HI Vicki - glad to hear Scoop is getting around OK... have a good weekend :)
Trish xx
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HI Vicki - glad to hear Scoop is getting around OK... have a good weekend :)
Trish xx
Checking in on you and Scoop, did anyone give you the scent tip and the rug tip? Changing the texture from room to room or to his water dish can help Scoop find his way. Also altering the scent in rooms help.
I'm sure you already know this but thought I would mention it just in case.
Jenny and Judi can help you with tips as well as Leslie.
Zoe can still see shadows but she cant hear very well any more. I use hand signals and get as close as I can to her, I touch her alot so then she knows to follow my scent.
You are doing great, you really are:):):):) hug that Scoop for me:D
Hi Vicki!
Merry Christmas to you and Scoop!!!!
Have a safe and wonderful holiday! Thinking of you!
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin
Hi everyone-haven't posted on my thread for a while. Wasn't on the computer for a couple of weeks over the holidays and lately I've just been reading others threads. I've wanted to write but it gets so late. Tonight I'm so upset I need to talk. I try to be aware of Scoop at all times. He had an accident in the house on Christmas and another within a week after. My husband told me we can't have him peeing all over the carpeting. Tonight after my husband went to bed I dozed off on the loveseat. I usually try to be where ever Scoop is. He was on the floor sleeping. I just feel so guilty that I wasn't there for him. I shouldn't have dozed off. I feel like it's my fault for falling asleep. He usually is good for those hours till I take him out. I just don't know what happened. I woke up and saw a wet spot on the living room carpet and Scoop was in the kitchen. After he eats his supper at 6:00 he goes out and then usually sleeps the rest of the night except for moving to a different position. I then take him out again around 10:30-11:00. This happened before 9:00. I feel horrible! I scolded him. I didn't yell but I still feel so bad. I just said he was a bad boy and he shouldn't do that. Now I feel horrible. I love Scoop so much and I know he's sick and doesn't mean to do anything wrong. I guess I was scared because I know my husband doesn't like it. Scoop is not a bad boy. I'm always telling him what a good boy he is. He really is very good. He has been through so much lately. My husband used to always say to him that he is the best dog ever. I know Scoop's days are few with us but I don't want anything like that to make it shorter. I hope he doesn't hate me for scolding him. I feel like the bad guy. I give him his shots, eye drops, take him to the vet. I do that because I love him. I hope he knows how much I love him. I feel like I can't deal with this cause I don't want to lose him. I feel like I'm losing it. I hate that horrible Cushing's tumor! It's taking my "baby doll" away from me. He's been having problems with his BG levels being up. The vet increased his insulin. She said maybe he is becoming insulin resistant. But I don't think that is going to matter because I think his tumor might be causing problems. Can't say for sure but I have a feeling it is. I asked my husband if he would consider radiation but he said no, you're just delaying the inevitable(sp?). Has anyone on here had any success with radiation for the pituitary tumor? I have been so upset lately knowing what is coming and knowing that the radiation might help but can't do it. Scoop does a lot of trembling. It's hard to tell with the neurological signs because of Scoop's blindness and hearing gone in one ear. The neurologist told me we wouldn't ever know for sure which it is. Back in Nov. when Scoop had his MRI, the neurologist told me that the tumor wasn't big enough to cause any problems and I said so it's not a macro and he said no, micro. Then when the surgeon was optimistic there was no tumor in Scoop's ear canal, I was so happy and so optimistic Scoop would improve after the surgery. Maybe head tilt would improve, maybe his balance and being tol his tumor wasn't a macro. Well a few days later that changed. I found out after reading the radiologist's report for the MRI he called the tumor a macro and said it wasn't affecting any tissue at that time. I questioned the neurologist. He said that it would be months and months before it would affect him. Then I questioned the size and he said to the best of his ability with their equipment it was 8mmx3mm. I questioned him about the size and he said it is large but not as large as a lot of others he has seen. I wanted to scream and still do. The first day he lead me to believe the tumor was smaller than it is. I guess in his eyes it was. My heart is just breaking. It is so, so hard. Then after Scoop was home only a few days after his surgery he started with the corneal ulcer. We don't leave Scoop home alone. We didn't want him hurting his eye. Now I'm afraid he might hurt himself. There are times he can get a drink of water with no problem and a few times he has stumbled when he gets to the dish and has fallen or stepped into it. He stands at a wall or kitchen cabinet with his head up and "stares". I'm afraid to leave him home alone. Ever since he went totally blind he has changed. I think that was back soon before his surgery. So don't know if it's his lack of sight or the tumor. I know he doesn't have quality of life, he doesn't bother with toys but as of now he still anxiously(sp?) awaits his food and he loves his ear rubs. He still gives kisses once in a while when you ask him for one. Today he enjoyed a chew for a while. He loves laying next to my husband on the recliner and sleeps. I know I'm being selfish but I can't imagine life without him. I just cry and cry. Thanks for listening.
I have seen it mentioned on here that Vetoryl can cause the pituitary tumor to grow faster. Is there any proof to back that up? Just wondering how that is known?
Oh Vicki, I am so sorry for everything you are going through. Scopp knows you love him and you are under a lot of pressure. There was a point last summer with my Zoe and all the meds and expense and every week driving out to the specialists and changing hours at work and missing work, I thought Zoe was coming to the end of her journey. Somehow we adjusted to it all. Each loss of Zoe's health, we adjust somehow. She has accidents in the house sometimes so we try to keep her on a schedule, when we miss it, we just clean it up. The carpeting, well, someday we will replace it.
Will Zoe be the same as she was before this started four years ago? No, but you know what, I am not the same. I mourn the loss of her good looking coat and hair and tail and then I look at photos of myself from 4 years ago and gosh, have I aged;) I cant do things I did 4 years ago so I accept it and now have to accept Zoe's losses.
I used to cry driving home from work every night, to get it all out because I did not want to cry with my dogs. They are so happy when I am happy.
You are experiencing anticipatory grief and it hurts and it is real. I used to open the glove compartment in my car and yell "Damn it Cushings get in there, I am locking you up now."
Vicky, try to lock it all up once a day and force yourself to go do something you used to enjoy, even for just an hour. Try to change the message in your head and take it one day at a time or one morning at a time. Sing a happy song to Scoop even if he cant hear.
Most of all, please come here, like you now did and let it all out. We have some pretty good shoulders to lean on.
Hi Vickie,
Unless they have changed the guidelines, a pituitary tumor isn't considered to be a macro until it reaches 10mm is size. At 8mmx3mm, Scoop's tumor has a way to go to qualify as a macro. It may be possible for the neurosurgeon to know somehow that Scoop's tumor would grow to a size to qualify, but if so this would be the first I recall ever hearing anyone having that ability.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body...roadenoma.html
As a Pug, Scoop is unfortunately one of the breeds prone to this type of tumor BUT that does NOT mean he has or will develop one. All pups with the pituitary form of Cushing's have a tumor on the pituitary gland but they rarely grow to a size to be considered a macro. If this is a serious concern, then you can have subsequent MRIs to see if it is growing and if so how fast.
It may take Scoop a while to adjust to being blind. He can't be expected to act like he used to for some time, if ever. There ares some things you can do to help him adjust.
- Don't rearrange furniture, etc. Leave everything where it is, put ti back in place if you do have to move it.
- Keep his food and water bowls in the same places at all times.
- Leave his bed(s) in the same place at all times.
- Get some cheap little rugs with different naps (textures) and lay out paths to each of his spots. Use the same nap for his food / water, a different one to his bed, and so on. Use different naps for each path but keep each path uniform in texture.
- You can use different scents for each room to help him oreint. Put vanilla in the bathroom, cinnamon in the kitchen, and so on.
- Start building his confidence by calling him to you over short distances in the house. When he comes to you, be sure to praise him a great deal and offer a good treat every time.
- Get some bubble wrap and wrap the corners, furniture legs, etc that he can run into and bash his head.
- Foam pipe insulation will work well on corners of walls.
- Devise games to play with him that don't require him to see. If he will accept, play tug-of-war with a soft toy, things like this that will let him know at all times where the play field is. Trinket plays "bulldozer" - she comes to my side and starts pushing against me. I respond by pushing back gently and this is her play.
- Brick plays when I tap the floor with my nails. I will move my hand around in a very small area (he weighs 5 lbs) tapping the whole time and he will chase my hand. This is his play.
- Don't expect him to handle steps / stairs like he used to if he will attempt them at all. You can retrain him by teaching him "up" and "down" while tapping the step you wish him to move to but don't push him. This is a very scary thing for them as they don't know how far they are being asked to step up or down so be patient. He may never be willing to take steps on his own.
- If you decide to teach him steps, start with the direction he seems to have the least fear of and perfect that direction before learning the opposite. ie if he goes up better than down, concentrate on getting him comfortable with up first.
- Bear in mind, even a threshold in a doorway may present a fear response.
- Make noise so he knows where you are at all times. You can wear bells / jingling jewelry on your ankles / wrists but wear the same ones every day so the sound is the same day to day to day. One of my pet peeves used to be to hear someone dragging their feet when they walked - now I do it on purpose so my babies can find me. I talk out loud and sing a lot as we walk around outside...and I just talk out loud anyway inside and out. :p
- If Scoop is fearful outside, he may feel more secure on a lead and in a harness. If he has a fenced area walk him around and around his area on a lead so he can adapt and learn his space again without his sight. Again, leave things outside in his area in the same places at all time. Pick up any limbs / twigs / etc that could poke him in the eye or otherwise harm him.
I hope this helps a bit and if you have questions about blind babies, I will try to help in any way I can. Just remember, he is probably very frightened and a bit depressed right now and will need extra TLC to help him adjust and gain confidence.
And tell your hubby that I said carpets can be replaces but Scoops cannot. :mad: How dare he treat you in a manner that would make you afraid enough to treat your baby in a way you feel badly about. :mad::mad:
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Oh Vicki, my heart aches for what you are going through. I know how sad and upset (make that distraught :o) I was when I saw changes for the worse in my own Cushpup. One thing that caught my eye, though, was your previous reply giving us Scoop's ACTH result back in December. Is your vet aware that Scoop is starting to have accidents in the house? With an ACTH result that was above the recommended therapeutic range at that time, I would think that it may now be reasonable at this point to go ahead and increase his trilostane dose a bit. That may result in a decrease in thirst and urination that can make all your lives easier, at least in the short run.Quote:
Originally Posted by scoora
As far as the long run, I do understand your worries about the tumor. You have asked about evidence that trilostane can cause pituitary tumors to grow more quickly, and there is at least one research study that documents this possibiity. I will track down the link and post it for you later on. As Leslie says, the only way to know for certain if Scoop's tumor is growing would be to repeat the MRI. But I know this is a very expensive procedure that requires anesthesia. If Scoop's tumor is indeed growing to a point that is placing pressure elsewhere in his brain, I think you will increasingly see more neurological symptoms, just with your own eyes.
We have had a few dogs here who have had their pituitary macrotumors successfully reduced by conventional radiation therapy. But it is not a "forever" cure as the tumors inevitably grow back after that treatment. There are other, more experimental surgery and radiation approaches that are now being attempted at some select veterinary centers. But all are major undertakings, and very expensive. My own boy suffered from what we believed to be an expanding macrotumor, but we did not believe that he nor we were able to able to proceed with radiation treatment due to his compromised physical state, the emotional toll on us all, and the cost of the treatment. And so my heart also resonates with your torn feelings about that, too. It is so hard when you feel helpless to make things better for your baby.
But as I said above, I do think you and Scoop might get some relief with his urination by increasing his trilostane dose. And that might make things easier for you all right now, and allow you to regroup a bit. You are dealing with quality of life issues right now, and even if the trilostane may end up hastening the tumor growth, the time you have with Scoop right now may be made more comfortable if the thirst/urination is lessened.
Above all, I am so grateful that you feel as though you can share your struggles with us. I truly hope that it can help to lighten your burden a bit by allowing us to help you shoulder the load.
Sending many loving hugs to you and to sweet Scoop,
Marianne
Hi Vicki, I cried when I read your post this morning. It just breaks my heart for scoop, for you, for your husband.
Leslie has given you some excellent tips on the blind issue.
I agree with Marianne, that an increase in his dosage for cushings might help with the accidents.
My biggest tip for that though, is to say, the Bissel green machine. It's a hand held little machine, that you put cleaner on one side and water on the other and you can use it on any spot or accident area. It will completely take the urine up. We have one as Molly is an "attitude" accident, waiting to happen. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, we have some very expensive wool rugs and carpet on stairs up upstairs, and it was driving my husband nuts. Thunder, piddle, another dog in the house, piddle, that kind of thing. That Little Green machine, saved me many times. It's worth it.
That will solve that problem for you. (you can find them at Walmart usually)
I wish I could give you a hug and make all the anxiety go away. The worry, the fear, the hurt and grief, is all there and those things can get in the way of just trying to enjoy each day you have. As Addy said, throw it in the glove box and don't look at it too often. Also, create a safe place for Scoop to be so that you can maybe go out to dinner with your husband or do something else just for a little bit. It doesn't have to be long, but I think you both might need something like that. Or even get a sitter. :) Like having a baby.
thinking of you!
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin
Addy, Leslie, Marianne-Thank you so much. Your kind, loving, helpful words mean so much. I know all of you have gone through some tough times and I appreciate you sharing your experiences and knowledge with me and everyone else on here. I am so glad I have a place to say how I feel. I talk to my daughter who lives at home and she understands. She loves our "boys" so very much. She became a vegetarian because she loves animals so much. She listens to me. I know this is all hurting her. She just doesn't express it like I do. She doesn't take after me. I know my husband loves Scoop and Raleigh too but I don't think he understands exactly how I feel. I don't tell him everything like I do my daughter and all of you.
Addy- we try to keep a schedule to take Scoop out. Like I said, he usually sleeps through the evening. I like the glove compartment thing and the happy song. I asked the vet if she knew anything about radiation treatments even though my husband said no to the idea. She said she didn't know much except she said Scoop would not be the same as before. I knew that. That's not what I am looking for. Like you said we all change. Before he went blind he at least seemed "happier". The opthamologist said older dogs can have a harder time adjusting to blindness. We thought maybe after the corneal ulcer healed maybe we could see about cataract surgery for the one eye but when I showed her the MRI report she said the tumor could affect his vision then the surgery would have been for nothing.
Leslie- I knew about not changing anything so when we rearranged the living room furniture for the Christmas tree, I was worried. He did go to where he thought the recliner was and wait. We knew what he wanted. We have a small ranch so there's not much room to get lost in. Scoop hasn't been able to jump up on furniture since he started with his head tilt and being off balance in July so we also have to watch if he is on furniture sleeping that he doesn't fall off if he gets up. We have carpeting in the living room and it goes into the dining room then the kitchen is linoleum. I think that helps Scoop. The frige is on one side of his water bowl and a dog bed on the other so if he bumps into them he usually knows where the water is. Sometimes he misses. Sometimes he trips on the bowl and falls. Sometimes he just stands at a wall or at the dining room window looking up. I try calling him to come at least in my direction but he usually looks the wrong way and just stands there sometimes turning his head back and forth. I try to let him know where I am if he's awake. He sleeps a lot. I talk to him loads. Scoop has had a hard time with his balance since his head tilt started so we have been very careful outside. With his lack of balance and weak muscles he's not too steady in the yard. We don't have a fenced in yard so we have always gone out with them. Scoop's calcinosis cutis is bad under his front legs and at first they were oozing and wet so the vet said try not to use his harness. Right now they are dry and I put a coat on him so I use his harness again. His back legs are weak with the muscle loss so when we didn't use the harness we just would pick him up and carry him in and out. Now he's used to that. Everything just has worked against Scoop. I like all your suggestions about the bubble wrap and everything. I'll have to write them down. You are right, carpets can be replaced, our babies can not. Looking back at what I wrote, I made it sound like my husband said that after the accident at Christmas. When he said it, it was before then. I'm not very good with my writing. I think, I hope he was referring to him just losing control all the time at the end. Me, I don't care how many times he has an accident. So please don't think badly of my husband. He is not a bad person. He loves Scoop, too. I just get so paranoid. I worry about everything. I guess I worry that the end might be close and I see the accidents as that being a start to it. I am such a mess. I worry about everything. I wish I was a stronger person. We have a large carpet cleaner. I was wondering if anybody has one of those small Bissell ones that you use for spots. Maybe I could suggest to my husband about getting one of those.
Marianne-I did tell the vet about his two other accidents so she ran a culture to check for UTI but there was nothing. I did take notice sometimes when he pees he seems to start to walk away maybe before he is completely done. The one day he went pee, then poop, then went pee some more. That made me think he wasn't completely done at first. I said to the vet about doing an ACTH because it's been a month. She said let's see if his BG levels get any better first. He's struggling with them right now. Scoop takes a nice, big drink after he eats and sometimes in between but I don't think his thirst is out of control. I would be interested if you could track down the link for the info about trilostane and the tumors. I appreciate it. Was your cushpup on trilostane at that time? If I may ask, what was his physical state that made you decide not to pursue treatment? Is that in your thread somewhere? I could look it up. You mentioned more experimental approaches. Is there some info somewhere that I could read about it? Is there research being done on Cushing's? I would be interested in reading about that, too. Why do so many of our babies get this horrible disease? It's so sad. I wish I could afford to get another MRI done. The first one was $1600. I wish this whole thing was just a nightmare and I would wake up.
Thank you again for all the support and the shoulders to lean on and to cry on. Love to all of you and your babies.