Lucygoo updates/Lucygoo has passed

She only eats her food if I hand feed it to her, but only to a point. She does eat her treats, but only sometimes. The increase in prednisone has not increased her appetite..in fact it's decreased. Otherwise she's acting okay. I'm thinking we might need to increase the steroids again. This is so weird! She was doing great on 2.5 mg for so long....now we're up to 5 and it doesn't seem to be making a dent. I'm thinking maybe she's getting sick of the food. I've been giving her Innova Senior Plus dry and the canned mixed...she now won't eat any dry, and only a handful of the canned. Lucy just had her MRI in July, so it can't be the tumor growing back already.

What dosage of cortisone is Snoopy on? Prednisone is the same as cortisone.

Thanks,
Gina

Have you had her teeth checked - not just looked at but an x-ray done to look for any hidden decay. Possibly something might be visible on the imaging from the MRI so it might be worth asking them to have another look at those images for any lurking dental problem. What is her breath like?

There is nothing like a sore mouth to put them off their food - it even puts me off my food, and that's saying something!

Whatever it is, it is looking it is something not directly related to her steroid dose and probably not even related to the surgery or the Cushings.

Is the weather still hot where you are - Mia used to become quite fussy in really hot weather. That was a lifelong thing with her.

Alison

PS: I think you mentioned a week or so back that it was thought possible that the pred could have caused some stomach ulceration. Has that been followed up?

Hi Allison!

Lucy's teeth are in good shape. She's always had exceptional teeth..really white too, still! I wish I had them. Vets are always amazed at her teeth.
And she finally ate some kibble. She's now turning down the soft food, and going for the crunchy; so I know it's not the teeth.
And you're right...it is hot here now...and humid, which we normally don't get the humidity. I think she finally ate because I was home for a while. She gets pissy when I'm gone all day.

About the prednisone and stomach ulceration, I don't think I mentioned that. I was just worried about giving her the pred and the carprofen together, to prevent something like that happening. I think I'll leave her at 5 mg for a while, and see what transpires.

I just freak out when she doesn't eat now...any little appetite decrease brings me back to the days when she wasn't eating, and I may be panicking prematurely.

Thanks:)
Gina

Do you think these appetite issues started around, or shortly after, the time she started on the carprofen? NSAIDS are notorious for irritating the tummy and making the appetite fickle - not just reducing it but causing pickiness and going on and off different things. If I have "NSAID tummy" that's exactly what I'm like.... I find that slippery elm fixes the yuckiness within about a minute of taking it. There are also medicines (sucralfate is one) that can be given to help with this problem too.

Alison

I haven't given her the carprofen. I gave her only one dose a few months ago, and I gave her one a few days ago when she was on 3.5 mg. still. And I gave her a pepcid with it then. I'm really hesitant about giving her that and pred. I read they're not supposed to be given together.

Thanks,
Gina

Hi Gina,

Just thinking out loud here.... ;)

To remove the tumor they went up through the roof of her mouth, didn't they? If that is the case, you might want to have that incision looked at. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes a stitch that is supposed to dissolve, doesn't and it can cause some problems.

I've been on meds before that did weird things to my taste factor. Foods would taste different, or there was very little taste to anything even when I was hungry. So I would think the same thing could happen to animals.

The heat may well be a factor - I had a German Shepherd once who really fell off her feed during the summer and by fall she looked like she had been almost starved! :eek: When the next summer rolled around, she was sleek and sassy again only to lose it over the next few months. She did that her whole life. The only thing I could see that might have played a part in her loss of appetite was she didn't move around a lot when it was hot. Syra spent most of her time in the bushes, laying down, so she wasn't expending as much energy as she did during the cooler months.

I'm not familiar enough with the canine brain to know if the operation may have influenced the area that controls appetite or not, but that is something Dr. B could probably tell you.

Our Goldie eats a little like you have described Lucy doing...eating this now, but not later yet will eat just about anything if its handed to her. She is very finicky about everything concerning her food...even the type of dish it's served in! :rolleyes: I know how frustrating it can be trying to get her to eat at times and I'm sure is much harder on you because of Lucy's surgery. I wish I had a magic solution for you. :(

Keep up the good work! Feed Lucy whatever she wants and will/can eat whenever she wants it just like you have been. You're a good mom, Gina.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls

Thanks, Leslie.

You're so nice:) You know what, you just may be on to something. I thought her incision had healed, but I'll have it checked. I notice sometimes she makes a face at food, the upper lip will curl up. Dr. Bruyette wants to see her tomorrow, so I'll be bringing her in. He thinks it's odd as well. I've noticed a lump at the top of her front leg, sort of right behind the armpit. Now I'm paranoid this whole appetitie thing is something else.
Her appetite seems to peak at night...even sometimes at 1 or 2 am. Then by morning....nothing. I guess it's just a hard thing to gauge, because I want her to be at the right steroid level, but I don't want to overreact to things, you know?

Thanks,
Gina and Lucy

Hi Gina
snoopy is on 1.5 tablet a day and 1 tablet contains 5mg
Snoopy's weight will be around the 15 kilogram
beside the Cortisol she 's having Forthyron 200 two and a halve tablet a day. I'm not sure what that one will be in America . its used to replace a deficient endogenous hormone for the longterm treatment of hypothyroidism in dogs
I do believe its a good idea to have a look into the fact if there's stil some problem with Lucy's throat. I had Snoopy a few times on medication because we suspected a sore throat. My vet discussed the matter with the specialist and he thought there could be a possibillity
hope it helps a bit and don't worry too much ..
Take care and please let me know how things went at the vet
Bye Mienke:)

Hi Gina,

Sweet Lucy likes to keep her mommy on her toes. :eek::) and us. :p

Altho I don't have any advice for you, FWIW, I just wanted to let you know what a terrific job I think you are doing with Lucygoo. Being so observant of her facial expressions and appetite peaks is very important information that Dr. B. will want to know...you're such a good mommy. Please let us know how the visit goes and here's hoping Dr. B. finds a solution to make Lucy feel better.

Love and hugs.
Lori

Hi Gina,

I hope you have a great visit with Dr. Bruyette today. How fortunate for you and Lucy to be working with such a wonderful doctor.

Ken