever I think of Ali, I think of her beautiful eyes.

love and hugs

Hi Mary Beth,

So good to hear from you but not good to hear that you have been so ill! :( I so hope you are on the road to full strength again. Tell Miss Ali that we all thank her for behaving while you were down ill yourself....but now that you are feeling a bit better, that is no reason for her to start acting up again. :D I am so happy the treatments you are using on her itchy butt are working so well!

Are you by any chance on AT&T UVerse? I am, and lose connections every time it rains! I can open my Yahoo home page, a Google search, and Facebook but that is all that will open - none of the links on any of those pages will open but the pages will. :rolleyes: I spent about 2 hours on the phone with them last week and most of that time was listening to one after the other tell me what I was saying was impossible and since it couldn't happen, they couldn't fix it. :mad: Fixed it myself - again! gggrrrrrrr

Hang in there and please take care of yourself. Let us hear from you when you can and know you and Ali are often in our thoughts!
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Thanks, Addy! From what I have been reading, you deserve a case or two of Chocovine! Wish I could share some with you! I feel like I have missed out on most of the summer. And, if I do say so myself, Ali does have incredible soulful eyes.

Leslie, I think there is a lot of truth in what you've said. Alivia and Maxwell seem to sense when I am not feeling well and are both on their very best behavior. They are both great snugglers! She better not act up now! :eek:

I have Verizon internet. It goes out constantly - like every few minutes sometimes! Usually, I can get it back on if I go upstairs and shut the modem off for a while and then wait till it restarts. That is always after I have already lost whatever I was working on. Verizon has been to my house 3 times without correcting the problem. Since I haven't been feeling well, the last thing I've wanted to do is deal with service appointments. I also have Verizon phone service and there is a ton of static in the line. I am sure it is related but guess what? You have to have TWO separate service techs! After being so sick for so long, I am really behind on everything, so dealing with that has kind of been on the bottom of the list...did I mention my cable TV box blew up, my furnace died (good thing it is summer) and the plaster on my third floor is falling?! When it rains, it pours.

Well, I think Alivia is having a bit of a setback. She had been doing amazingly well for so long that I think I have been in denial for a few weeks. She seems to be showing signs of cushings again - increased thirst, hunger and a bit of a pot belly. She had an area of pyoderma a few weeks ago that cleared up and even grew fur back over it. However, she now has three more areas of pyoderma - each about two inches in diameter, red and the fur has completely fallen out. The strange thing is besides these areas, her fur is thicker and shinier than it has ever been. Her butt is swollen and red and she's been itching like crazy, again, too. I had her off Cosequin for awhile, but re-started it several weeks ago and I am now wondering if the itchy skin issues could be an allergic reaction to something in the Cosequin - Brewer's yeast, maybe? Whether it is only a coincidence, she was better when she was not taking the Cosequin. So, stopping the Cosequin and calling the vet...I'm sure he's missed seeing her!

I just posted a picture of her skin issue.

I looked at the photos but not sure what to make of them. I am so sorry to hear Alivia is having issues. It seems we go along and something always pops up with our pups.:(:( Maybe it is the Brewers yeast.:confused::confused: Here in Wisconsin they said we are having the worst allergy year in history with no let up in sight. I wondered if that contributed to Zoe's allergy eyes.

I hope Ali gets better soon. You are so good at helping her get well, I know you will figure this out too:):):)

I thought my hubby was cute but a bit over the top. I have to remind him Zoe is a dog not a child as much as we tend to treat her like one. He is worse than me about that:):):):) She is his little girl and he really loves to cuddle with her.

Have a good week, MB.

Hi Mary Beth,

Sorry to hear that Ali is having some problems. :( Please let us know what the vet says...other than, "Well, where have you been, Miss Alivia?" :D

How have you been feeling?

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Hi, Addy and Leslie.

Only the first picture I posted is her skin issue this time around (the other ones were from last year!). Ali's vet is booked pretty solid until the 5th. He is always great about fitting her in but I emailed him pictures of her skin and he is calling in the same antibiotic she had last time. I am actually happy about that because it was right after she was on that the last time that all her Cushing's symptoms disappeared. So, she can get started on the medication right away and she will see the vet on the 5th...along with Maxwell who is due for his annual exam. Hopefully, by then she will be much improved.

Leslie, you are right - I've been pretty lucky about not having many vet visits recently! And, Miss Alivia DID wait until I was feeling better, at least! My ear infection is gone, they removed the tube and I have started back on my injections so I should be getting better each day. Thanks for asking!

yay, glad to hear you are feeling better. Now just have to get the little miss all fixed up to. Hopefully the meds will do that!

hugs,
Sharlene

Some of you are aware of the difficulty I have getting pills into Alivia. She is so smart she can detect them in ANYTHING - we've been through Pill Pockets, cheese, homemade meatballs and anything else you can stick a pill in. She finds them in ANYTHING and will absolutely refuse it. I have resorted to prying her mouth open and getting the pill in, then holding it shut till she swallows and then checking to make sure it's gone...only to step on it later in another room and then having no clue what day that pill was from. :confused:

So, this time in an effort to outsmart Alivia, I asked the vet to call in her antibiotic in a liquid suspension and then had the pharmacist add a flavor. They gave me a syringe to squirt the tasty liquid into Ali's mouth - problem solved! Or, so I thought. I told Ali it was a "treat" and I squirted a teaspoon in. It was no sooner in her mouth when she BLEW it right back out!! :eek: You cannot believe how far and wide one teaspoon of pink berry flavored liquid can fly! :D

I hate to laugh.. but, I am imagining a toddler stomping their feet & turning up their nose. Except in the doggie version.
Good luck.. I know that has to be so difficult.

Laugh away! I did! A temper tantrum throwing toddler has nothing on my Alivia! :D:D:D

I had to go check out her photos. What a sweet little rascal. She looks like she would be fun & entertaining to have around. :)

I sympathize completely with the medication problem. Molly started on that hepto supplement and I tried a dozen different ways and didn't get one pill down her. Finally I broke it open and sprinkled it on some can food, on top of her dry food. (just a tiny bit of the can stuff, maybe a teaspoon worth total) That she loves.

I just can see pink berry spews coming out. No problems. They are smart and they are stubborn as all get out. Adorable and bratty. Who could possibly resist.

Hugs,
Sharlene

HA! :p:D:p Ali and Squirt have something in common! Squirt can spew liquid meds for MILES! :p:D:p She will also sit there with her mouth wide open until all the liquid has drooled down her chest! :rolleyes: She became a pro at dissing meds a couple of years ago and hasn't let up one iota since. :D And she can twist and slither away like an eel! :D Now I always try to get capsule form or liquids that I can put in her food or I grind the pills then put them in her food. Not the best solution at times for the tummy but when it's the only way to get things in her, I do it. I am waiting for the day when she refuses to eat food with meds in it! :p

Just look at how dull our lives would be without such challenges to keep us on our toes! :p

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

I'm glad to hear I am not the only one with the medication problem! But, unfortunately, I think Alivia has both Squirt and Molly beat. Alivia has been taking two maintenance meds (one for high blood pressure and a compounded aspirin) for years. One is a pill that I grind, the other a capsule. I can put both of those in her canned food and get away with it, but if I even attempt to add one extra med she turns up her nose and walks away from the whole thing! Aspirin deteriorates quickly in liquid, so when she refuses to eat it instantly I have to throw it all away.

Leslie, Ali is now alternating between spewing the liquid med across the room or doing Squirt's trick of not shutting her mouth until it runs out all over her, me and the floor! I still cannot get over how far one teaspoon of pink liquid can be spread out! I tasted the medication and it is not bad at all. Max happily licked some up, too! Alivia acts like I am attempting to poison her. :rolleyes:

That's our girl:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I could picture Koko doing that. Zoe is a hoover vacum even when it comes to medicine.

I dont have any suggestions though. Unless there is something really yummy she likes, like human meat or babyfood and you could mix into that?:confused::confused::confused:

They sure keep us on our toes. Think how bored we would be though:rolleyes:

Bored indeed!!!:D:D:D:rolleyes:

Maddie would just eat pills if I put them in her food. Ella--well--Ella is a different animal.:eek: I can get away with peanut butter when I give her benedryl. I tried in the food, but since there ins't any yogurt and pumpkin in the dry she will leave them. Forget a eye dropper type (whatever it's called) she thinks that is poison because I have used that to give her hydrogen peroxide to make her throw up. Now I have to be very inventive to get hp down her--can't give beef or chicken broth--allergic--so I water down the pumpkin with it.:eek:

So far I think Ali and Squirt have her beat!!!:D:D

Happy Weekend!!!!

Oh, how I envy those of you that can simply pop a pill in a bit of peanut butter or cheese! That would so simplify things!! Right now I am giving Ali her morning dose with the syringe...then estimating how much spews out or runs down and giving her a bit more afterwards (then mopping the kitchen floor!). Not the most accurate dosing, I know, but it's really the best I can do. She did eat her evening meal last night with it mixed in - fingers crossed that continues. Ali has never been one of those cush dogs that will eat anything she sees. She's had an increased appetite at times, but will walk away from kibble, treats or anything else that she doesn't care for.

Hugs to you and Ali and Maxwell,

I hope Alivia's skin is getting better from her antibiotics (if you are managing to get any into her yet:)) Our cat became so talented at hiding pills in her mouth, she would even swallow multiple times so we would think the pill went down her throat and then she would jump off the bed, look at us, and spit the pill out:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I hope you are feeling better, MB and that you had a peaceful, restful holiday weekend.

Big hugs,

Alivia and Maxwell both went to the regular vet today. Maxwell had his routine annual exam. He is healthy as always. Alivia's pyoderma is improving, so the antibiotic is working. Overall, she's doing very well. She has lost a few pounds - she's down to 13 pounds. Hopefully that's because her food now is lower in fat. We'll wait for her regular check up with IMS for blood work. So for now, all's good.