Buddy, The Mighty Lizard Hunter - Suspected Pituitary Macro Tumor

I looked up canine hypoglycemic tremor videos online. They have several examples of tremors and I saw that one was a focal hypoglycemic video. Maybe you could compare Buddy's tremors to those?

Sharlene

Kim- a full blood panel was done on 3-04-13
GLU - 99mg. 70-143 normal

Sharlene,
He is walking normally, but is still not behaving normally. He is sticking to his bed, not wanting to get up. It is of course bedtime so maybe he's just tired now. This is the first time this has happened. No head tremors as of yet. He was fine all day until about 10 minutes after dinner. The sugar water seems to have revived him. Buddy is often stiff and wobbly when he first gets up after lying down for a long time, but it's always his back legs that are affected. This time, his front legs were collapsing also and he was unable to stand or walk very well. It is entirely different than his usual Rear leg weakness.:(. No it is not usual muscle wastage. I have never seen this before!:eek:

Thanks for being there angels. I haven't slept in over 40 hours so I'm getting punchy and I have to work tomorrow.:( I'll be up tonight, so if you get anymore ideas send them along.;)

Kathy

Okay, sorry I missed that this is the front legs. Of course you are right, that is definitely not normal
You need to get some sleep though Kathy. If Buddy looks like he is napping, then you can too. Just have him sleep in an area that is confined so he can't go off anywhere away from you. Like maybe close the door to the bedroom and sleep on the floor with him?
hugs,
Sharlene

Yes Sharlene,
I checked out the hypoglycemic seizure videos. Buddy was walking exactly like the King Charles Spaniel in the video. His front legs were collapsing in exactly the same way. That dog went right to a pillow to lie down, just like Buddy going right to his bed.

Kathy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Budster's Mom

Kim- a full blood panel was done on 3-04-13
GLU - 99mg. 70-143 normal

Sharlene,
He is walking normally, but is still not behaving normally. He is sticking to his bed, not wanting to get up. It is of course bedtime so maybe he's just tired now. This is the first time this has happened. No head tremors as of yet. He was fine all day until about 10 minutes after dinner. The sugar water seems to have revived him. Buddy is often stiff and wobbly when he first gets up after lying down for a long time, but it's always his back legs that are affected. This time, his front legs were collapsing also and he was unable to stand or walk very well. It is entirely different than his usual Rear leg weakness.:(. No it is not usual muscle wastage. I have never seen this before!:eek:

Thanks for being there angels. I haven't slept in over 40 hours so I'm getting punchy and I have to work tomorrow.:( I'll be up tonight, so if you get anymore ideas send them along.;)

Kathy

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Kathy, I hope I'm wrong but ask the vet about GME. Terriers are prone to this and my Scarlett died from it. It can be treated if caught fast enough, treatment involves prednisone and cyclosporine. Your neurologist can give you more details, the article http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vhc/tc/clini...ephalitis.html doesn't cover every case. Scarlett had tremors like you're describing. Is there neck pain? Again, I hope there's another explanation. The spinal tap is quite risky in my opinion and the MRI is expensive and somewhat risky because of the anesthesia. Since only an autopsy can be certain, if the neurologist and you could rule out other things perhaps you could treat without those? Scarlett didn't have trouble walking until the last two weeks of her life, the cyclosporine she took for allergies suppressed her symptoms so for a year she just had personality changes, circling, and confusion that were thought to be secondary to kidney disease and/or canine cognitive dysfunction. Had I not had those red herrings to deal with, I would have tried the steroid even though it would have been risky with her kidneys. Just saw your post of 8:42 Pacific Time, hope it's just hypoglycemia

Kathy,
I wish I could help butI don't know much about this. There is a great site called Epi Guardian Angels you may want to check on.

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-...poglycemia.htm

Praying for you and Buddy too, hope he starts to get stronger and less tired soon......take care of u too

I just took Buddy out to go potty. He was walking normally. I don't think he has Addison's because an hour after the sugar water he was able to walk normally again. All of these symptoms point to hypoglycemia, but I'm not a doctor, just an exhausted, terrified mother.:(. Buddy just recently had an ACTH test and his numbers were great. I don't think this episode is due to his cortisol going to low. I will watch him tonight and if he continues to do well in the morning I will go ahead and give him his trilo with breakfast. No vomiting, diarrhea or lack if appetite so far. If in doubt, I will withhold it. I will call from work and see if his vet is going to be in tomorrow. I get off early enough to take in after work. Thanks for all of your help.

Kathy

Look Mr Budster, that is enough of these shenanigans young man! You start behaving yourself for your Mumma!!! Gosh Kathy, I hope you get some rest tonight or you will be asleep on your feet at work tomorrow or likely on the floor if you fall over! Glad you are getting him in for a checkup tomorrow, we will have fingers and paws crossed in this household for some good news tomorrow!! PAWS UP BUDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I see your little green light on Kathy so your not sleeping!!! Yes, I am the middle of the night checker of the sleepless posters, you can't sneak past me!!

It must be middle of the night there or very early am?? What's happening? Has he had a good rest, any overnight news to report? Really hope you got some sleep!

Checking in on you and Buddy this morning. Hope you both got some rest.
Hugs
Sharlene

Kathy:
Sorry to hear Buddy is having issues with his front legs. This muscle wasting isn't supposed to keep happening once the cortisol is controlled, so I am at a loss as to what it is. Tipper is still having it happen too and she has been controlled for quite some time. Poor Buddy needs all four to get those lizards. Hope you can find out what is wrong and get Buddy on the mend. Blessings
Patti

Buddy appears back to normal this morning. He slept all night after the sugar water. Signs are certainly pointing to hypoglycemia. I am a walking zombie!:eek: Will be calling the vet from work this AM. Thanks for you continued help and support.:)

Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

The vet is in today. I'll be taking Buddy in after work this afternoon. I have everything I need gathered in one place, so I can grab and go. Exhausted, on auto-pilot today. I am taking the tremor videos and my copies of all test results, including the x-rays with me. We'll see.

Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

Just catching up

Hope you get some answers from the vet today

Sending you a big big hug, will check back later

Mel
Xxxxxx

I hope you get some real answers to Buddy's issues. Crossing fingers.
Zombie auto pilot engaged. :)

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Kathy:
We are keeping fingers and paws crossed that you get some answers on what is troubling poor Buddy. I hope it all turns out well for you both. I live half my life on auto pilot so I know what you are going thru. God Bless You Both- lets get some good new Buddy!! Blessings
Patti

Just checking in to see how the afternoon visit went for Buddy.

Me too. Sending love, Kim

Waiting is hard. Sending you bunches of big hugs!

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Hope everything is okay, worried because you are a walking zombie with no sleep for days.

Sending hugs to you and Buddy, waiting is way too hard...hope you get some good news soon....

Hi all,
We just got home from the vet. The wonderful doctor that I've been taking Buddy to since he was a puppy has finally returned from a extended vacation. :)He is the only one in that place that actually knows anything. I know that's not true, I'm just too exhausted to be more delicate with my words right now and another migraine is looming. I haven't slept at all since Saturday night. Unfortunately he is going to be retiring soon. He's been saying that for about the last 10 years or so. Who knows when that will actually happen. He had a waiting room full of patients who had specifically requested him, yet he spent two hours going over every possibility with me. He did not talk down to me and wasn't it all intimidated by what I already knew. This doctor also knows Cushings well. He is a combination surgeon, IMS and GP all rolled up in one. It was a very productive visit. He said he needed a couple days to do his homework and check out all of Buddy's tests since puppyhood thoroughly. He is also going to contact the neuro-surgeon who did Buddy's consult at the specialty hospital. I was only charged $46, the price of an office visit for everything he did! That is the good news. ;)

Buddy has several things going on and none of them are good or curable. All signs are definitely pointing to a macro-tumor or possibly a separate brain tumor. :eek: It looks like Kim is probably right. It also looks like he has reactive hypoglycemia. That is secondary to the bigger issues. The head tremors and the spells where he can't walk well, will most likely continue, becoming more frequent. There are a lot of neuro things going on. I will elaborate on each of these things and how they were determined at another time. I am too tired and deflated right now to go into detail. Despite it all, I would much rather know what I'm dealing with so I can make informed decisions.

Thanks angels for sticking with me,
Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

HUGS Kathy. We will always stick with you Buddy. Through thick and thin, whatever may come we'll be right here by your side.
Lets see what your vet comes back with once he's reviewed the records. There are several things that you'll need to know of course. I just was reading that putting the syrup, or whatever you use, on the bottom of the tongue is the fastest way to get it into in their system.
I'm so glad that your regular vet is back. Whew, that is a relief, someone who knows Buddy and knows him so well, knows cushings. So much is dependent on having a good vet. So that is a plus. Lets just take this one step at a time and see whats what.

Now get some sleep!
hugs
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Kathy,
I am just back on the board and so sorry to read about what's been going on with you and Buddy! You really must be so exhausted from everything!
I am so glad you got to see the vet who knows Buddy and who you have confidence in, that makes such a difference. He must be special to spend so much time with you and Buddy and charging you only $46. He sounds great!
I know you will fill everyone in on what he said when you feel like you can, and we are all here for you, ready to listen and support and hold your hand!!!
I can only imagine how you're feeling..on top of digesting all the vet had to say you are going on no sleep. Hoping you can rest some tonight...you need some sleep!
It sounds like you're in really good hands with this vet and I like that he is going to be checking everything out over the next few days. I don't want to sound like Pollyanna but maybe after the tests and consult with the neuro the news will be different. You never know! I'm sending hugs and big positive thoughts your way. (and to Buddy too!)
Barbara

We are here for you and Buddy, always. ;)

I suffer from migraines :mad: they HURT. Go get some rest and I do hope your migraine goes away.

Sending huge and loving hugs, Lori

HI Kathy

I am so glad to hear you have spent a lot of time with your trusted vet, it is such a good feeling when you have someone that relates to you and your doggy. I really hope he finds some answers when he reviews Buddy's charts. I also really hope you are in bed sleeping and catching up on your rest, you must be so exhausted physically and mentally. Will be looking out for the next update and fingers crossed it will be more hopeful.
Trish xxx

Kathy:
Boy the mighty lizard hunter sure had a full day!! I am glad you got answers at the vets. I hope they are wrong and that Buddy does not have a macro. We pray for him every night. You vet is very reasonable, too bad he decided to retire. Hope you have gotten some rest. Blessings
Patti

Patti,
My vet has been talking about retiring for more than 10 years. It hasn't happened yet! Who knows when that will be. :);) I'm thrilled that he's back. There is finally someone there who knows what he's doing and knows Cushings well. He also is not intimidated by what I already know and is willing to work with me to find a course of action. I have been dealing with a lot of incompetence up until now. He is one of those vets who really do care. I think they are an endangered species!;).

Thank you for all of your love and support angels. :)
Hugs,
Kathy

What a difference for you now that your trusted vet is back! :p It must feel so much better knowing he is there for you and Buddy. Did you get some sleep last night?
Barbara

No I didn't get much rest last night. I am still in Zombie Land on auto-pilot.:eek: Thankfully state testing is over, so I'm able to work very efficiently that way, and no one has a clue:D. I am extremely organized and prepared at work. I hate to waste precious instructional minutes searching for things while my students wait. That kind of anal organization makes it easy for me to go on auto-pilot when necessary. :D I only have 16 more school days until Summer break! :D Thanks for checking up on me.:)

Hugs,
Kathy

Yahoo for your upcoming summer break!! :D 16 more days to go and I hope it moves along quickly for you! How is Buddy doing today?
Barbara

I am so glad you are almost done with school. I always wish I was a teacher about this time every year. :D
I hope you get to have a wonderful summer with Buddy.

Buddy is fine today. He is fine until he isn't, if that makes any sense. His legs don't alway work well. Spells come on that quickly. I just got home from work. I went to five stores looking for Karo syrup. I need to have that on hand when Buddy's blood sugar goes low again. Honey is much better for you than Karo syrup, But Buddy can't have honey due to allergies. So the doctor said to give him Karo Syrup. After the fifth store including a health food store,I realized that I wasn't going to find exactly what I wanted. Yes, they had Karo Syrup or corn syrup, but it was all flavored. The light syrup has vanilla flavoring and the dark syrup had caramel flavoring. Due to Buddy's allergies, I don't want any added flavorings. That is why I ended up at the fifth store, then gave up for today. I did buy a bottom of the vanilla flavored Karo syrup just so that I would have it on hand in an emergency. That's the only time I would be using it anyway. I certainly don't cook with it.
I'm still running on no sleep. I got really dizzy when I was leaving work today and had to sit in the car for a while before I could drive.
A field trip to Sea World is planned for Friday and I can't do that on autopilot. I know this sounds crazy, but I'm supposed to bring all the kids back home from that place!:D Seriously, I need to be alert when I have them out the public to insure their safety. It is always a really fun field trip, though exhausting. Where do these kids get all that energy anyway? I've never done it on no sleep before. Hopefully I will get some rest before then.

I am still processing the information from Buddy's appointment yesterday. Even though his prognosis is bleak and he is a walking time bomb, I still would prefer to know and have all my questions answered. Confusion and uncertainty is worse, at least for me.

Hugs,
Kathy

Oh Kathy, I hate it that you are having such a tough time!!!! And I don't want to add to your stress by asking more questions. So you can ignore them for the time being (truly!).

But I am wondering why your vet is convinced that there is more involved here than just the reactive hypoglycemia? From the list of symptoms that I had read about earlier, it sounded to me as though they pretty much encompass what you are seeing in Buddy. So I'm wondering as to why your vet is thinking that is a secondary rather than primary issue?

Marianne

Marianne,
You don't know the half of it. I am not able to talk much about it yet. Buddy was put through many neuro tests which I observed, which he failed miserably. We combed through everything from all the various hospitals for almost two hours. Ultra-sound, x-rays, videos of the tremors, etc. Buddy's biggest issue is definitely neuro. The neuro-surgeon was right. All indications point to something in his brain. Probably a macro-tumor or a separate brain tumor. That is the biggest issue and what has been causing the head tremors all along. The doctor is contacting the neurosurgeon to get addition information from that consultation. It is possible that the higher cortisol was keeping the tumor in check to some degree. Now that his Cushing's cortisol level is under control, it is most likely that the tumor or tumors are growing. Cushings and Reactive Hypoglycemia are all tied into it. I understand all of it now. It does fit together. I am not at the point where I can process it all yet. I haven't slept in several days. I am just trying to get through each day, putting out little fires as they arise.
I am sorry that I can't be of more help right now. More detail will follow when I am rested and able to explain more. Thank you for all your trying to do.

Hugs,
Kathy

Kathy, I am so sorry that the testing results were so grim. I totally respect your need for time and space within which to process the info, and won't press for any more info before you are ready to write about it.

Since my own Barkis suffered from neuro issues, too, my heart goes out to you.

Sending many hugs,
Marianne

Marianne,
Go ahead and ask as many questions as you want. I may not be able to answer right away, but your questions might help me to be able to process it all a little easier. If you would rather send a PM instead, that is okay too. It is not my intention to withhold details. It's more a matter of processing and exhaustion. Unless you ask, I don't know exactly what details you want. A lot was discussed in two hours!:eek:
I don't know when I'm going to feel up to writing about it, so you'd better ask now! By the time I get around to writing about it all, Buddy may no longer be with us.

Hugs,
Kathy

Oh Kathy I'm so sorry you are not getting the rest that you need....when our furbabies are hurting we are right beside them thats forsure..take care, sending hugs and prayers...

Kathy, sweetie, you know I say this will eternal fondness, but Get Some Sleep!!! We worry about you too you know. You can't deal with Buddy's issues, the vet visit and tons of special needs kids in zombie land. So, sleep, then we'll just all regroup. This is hard enough to think about when you are well rested, I imagine it is darn near impossible without rest. So, take some time, nap, play with Buddy, whatever makes you smile and feel better. We'll always be here. Truly! :) HUGS! I worry about you!
Sharlene