Mira, 7yr old Husky - Cushings ruled out; liver cancer (Mira has passed)

Still reading and sending you strength and support on this journey. I can offer you encouragement for Kira should cushing's be the dx. My dog Haley was diagnosed at 12 1/2 and I treated her for FOUR YEARS with lysodren. She passed away the end of May but not from Cushings - she was just very old.

It seems you have found a great new vet clinic that can handle Kira's health. Overt cushing's symptoms would be extreme water drinking and urinating in the house, losing hair/skin irritations, back leg weakness to name a few.

With all you have on your plate right now, please know that cushing's goes undiagnosed in many many dogs (including my Haley) for years and years and years. While not ideal, it is OK because you usually do not have to treat right away. So - it is OK to focus on Mira. If 30 days is what you have then I am sure you will make those 30 as comfortable as you can. Hug her often, and know you have absolutely done all that is humanly possible for her.

And yes, we will be here for you as you need us. More huge hugs, Kim

"did not die of Cushings" that's comforting to know.

KIRA
Siberian Husky
10.5 yrs
10/29/10

ALK - 354 (10-150) high
ALT - 117 (5-107) high

LIP - 1474 (100-750) high

CHOL - 378 (112-328) high

MCV - 59 (60-77) low

That is the initial blood work.
We have an ultrasound behind us too. I cant recall the specifics right now but there is a tumor. Not giant like Miras.
Now we wait a week for her urine track infection to clear up. Then on to the next test.

Because of the ultrasound is why ACC doctor is heading us that way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lulusmom

Hi Janis,

Can you tell us why you think Kira may have cushing's? Cushing's is not a death sentence and with effective treatment, dogs can live out their natural life expectancy with a really good quality of life. My first cushdog is a rarity and was diagnosed at 3 years old. She is now 9 years old and still going strong. We think she had cushing's for at least before being diagnosed. My 2nd cushdog was a foster dog who we adopted because we knew he had cushing's. He had had the disease for a very, very long time and was a walking infection from head to tail, had very little fur and could hardly stand up due to severe muscle wasting. I've gotten estimates on his age of anywhere from 8 to 15 years old. He's been on treatment for three years and you'd never know he was the same pathetic dog that walked through our door in August, 2007. Whether a dog is diagnosed early or later in the disease, treatment can work miracles. I saw it happen twice. FYI, the object of treatment is to improve/resolve the symptoms so it is not recommended to treat a dog until the dog has overt symptoms.

Now that Kira may be cushingoid, please remember to get her records as well and post test results here.

Glynda

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Today is our 32 yr anniversary.

We have had huskies for 31 yrs. Five of them
Sigh, Sasha, Kodi, Kira, Mira
9/6/78 9/10/84 9/16/92
My September babies
6+10=16
Sigh + Sasha = Kodi
3/27/00 2/27/03
Kira and Mira both born on the 27th
(Kodi and Kira were related)
Any guess which is more important to me? dogs or husband? oh well I can't help it the dogs don't yell at me. dogs win

Janis -

You can put Kira on milk thistle if you want to. The milk thistle is the cheap and that will help with the elevated liver enzymes. If you Google it a bit you will find information on milk thistle to help you get the right one. You can get some at the health food store. I'm not a vet tech, but although her liver enzynes are elevated, they are not super duper elevated.

Remember to give the antibiotics for the urinary tract infection with some food. Antibiotics are always absorbed better with food. :) I would assume they gave you Clavamox, which is an excellent broad spectrum antiobiotic. Also urinary tract infections are common in spayed females. My lab always gets Clavamox for her urinary tract infections.

Spend quality time with Mira and take lots of pics. I would spoil her rotten in every way possible for as much time as she has left. I would feed her anything she wanted to eat, even if it was ice cream and dog biscuits. Just make her as happy and content as you can.

The prednizone will help increase her appetite and might make her drink more too. Just symptoms of the pred to be aware of is all.

Just remember you have done NOTHING wrong with Mira. You shouldn't be kicking yourself in the bum for anything that you did or didn't do.

Oh yeah, and I don't always believe everything the vet tells me either. I do to a certain extent, but you know your dog better than anyone else on the planet. And yes, you are doing the rights things even now, you just don't know it.

Hugs and blessings to all three of you,

Gretchen and Rusty in NC

"It seems you have found a great new vet clinic that can handle Kira's health. Overt cushing's symptoms would be extreme water drinking and urinating in the house, losing& hair/skin irritations, back leg weakness to name a few."

She drinks tons of water always has. Every now and then she pees in the house. More often she is wanting to go out every half hour and always seems real desperate! She had to have knee surgery on both back legs. ACC doctor said cushings can effect knee ligamants which is what happened to kira. She has never lost fur in an unnatural way. BUT she had knee surgery just 7 months ago and the fur on her back has not grown back at all!

Gretchen -

Kira:
is taking Baytril 60s for her infection. The regular vet gave those to her. $$$$ expensive!!! ACC doctor was ok with that I guess. There hasn't been any giant water drinking since taking those.

This is what is keeping Mira with us:
This was devised by the ACCdoctor and adjusted at the cancer group in the same complex:
Currently she is taking at least 16 pills a day that consists of:
Prednisone
Neurontin (for spinal pain)
Tramadol (as much as 12 a day) for pain
Mirtazpine (so she will eat, works great!)
Metronidazole (for diarrhea)
Pepcid AC (for upset tummy)

I'm to add more Tramadol if she's in pain. She is taking like seven now. There are better pain pills but they are too hard on the liver. She was having a very hard time walking before this. I doubted she would ever go for a walk again. Yet yesterday morning Mira took ME for a long walk. Maybe two miles and she did not want to go home!!! No limping while walk or after it. We will go again when the sun comes up. She does have a coordination problem with the left front. She will hold it oddly. But she is placing it well when walking so far. I wish I could post pictures here and show you stuff. I measured her chest to see if the tumors are growing. She coughed oddly a bit ago. I half expected to see blood from the lung tumor. She's been up and around and following me today. Not great but... I'm not so sure shell make thirty days. When you think about the gaint tumors inside her, eating her up, its suprizing she is still here. I know i talked about the zommie thing. But today Mira seems more like Mira. And not a pill induced body. She got up just now and something snapped hope it was nothing The cancer doctor and I talked about when it time to go.

Ice cream??? Lucky dog! I have to be careful not to feed too many differant things. She has never changed food well. But we get lots of dog treats and top dollar chicken. I'm lucky I don't work. I can give all my attention to Mira. She is my very breath right now. And there are hugs for Kira too. Poor Kira she has to be locked outside sometimes so I can get food down Mira. When it comes to eating Kira is a Cushings dog all the way. I'm sure you all know how that is. She want everything!

Every day I have read your thread and every day I have heard the pain you suffer for your beloved dog.

I have not written because words have escaped me and I found myself wishing I could find a way to ease your mental anquish. Since I could not, I have found myself suffering with you.

My point is, you are not alone as I am sure you realize, we are all here for you.

The journey you are now on is indeed hard, but you will find the strength to travel it as you have so far.

Please know that we are here for you every day, every minute, so you really are not alone, ever!

Love,
Addy

And yet more angels fly by....

Mira won't eat...
I took Mira and Kira for a walk. Something I didn't think I'd ever do again. Mira wanted to go. And keep going. We walk by the house, no keep going mom. So we keep going. That's what the cancer doctor said to do. If she wants to go go... For maybe an hour and a half we covered about three miles. Mira is still not wanting to stop but not as much as before. One minute later Mira is laying in her I hurt way. I pet her and she growls at me. Uh Ho. She refused a bite of chicken so I gave her yet another Tramadol. Half hour later she still won't eat. I think I'll call the cancer place. Make sure I'm doing the pills right.

Janis -

Try some Parmesan cheese sprinkled on her food or some tuna fish. It makes things stinky. You can try burgers and rice too boiled on the stove and cooled down to eat. I make mine and warm in the microwave.

Baytril is a broad spectrum antibiotic. Kira should do well on that.

You can try pills in some cheese, sliced, cheese whiz, pill pickets, a piece of lunch meat. I always give mine with a chaser of treat to make sure it goes down.

We are all feeling your heartache today. You are not alone.

Gretchen