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

Hi Janis,

Please let us know what the vet says this morning. It sounds as if Mira is having a more and more difficult time finding happiness and comfort in her life. :(:(

We are with you, honey, and we do understand your anguish.

Many hugs and belly rubs,
Leslie and the girls - always

New blood test for Cushing's:

Kira
Siberian Husky
10.5 yrs
11/11/10

ALK - 386 (10-150) high
ALT - 178 (5-107) high

CK - 209 (10-200) high

CHOL - 402 (112-328) high

Not sure why they did this one. But everything is a bit higher then it was two weeks ago. And "CK" is in there now. Any comments?

Hi Janis,

Those values are often elevated in cush pups but Kira's are not near as high as many we have seen. It isn't unusual to see ALKP values in the 1000's. CK is creatine kinase. Why is has elevated since the last test, I can't say. Hopefully someone has more info on this for you and I will be happy to do some research into it with you.

Has the vet mentioned doing any cushing's specific testing on Kira such as the UC:CR, LDDS, HDDS, abdominal ultrasound, or ACTH? While the CBC can give some indicators that there may be a problem like Cushing's, this test (the CBC) cannot diagnose it.

How is our Mira doing today?

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Let me say this: (again sorry)
I do not believe that the one closest to the pet knows best! In fact I think they might know the worst. Small changes happen so slow that we don't even realize it's happened. Many times it's Bud who tells me something is wrong. I think it is wrong to expect this person to know when it's time to go just because they are always with the dog. It's damn crewl to expect it of them too. As if things aren't bad enough already. There should be clear signs laid out so this poor person is not trying to dysifer every move. I think taking pictures can help to see changes by comparing them. Those small changes are easier to see. Further more I think the right time to go is when this person is ready, not the dog. We have to keep living. And if we aren't ready.. feelings can go on forever. Well I hope you can understand that. We have to be certian we got every good moment there was. Some people send them away early, that's fine, some just let the die naturaly. That's fine too.

The cancer doctor said after 2to4 days of no good moments at all. Or when nothing helps. Or when a dog does not want to go for a walk. Or won't eat. For me it's when a dog can no longer stand up. Not long after that. That is way too long I know and I always feel bad about it and horribly selfish. But thats when I'm sure. That's when I'm able to give in and not freak out with uncertainty. But really we'll find out for certain pretty soon. I always hold on too long. My biggest fear is they will start crying, I'd never get that out of my head.

My mom says dogs hide their pain for fear the other dogs would kill them and eat them. It all goes back to when dogs were wild. Makes perfect since to me.

I didn't have a clue pretty Mira I swear I didn't!

Hi Janis,

I don't understand your reasons for re-posting this heart-breaking post. :confused: It was hard enough to read the first time and I really do think we all heard you then. Is this in response to something that has been said since you first posted it?

I realize you are out of your mind with grief, guilt, and worry but we are really trying to help you and your baby girls.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Kiras ultra sound and spot on symptoms has made them pretty certain. They will do more tests four days after we finish Kiras meds for the infection. They have me set for a Cushings consultation at the same time.

I don't know it depends on Mira. If she's here you won't be able to pry me away from her. Bud pointed at her a moment ago and said she's sleeping. She was. She ate a little while ago.

Thanks, Janis. Your vets are right in wanting to wait for Kira's infection to clear up before starting the Cushing's testing. Any stress, internal or external, can affect the results of these tests so the healthier and calmer the pup is the better. Keep in mind that Cushing's is a slow progressing condition. ;)

I am glad to hear that Mira ate a bit and that she is able to rest. :) I hope the rest of her day is good.

Of course, Mira is the one who needs your attention most right now and being by her side is where you belong every second you can.

Keep your chin up!
Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

PS... a belated Happy Anniversary to you and Bud! 32 years is wonderful!

The weirdest thing happened last night...

Mira took me and Kira for the longest walk last night. We left the house at about five am this morning. It was still dark out. And quiet. Everyone still in bed. We walked almost to Tustin and turned around just before it. We are walking real slow. *From behind me I hear a mans voice. I didn't understand what he said. He was on a bicycle on the other side of the street. Going fast!! He zipped by and behind him came these two dogs. Off the leash, running fast!!! These dogs looked like nothing I'd ever seen before. Beautiful goldish white that seemed to light up behind this man. Beautiful runners. It looked like a scene from a movie! I swear it did not look real! The dogs stayed focused on their master. They had to know we were there. Our dogs saw them. They seemed to wind in-between all the cars parked on the street. Coming in and out of view. Running free. WOW, WHAT WAS THAT? Dogs from heaven touch down on earth and run past us.*

They were slightly taller then our dogs. Shaped like huskies but very lean. Their thick fur seemed to fly behind them.*

I walk the streets around here in these last weeks and I ask for answers. Why? And I find nothing. And sometimes odd things happen.. And I wonder.*


Janis

Mira ate like a real champ a bit ago. 50% canned dog food and 50% chicken. Bless her heart. I hope it doesn't hurt her belly processing all that food at once. I didn't expect her to eat the whole thing. I worry far too much. Her panting woke me up many times last night. But she stayed with me. My bed buddy. Kira sleeps in her own room. Yes Kira has her own room. Miras window is in there too. We sleep during the day. Its so quiet and peaceful at night.

Bud says I should take the dogs for a walk at the same time same place and see if the man and his dogs go by again. I might.

A CUSHING'S REPORT:

I listened to the recording of the ACC doctor telling me about Kiras ultrasound. Here is some of what I'm hearing this time:

She has a very small mass in one of her adrenal glands. Some dogs aren't effected by this. There is a mass off the back side of it. It can be cancer. It usually is cancer but it doesn't appear to be evading anything right now. They usually grow very slowly and could take a year to get twice this size. If it's producing ???? then you get the symptoms of Cushings. (Kira has all the symptoms) It can be removed but she needs to be tested. If it were her dog she would not remove it knowing it may never be a problem. It should be watched via ultrasound. If it changes then you remove it. It's not real bad but she would need treatment for it. And we could see the symptoms of cushings reversed including her fur growing back.

Other concerns:
(1)There is a heart murmur that on a scale of 1 to 6 in loudness its about a 2. One side maybe slightly enlarged. (she said a little more on that but I'll move on)

(2) The liver looks ok. There are no masses there. But it appears to be braking down. We may need to find out what is going on with that too.

My thoughts:
I'm just glad that I don't have another terminally ill dog that's going to die soon and there is nothing we can do. Kira has a chance. Hopefully she will respond well. But I am very concerned that her most resent blood test shows even more elevated numbers. It looks like a big increase to me in the span of just two weeks.

My other concern:
How is she going to handle the loss of Mira. She will be effected in some way. They always are. She lost Kodi when she was three. And carefree Kira left with him. A sadness that never left her. When I took both dogs for a walk. Kira was very good about walking slow bless het heart. She looked over at Mira a bunch of times with great interest seeming concerned. What's wrong Mira?