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

Hi Janis,

Just dropping in to say hi and that I hope you had a good day with both your girls.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Thanks, yes we are doing well here. Mira is responding to the meds and we are still at the low end of possibilities with that. Her liver is functioning, she breaths well, she is young and the rest of her organs are good. Who knows maybe shell make two months. I think for certian she will have several good days right now. I know other people need you too. I'll be sure to let you know when there is a change. And I'll be sure to check in incase someone posts here. I'm more greatful then I can say!

Oh would you please change the thread title? We are not doing chemo. I won't put her or us thru it.

Thanks for the update. I will change the thread title.

Meanwhile please know that alot of us are reading and sending our best wishes every day even if we aren't posting. Hugs to dear Mira. Kim

Enjoy every minute with Mira and spoil her rotten...I know I would :)

She panted like a maniac all day today. Actually she kept waking me up panting even before that.. Panting pretty hard too. It's scary. Was up to 156 breaths per minute and shallow. It's 40 now. I don't think we'll walk today. She ate well enough though.

Kira is acting oddly. It could be sadness or maybe she's tired. Thats what it looks like. Normally anytime I go into the kitchen she comes right in behind me looking all hopeful. Now she doesnt bother to even get up! I'm worried about her. I haven't seen those bright eyes in days. Is she upset that Mira is getting so much attention? Is she upset that I put her outside when Mira eats? Does she know something is wrong with Mira? Or god forbid is it Cushings kicking in? Or worse?

Sorry I was going to try to be brave today but it didn't work...

Mornin' Janis,

Thanks for the update and glad to hear that Mira is still eating some and finding some joy in her life. :)

Last Dec. we had a senior baby who had been ill for some time with something the vets couldn't really name or get a handle on. She would get better then get worse again. She woke up one weekend morning and we knew that was all she had to give. Unfortunately, we couldn't get her to the vet for the next 2 days due to the Holidays so we devoted that time to our Ruby Dooby Doo. She got to eat anything she wanted, as much as she wanted, whenever she wanted; family came to visit with her and give her lovin' and treats; when we moved to another room, she was carried in there with us if she couldn't make it on her own so she was never by herself; she loved being brushed and her coat was shining at the end of those two days. Ruby left us knowing she was so very much loved. Those were hard days for us humans who loved her but it was nothing less than she deserved for all she had given. I, and many others here, can empathize with you in this time with Mira.

Please keep the posts coming on both your babies. As much as you may think others need us, we need to hear from you! ;):) In fact, I am apt to come looking for you if you don't check in fairly often! :eek::p Scary thought, huh? :D

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Hi sweetie,

If Mira and Kira are close or bonded, then it is possible that Kira is picking up on Mira's distress and the changes in Mira caused by her illness. Since you are with them both all the time, Kira could be picking up on your distress as well if she is bonded to you as I'm sure she is.

One of the signs of Cushing's is lethargy and a loss of interest in things, a kind of pulling away, at times. Squirt had started sleeping more and she would go "hide" under furniture to spend her time. She wouldn't show the connection and need to be with me like she used to as much. If cortisol is running wild in their systems it can throw off the circadian rhythms keeping them from resting well at nite. Cortisol is normally released in quantity in the early part of the day and as the day passed, that level drops allowing other chemicals to step up causing our bodies to relax and sleep. In Cushing's, the cortisol level doesn't drop like it normally would but is continually released, making a restful nite difficult to achieve.

Keep an eye on her, as I know you do like a hawk, and let us know if you see anything else that is disturbing for you.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Squirt's Mom

Hi sweetie,

If Mira and Kira are close or bonded, then it is possible that Kira is picking up on Mira's distress and the changes in Mira caused by her illness. Since you are with them both all the time, Kira could be picking up on your distress as well if she is bonded to you as I'm sure she is.

One of the signs of Cushing's is lethargy and a loss of interest in things, a kind of pulling away, at times. Squirt had started sleeping more and she would go "hide" under furniture to spend her time. She wouldn't show the connection and need to be with me like she used to as much. If cortisol is running wild in their systems it can throw off the circadian rhythms keeping them from resting well at nite. Cortisol is normally released in quantity in the early part of the day and as the day passed, that level drops allowing other chemicals to step up causing our bodies to relax and sleep. In Cushing's, the cortisol level doesn't drop like it normally would but is continually released, making a restful nite difficult to achieve.

Keep an eye on her, as I know you do like a hawk, and let us know if you see anything else that is disturbing for you.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

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Can anything be done for this? The ACC doctor spoke of medication. Does it work?

You know Kira just had TTA surgery done on her knee 7 months ago. Recovery is like 12 to 18 weeks long. Kira got ALL my attention for that time and well beyond it. Me and Mira slept on the floor by her confinment area for weeks! At first I was just walking Kira everyday and poor Mira had to stay behind. They cut a piece of bone off and reposition it and you have to wait for the bone to grow back. The leg is very fragile at first. Then finally I was able to handle both dogs on a walk. That was not so long ago. Kira was used to getting most all of the attention until about a month ago. If that is what she is reactating to then it took her long enough. I'm thinking it's something else. The twinkle has gone out of her eyes! Kira doesn't go into hiding much. She and Mira trade off for the spot beside me. Her sudden lack of interest in food worries me. Normally she hops around all excited. And what about the rise in her blood test?

Mira is getting all the peanut butter with her zillion pills. Kira is taking pills too but.... I don't know. I can easily see the light going out in Kira's eyes when Mira is gone. Hell I can see mine doing the same thing. I need Kira's bright eyes so much. Those bright blue/brown eyes. Those eyes told me she would make it thru that long surgery. Both dogs are laying behind me right now. Kira's breathing is very noise. She barks and runs in her sleep all the time.

Take a look at the first clip in this video and you'll see what I mean about her bright eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-Rfcg7n_iY

Janis

Took some pictures of Mira this morning. (Below is a direct link.) Somebody needs to pull her socks up! The one in the kitchen... does she look like she's in pain to you? There is one of Kira in there too.

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/album.php?albumid=268