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Thanks Marianne, you have been so incredibly helpful and supportive! I will keep you updated. Yes Charlotte is about 60 pounds, she used to be 75 before all of this. She has of course lost all her muscle mass (she was such a strong dog!) but she still looks ok weight wise. She actually chased a squirrel up a tree this morning but otherwise she is still about the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by labblab
Laurie
Thanks for all the info Kathy, and I'm so sorry you had to go through this with Buddy. Charlotte's cortisol levels were fairly low when we stopped the triostane. Last week her ACTH stim test showed pre: 1.6 and post: 3.1. Although that is within the management level they are looking for, Charlotte was going downhill fast and so maybe she needs to run on higher levels. Both of her vets agreed we should not start the trilo again until she starts showing signs of cushings again. The one symptom I wish she would get back is the hunger. She is so finicky now and we have to put pills down her throat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Budster's Mom
I'm so thankful to all of you here on this forum, I just wish none of us had to be here!
Laurie
My husband took Charlotte and her brother Lido for a walk late last night. He was able to let them walk off leash since it was so late and nobody was out and about. Charlotte was very interested in everything and acted almost like normal, just getting a little more tired than she would have in the past. He let her go at her own pace so she was able to do what felt right to her.
She slept well last night and hasnt had any pain meds today since she seems to be comfortable. She is still not eating well but decided she likes salmon so ive been mixing that into her other food along with home made bone broth. We also started her on a turmeric paste due to its anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Hopefully all of this high quality food will make up for the small amounts she is taking in. She refused pumpkin and any other veggies that she used to eat but right now im just happy she is eating something.
She has tremored less today so its been a pretty good one. Im hoping my husband will be able to take the dogs out again tonight as it seemed to do her some good.
Laurie
Some hopeful news...good to hear.
This is the worst disease!!! I know im not saying anything new here but its been so confusing and upsetting to not know what to do.
Charlotte has had a rough morning. The tremoring has gotten worse again and she just looks at us like she wants us to make it stop. Ive always known when it was time to let a dog go but this is so hard because she will be shaking and tremoring like crazy then ill open the door and she will go trotting out like she is feeling fine. Even chasing a squirrel up a tree!
She was pacing this morning and wimpering a little so i decided to take her for a short walk. She was very responsive and wanted to sniff around with her ears all perked up. I let her go at her own pace and a couple times she started to trot and actually pulled on the leash a bit. Then back to the house and she lays down and starts the tremors again and cant seem to get comfortable. We gave her some tramadol which she hasnt had for about 24 hours so im hoping that will help if she is having any pain and maybe help her relax.
I dont want to be inhumane but its sooooo hard to think about euthanizing a dog who is so alert and still enjoying things and acting normal when she starts moving around. Ugh!!!!
Laurie
Laurie --just a thought -- I know you have been giving tramadol sporadically. What about giving it to Charlotte on a regular basis to see if that helps with the tremoring, especially if it is pain related? Might be something worth talking to your vets about. I give Abbie tramadol two-three times a day on a regular basis. Only problem I have with it is that it is seriously bitter if broken in half and Abbie gets 1/2 pill each time. For her weight, she could get a whole pill but that makes her too groggy.
Laurie, if this is a macrotumor, I suspect you will see some pretty definitive changes before long that may make your decision more clear-cut. Things like what happened for us -- not eating or drinking at all, for instance. If you reach a crossroads like that, then you would have to start direct intervention to prolong life and that may force your hand. Even if not that dramatic, there may be other changes that make it obvious that Charlotte's good times are far outnumbered by the bad times. And that may make your decision clearer.
In the meantime, I encourage you to make as many good memories as you can. Savor the good walks and the good moments. And continue to smother her with love, as I know you are doing already. I was so worried and upset and anxious in the days before we lost Barkis, that I was unable to stay calm enough to spend many quality moments with him at all. I will regret that forever. So my best advice is to stick with that mantra of "one day at a time." Each new day will give you the opportunity to evaluate the path forward. If the changes keep coming, I think you will have fewer doubts about when it is time.
Marianne
I think you are right Judy. We were giving Charlotte tramadol twice daily for several days, up until yesterday because she was doing so well. She gets 1 1/2 tablets so we have the same problem with the bitterness. But at this point she wont take any pills at all so we have to put them down her throat anyway. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by judymaggie
Laurie
Thanks for the advice Marianne, i know you are 100% right. Its so hard to do though, im just a mess with worry and anxiety. She is sleeping well now so i think we have decided to keep her on the tramadol regularly, even if she isnt seeming to need it. The lapse yesterday seemed to take its toll.Quote:
Originally Posted by labblab
She is drinking a normal amount but we are still having a hard time with food. I offer her a variety and go with whatever she wants at this point. Right now she is loving canned salmon but wont eat too much at one time. Its so odd since she used to always be such a piggy.
We will try our best to enjoy this time with her. I sometimes wonder why i keep getting dogs and putting myself through this. But i dont know how to live without them!
Laurie
Buddy never stopped eating. He ate eagerly till the end. I knew that Buddy's happy, pain free days were limited and would only get fewer and farther between. I had a plan in place for him. Easy to plan, but very difficult to implement. He was being treated for an aggressive probable pituitary macro tumor. He experienced head tremors, rear leg weakness and his front legs would collapse on him without warning. This would most often occur when he was walking or running and he would end up going down face first on the concrete. Quite often, he had difficulty getting up at all. He would often be very restless at night, but could still get up and function pretty normally during the day. As long he could continue to chase lizards, bark at birds invading his air space and guard his family, I would let him continue to do that for as long as possible. However, as soon as he was no longer able to do what he loved, what made him happy, it was time to release him to fly. Unfortunately, that day arrived much too soon.
No fur baby should be left to suffer because we are not strong enough to help them cross over when their life becomes too painful. When what makes them who they are, has been robbed from them. It is the ultimate act of love. A large chunk of my heart flew with Buddy that day, but he was happy and did not suffer.
As Marianne said, if Charlotte does have a macro. You will notice more neurological symptoms soon enough and will guide the path you ultimately take. Right now, love on her with every ounce of your being, while she's still with you.
Kathy