11 year old Doxie with tumor on Adrenal - Bondo has crossed the rainbow bridge

Trese,

Cushings causes the body fat to redistribute so sometimes we can see the ribs but our dogs haven't actually lost weight. If you can manage to weigh Bondo, this will tell you whether or not he's lost weight or not.

Hi Daisy and Sharlene. Thanks for the replies and comments. I gain strengh from this forum.
Ok, the air mattress is really not that bad. It is just so cold on the floor. We are in Mammoth until Monday and it will be 8 degrees this evening. I have been keeping the heater up a few notches. With regard to Bondo's weight. He was about 21-22 lbs and then went down to 19 for quite a while. Just in the past 6 weeks he has lost 3 lbs. He, still, loves to eat tho.
I think I told you all I ordered the Novifit. Has ANYONE had their dog on this med. Hopefully, the vet ok's its use.
You know, I mourn the dog that he was and maybe that is why this is so hard. Bondo cannot help the way he is and I WILL NOT forsake him. I look in his eyes and he trusts me so much so I am sure he will tell me when it is time.

Not sure if I ever mentioned it before but he would always sit/sleep next to my husband but he did not like to cuddle. However, now he wants to be near either one of us 24/7. He will still greet us at the door with the tail wagging.
Again, thanks for all of the posts. T

Leslie definitely has had Squirt on this with good results. She stopped for awhile, but then when Squirt started to show symptoms again, she started to use it again.

brrr, yes, down at floor level can get chilly when in those cold temps.

The weight loss is concerning. Did the vet run a full blood panel on Bondo? I wonder what if anything was out of normal range.

Of course you wouldn't forsake Bondo, he's your baby. If he is having dementia issues then it would make sense that he'd want to be near to you or your husband, whom he will safest with.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Good Evening to all.
Well, things are not looking too good here. It is so so very sad. I cry all of the time....Little Bondo is hanging in there but the time is getting very close. He is eating well and drinking his water when he remembers how to drink his water. The vet tells me he will not get better but each day a little worse and he is right but I just can't seem to let him go. With this behavior...up at 1:00 ..3:00, 6:00 AM wanting to go outside or just pace it has begun to take its toll on me. My husband and I take turns so one of us can get some sleep.
Another trait with this dementia is that Bondo wants to get into very tight spots and he no longer has "reverse" so he tries to turn around and then starts howling. Howling is good as that is the only way I can find him. I have taken his collar off as I think he may get it caught on something. The last few days has been behind the washer/dryer which I had to move out by myself. Another one was he crawled into a box I had blocking a tight spot and could not climb back out. He was outside and got a piece of cactus in his foot. HOWEVER...today he got into my arbor vida...(low growing plant with thick limbs) Well, I got him out but my hands and arms look like I got into a fight with a big lion....lots of bruises and scratches from all of the branches and I think he may have bitten me (he was in a panic mode) My heart just breaks.

I don't mean to sound so down but I realize I am going to be losing my little boy...How do I cope???

My heart breaks with you.
Everyone handles this differently. We're all here so don't worry about sounding off. It's healthy, most of us have been where you are one time or another, talk to is as you need to because it is healthy to let yourself experience this and not to hold back.

One day at a time, enjoy every minute that you can, and Bondo will let you know. HUGS.

Sorry for you heartache. We all walk the same path here so please let go we all understand and we all do the same. I am praying for you and Bondo. Blessings
Patti

Hi Trese,

My Squirt has CCD, Doggy Alzheimer's. She is on a SAMe product called Novifit that has been a miracle for her. It is NOT like other SAMe products but I'm not sure all the differences. One is that it is a stable SAMe and can be given with food. Squirt was already on a liquid SAMe and it did NOT have the effect on her mind that the Novifit has had. When she has missed a dose, I can tell it by that night. I can't recommend trying Novifit strongly enough. You do not need a prescription for it, or I don't anyway.

She started a drug called Anipryl (generic is Selegiline) as well and it helps, too.

At night she gets melatonin (3mg) and powdered Passionflower herb (approximately 1/4 tsp) in her supper. These keep her from being restless at night, roaming around, pacing and allow her to rest well.

It is heartbreaking to watch but there are things we can do to help them. When Squirt first started to show signs of this I missed them, attributing them to other things. She started peeing in her sleep, became restless, would stand at the doors or walls staring, a lost look in her eyes. Then she started what I call "the terrors" that lasted for hours every night. First she would be extremely restless, wanting on the bed then off the bed to roam the back on the bed, then down, then roam, then back in the bed.....hour after hour after hour. Then she started acting as if she were absolutely terrified over things I could not see or hear but she seemed to. She would shake horribly, drool, whine, jerk her head around as if in response to something - it was pitiful. BUT within just a few days of starting the Novifit, all this stopped and thankfully has not come back.

Here is a link about the Novifit -

http://www.virbacvet.com/products/de...avioral-health

Hope this helps and I am wishing you and Bondo the very best.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

oh Trese, sending you mucho hugs and love. I know this is so hard to get through. Belly rubs for Bondo. He must be so confused and not know what is happening to him.
Did you ever start the Novifit? You mentioned you had ordered it. Leslie just gave you a list of what she is giving Squirt for the same situation, so maybe you can try that combination too.
hugs,
Sharlene and molly muffin

First of all, I want to thank all of you whom I have never even met...for all of the kind words. I dreaded the day I had to post this message. Bondo is at peace. He has hopefully crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and is running and playing.....no more staring at the walls and getting stuck in tight places.

We really had such a hard time making this decision but we tried the Novifit and there was no change at all. Each day he seemed to be a little more confused. I could not let this lively, funny dog be like that. I had to let him go and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. He was our little boy and my heart just aches.

We have other dogs we have had to put to sleep but this little guy was the hardest. I have not stopped crying. I wrote this poem about him I would like to share with all of you.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?????
Day after day...night after night
I begged You to take him
In sadness I wept and waited
While he wandered about
Staring into corners
Getting stuck in tight places
So very confused
I watched the gradual decline
Of his once strong and lean body
I saw the emptiness of his eyes
His constant discomfort
I listened to his labored breathing
I felt the weight and warmth of his body
As he lie on my chest
In the big brown reclinder
When the confusion worsened
I sensed his growing weakness
His deep depression
Through sleepless nights
The hours in the early dawn
With both of us watching over him
Wandering around the back yard
In the darkness I cried to you
Over and over I cried
Then yesterday morning, Lord
On a beautiful day
You answered my prayer
You helped us with our decision
Gently he fell deep asleep while in our arms
You blessed him by giving him a life of joy
That he brought into our lives
Thank you, Lord

Yet even while I thank you
I wish I could of kept him
Just one more day

What's wrong with me??????????????

For all of you reading this post....hug your little doggies real tight tonight....Thank you for being there for me.

Trese, there are no words for how deeply heartbroken I know you are right now.

Your poem is beautiful and very touching. I know you were so distressed to see how confused and frightened Bondo was becoming. Now he is free, running and playing, no confusion, but always a deep abiding love for his mum and dad.

Sending you love and strength,
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin