Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

True friends, do Not make fun of yor for spending time with your dog who needs you, whether they understand it or not. They support you because, even if they don't understand, they are your friend and they want what is best for you and what makes you happy. Then they make concessions and come to visit you, if you want, or give a call to check on you. That is friendship. I don't know what this other thing is they call 'friendship', but it isn't very nice.
Glad that Tipper let you soak her foot and hopefully that will help. How often are you suppose to do that?

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Hope Tippers foot gets better too, it's always something with our fur babies......and so glad we have friends on this site that understand our love for our pups, helps so much....take care

How dare these people ridicule anyone for loving a pet! They'll never know what they've missed and will end up with likeminded, shallow people. It's their loss.

It sounds like Tipper's foot might be on the mend? Could she have a cracked nail? Too small to see?

Morning

How are you and sweet Tipper today? Glad she let you get her foot done, hope that's looking better today

Big hug, kisses for your girlie

Mel
Xxxxx

Good Morning Everyone:
Tipper had a decent night. She has not licked at her foot very much. She will not let me even look at it as she growls when you get anywhere near it. I called the vet. Of course he is not in today, like what else is new? I am soaking her foot about 3 times a day now. It seems to have relieved it temporarily. Didn't have too much of the throaty issues last night, but this morning she is doing a lot of hard swallowing again. I am not not even going to consider taking her to Akron after I talked with them. They really made me uneasy and didn't sound all that great either. I have no choice if I want this done, but to go to Pgh. and get another IMS. There is now where else around here. I am going to think on it as I have over a week to deceide, so I am going to think long and hard on it. Don't work too hard Mel take some time to enjoy the beautiful weather. God Bless Us All and all the babies we love.
Patti

Just thinking out loud and Leslie is defo the one who would know this but could slippery elm be used for Tipper, just wondering if that would calm down her stomach or the acid which is making her swallow?

Free day off today as its bank holiday. May day not sure really why but i will take it.

Me and Boyce went out 3 times as the sun was shining so he is sparko now on my bed. Cheeky little man

Hope Tipper's foot continues to feel better and that the vet gets back to you tomorrow

Big hug, kisses to your girlie

Mel
Xxxxxx

Hi Patti
Hope the sore paw is feeling better for Tipper, sounds like the soaks are doing the trick! Honestly I wish all our pups would just do one thing at a time, it is just exhasuting sometimes isn't it. Hope you are keeping well yourself.
Trish :)

Hi Mel, and Trish:
Last night was not a good one for Tipper. I thought we would end up in an emergency somewhere. She was doing this rapid shallow breathing, it was scaring the crap out of me. I got little sleep, and she was up at 6:15 am. I am not sure why she is doing this. I read somewhere about that dogs blow off carbon dioxide when doing this, I cannot find where I read this. Anyway it is scary when she does it , like she is going to have a heart attack. I think this has pushed me one step further in going to an IMS in Pgh. to find out about all this, even though I am not wanting to go back to that place there is nowhere else. Mel I am already giving her Slippery Elm, it seemed to help for a while, but as soon as she eats something some of it can come right up in her mouth. I no longer let her climb the garage steps into the house, because of her back legs becoming weakened before. They could probably handle it now after all her laser treatments, but I just don't want to try. So I pick her up and put her on the landing. Last night when I picked her up she vomited a little food. I think it was my fault when I lifted her it made pressure under her ribs, and it kind of forced out some food. It is something all the time, it is like we cannot get thru a day now without any issues. As I looked at her eating her breakfast this morning I can see the toll this has taken on her. She looks so much older thatn she did a few months ago. The saving grace is that I still have her with me, so I am not complaining, it is just so hard now. It is to the point where I am afraid to take a shower, I have to keep opening the shower door, and calling to see if she is ok. I am up a lot in the night as I am scared she is going to quit breathing. During the day she seems to be a lot better, I am wondering why this is so much worse at night. Her foot seems to be better after soaking it, but I have caught her chewing it several times. I will have the Vet address it tomorrow. God Bless Us All and All Our Babies.
Patti

So sorry to read what you are going through with your Tipper. My heart goes out to both of you. I also know how stressful all this can be and the toll it can take on you. I'm not very good at taking my own advice, but try to take care of yourself so you can continue to take care of Tipper.

Dodie & Molly

I hope the foot soak continues to help our little girl. I am using it on Zoe's feet too.

Go with your gut, if you have bad vibes about the place, don't go there.

I think this whole process ages them sometimes as well as us. Find one good thing each day with Tipper, hold it close to your heart.

((((((hugs)))))))))))

Oh Patty that's rubbish I had hoped she was improving after yesterday's update

Wish I knew what else to suggest to help, can be so frustrating and upsetting to watch and not know what to do for the best.

Maybe you should try giving her a little something to eat before bed? If its excess acid that might help. At least her foot is improving so that won't be bothering her

Sending you a massive hug, kisses to Tipper

Mel
Xxx

Patti,
this rapid breathing may also have to do with the fact that cushpups have a difficult time regulating their body core temperature. Daisy did this once in the beginning before we started Trilostane and it was so frightening that I stayed awake that whole night checking on her!

Hoping that you find the right IMS for both of you and that they can help soon!

Hi Patti
Was just reading about what's been going on with Tipper past few days.The both of you are in my thoughts and prayers and good luck today at your appt.It's so frustrating and we feel so helpless when our babies are sick.Tipper is so lucky to have a mom like you.

I was sick to my stomach when I read Leslie's "friends" comments and yours regarding people not only not"getting" it but also being cruel.I've been through similar situations,people making sarcastic comments on FB,etc.I still struggle with the fact that no one in my family even called me,no acknowledgement whatsover,to offer support when learning that I lost my Fella.:mad:.
The insensitivity,selfishnishness and cruelty never ceases to amaze me but it is quite telling of who they are as a person.On the other hand,I've never met a dog lover I didn't like!:).Knowing and loving Tipper as you do,is a blessing that they will never understand.

Loved your llama story.I happened to see the horse farm on the Tufts property and took Fella over to see them.His reaction was priceless and it's those memories that keep me smiling today.:).Hope Tipper had a better night and good luck to you both today!

Fellasmom:
I am so glad you have some good memories with your baby. I cannot believe your family, they should truly be ashamed of themselves. If you don't have compassion for lesser forms of life, what kind of person are you?? We call ourselves a civilized society, yet what is so civil about how some people view animals, and think they have no worth. These kind of people are the ones missing out on a whole lot as far as I am concerned. I made up my mind when someone initiates a conversation with me, and is rude in any way about my precious Tipper, I am going to call them on it, on the spot. I am sick of rude, selfish people that want to make fun of others who dearly love their animals. It is so wrong, and so hurtful!!! I hope your heart is healing as I know how lost you must feel. God Bless You and Little Fella in Heaven
Patti

Good Afternoon Everyone:
Just got back from the Vets with my rescue cat Lucky and Tipper. What a ride. Tipper hates Lucky and wants to kill him, Lucky can't stand Tipper because of it. So, Lucky meowed as loud as he could, and Tipper growled and barked at the meows and tried to get in the back seat at Lucky's carrier to straighten him out! Oh lordy I must be insane taking these two together! Never thought I would be so glad to get to the Vets. Well Lucky needed an early detection profile and an exam. Tipper needed the ATCH and early detection profile, and exam also. The Vet looked at Tipper's foot under magnification, and said it is nothing, that it was just red from her licking it. Ok we got that out of the way!! Then we talked about Tipper's problem with her throat and nose. I asked him if the other Jack Russell he told me about had been scoped and how it went. He said yes and all in was was Rhinitis. Which is simply an inflammation of the nasal lining. I told my Vet I researched it and found Cushings causes a narrowing of the nasal passages. I told him when I told the IMS this she said that is not true!!. Well it turns out she is wrong. The inflammation of the nasal lining causes chronic rhinosinuitis. I was right after all. So we discussed the procedure Tipper would have to under go. He said I could spend close to 4000.00 only to find out it is rhinosinuitis. The other Jack Russell was put under, scoped, biopsy done and this is what they came up with. This cost them a lot of money to find this out. This dogs is something caused by environmental changes, not like with Tippers Cushings. The treatment is inhaled steriods, or chemo drugs. The I got a brainstorm. Since this conditon does cause fluid also from cell changes in the nasal membrane, could that be what is going down Tipper's throat?? I asked the Vet if it could be thick and he said it can get as thick as pus!! Bingo an enlightening moment for me!!. I said can you call Dechra and see if Tipper had an inhalent of steriods what this would do? Also is it safe to try this on her? He said we would have to get the steroid, and a special animal mask as you cannot put this straight into her nose. He is going to get it all set up and try to try this out on her tomorrow afternoon. If it works that is her problem, and could save her and me the anguish of going to Pgh and doing the whole procedure on Tuesday the 14th. I kept praying and asking God what is the right thing to do here as I don't want to endanger my dogs life at this hospital, but know she needs to get this addressed or she won't go on much longer. I know he directed me to ask my Vet all this stuff and I feel this is definitely worth trying, and could be a solution without harming my baby. The Vet agrees with me and thinks I may have finally found the true problem. He said he can't believe the IMS told me that is not true. He went online in a website only for Vets and printed it out for me, so it is definitely true, and it does cause snoring, narrowing of the nasal lining from inflammation, and mucus. I have all the info in front of me. So all of you telling me your dog is snoring, licking lips, lip smacking, hard swallowing this may be what is going on. The full name for it is lymphocytic plasmactic rhinitis. If your dog displays any of the symptoms that Tipper has please get this checked out. I cannot wait until tomorrow to try this on her. I am doing it at the Vets office in case anything goes wrong. Then I will proceed with it for a couple days and see if it helps at night. If so I will cancel the appointment in Pgh. Last night Tipper was ok, not too much of the rapid breathing. This is why the drugs for post nasal drip I am giving Tipper are not truly working. You have to get rid of the inflammation to get rid of the mucus this causes. This can go into the sinuses too. Please everyone pray to God this is what is wrong and we can get it corrected. My poor Tipper has suffered enough already with this. Keep your fingers crossed for her that we have found the problem. God Bless You All and All your babies
Patti

Mel:
Hope we found the solution. Please watch over my Tipper like you always do. Blessings
Patti

Hi Patti:)
Thinking of you and Tipper. Hope you both are having a better day. It sounds like you babies can be quite the challenge. I can just see the vet ride! You have to laugh, or cry!:D
Love and hugs you, Tipper and Lucky,

Kathy and Buddy:cool:

What a car ride that must have been. I am chuckling at how hellish it must have been for you as Boyce is not a fan of cats so am imagining her behaviour to be similar.

Hope that this is the problem.

Quite Mad at the IMS for you when she blatantly didnt check it and dismissed you outright, especially as your vet got it up in minutes!

Will be waiting for the next update, totally by your side in spirit as always

Big hug, kisses for sweet Tipper the cat tormentor

Mel
Xxxxxx

Everyone:
My Vet got the ok from Dechra to give Tipper the inhalent. Wish us luck as we are going back at 4:00 to do the first treatment. He fashioned a mask for her from a water bottle!! Will update after we are home. God please let this be the answer to my prayers!!
Blessings
patti

Oh, I so hope this is the answer! Let us know how it works for her! Fingers and paws crossed here!

That is good news.

Lets us know when you can xxxx

I am so glad you are getting to the bottom of your answers. i hope the treatment works & you & Tipper can enjoy life. ;)

This is absolutely a positive thing to try. I hope to god this solves her issues and she can get back to just being Tipper. :) I just know it is going to work. I think the other Jack Russel led the way for you and why spend the money if this is going to be the treatment that was advised anyhow. Best to try it before moving forward with the other.
That IMS has a lot to answer for. Unbelievable that this is the Expert that has been treating cushings babies from all over. I'm thoroughly disgusted on your behalf, Tippers behalf and probably many others who have gone through there and got her.
grrrrrrrrr
hugs to you!
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Everyone:
Just a quick post. Tipper got her first treatment at the Vets and we are home. When we pulled into the parking lot she looked at me like you've got to be kidding me, two times in one day! They decided to give her the one that you squirt up the nose instead of the inhalent. I have to do it before she goes to bed so this should be good!!! She sat there real nice for him and did it,but he even said when you get her home it's gonna be a different story! I am so hopeful this will work for her. He said we should see improvement in about 3 days. Thank you God that's all I can say. The only draw back is since this is a steroid I have to watch and make sure her cortisol doesn't start to rise. Please keep your fingers and paws crossed for her,and I thank all of you for your support.
Blessings
Patti

Can't say I blame her. She is smart your girl!

Might help her a bit Patti given all those storms coming and she was a bit lower last time

Got everything crossed here.

Big hug

Mel
Xxxx

Fingers and paws crossed here, praying this is the answer for your Tipper!!

Patti
Just read your posts-that is great news!!I was laughing at the car ride and can just imagine Tipper's "you gotta be kidding me,twice in one day!" look.:).Fingers and paws crossed that this works for Tipper.Great thinking on your part and can't believe you were so misinformed by the IMS!:mad:.Hope you have an easy time of it tonight.So happy for you and Tipper!

And,yes,I am thoroughly disgusted by people who belittle us for loving our animals so much!It's not that my family dislikes dogs but they have no appreciateion or understanding of the love we share or the loss we feel.Don't care,they are still on my poop list and I wish instead of a smile symbol,I could have just inserted a pile of poop symbol like they have on facebook!:eek:.

So glad you got good news-all it takes is just a glimmer of hope to make our whole world seem right again!
Patty

Hi Everyone:
I am so excited I can hardly type this post. Last night I gave Tipper her second nasal dose. She sat right there and let me do it with no fuss whatsoever! That in and of itself told me something. That she knows this is helping her and she wants it ! We went to bed afterwards and she settled in. I listened all night to her off and on to see if there was any improvement. My God I heard her take a deep breath that she has not been able to do for months and no wheezing. It was like if you had a cold and stuffed up nose, and your nose cleared. It was amazing to see her lay on her side an breathe and not struggle to do it. Also I heard her swallowing a lot, not the hard swallowing she had been doing, but swallowing of lots of fluid. I think I am right in what this is, and I pray she contiinues to improve. I am thankful for the improvement she has made so far. There must have been a lot of mucus, because she keeps swallowing constantly. This morning when I called her to come brush her teeth I thought while I have her up on the vanity I will give her the morning dose. She sat there so calm and stoic, and just let me do it. She is so intelligent I know she realizes this is helping her breathe, or she would never sit there and let me do this. Last night she slept all night and barely moved around. Is that what all the moving was about?? I am wondering, if previously she was trying to lay in a position to stop the mucus and be able to breathe better?? I kept telling everyone about how she constantly moved around the bed all night. I just pray this does not start making her cortisol rise, as one of the side effects on the medicine says it can cause Cushings Disease!! My Vet was aware of this and said Dechra said to just watch her closely. I don't think it is possible for me to watch her more closely than I do now, I never leave her and I am home 24/7. I am just so happy she was able to breathe without the struggle and wheezing going on. I hope God continues to bless her. This is truly a happy day for us both. God Bless You all and all your babies.
Patti

so wonderful to read this patti,may tipper continue with her healthy breathing !!!woohoo !!! :) patty(milo)meka xoxox

Patti,
this sure sounds like Tipper's problem!!!!!
That IMS should lose her job. I would sent a letter to the hospital along with proof of her mistake since she was so quick to dismiss you.

How awesome that the solution was so simple!!!!!!

Oh Patti! This sounds so good! :cool::cool::):cool::cool: I can so relate to the joy of seeing them sleeping with more ease! Last nite I slept, really slept, for the first time since Squirt had the seizure. Hopefully this med will have Tipper up and at 'em again very soon!

The use of steroids is of concern to a cush parent, no question about it. BUT I know of several folks whose pups are on both Lysodren and Pred per instruction from Dr. Peterson. So while it isn't optimal, it is sometimes necessary. I know you will keep your hawk eye on her. ;) With luck, she won't need this pred every day once the problem is better controlled. I am wishing you all the best with this!

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

That is awesome! good job Tipper & mom.

Oh I do hope that this is the long term answer to Tippers breathing issues. Once the inflammation goes down do you then stop the meds unless it starts to be a problem again? How long does it take the inflammation to go down, did the vet say?
Hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

So thankful that Tipper is breathing easier, and that you both are sleeping better, we love happy posts! ;)

Patti I am so happy to read your post. I hope this continues to help Tipper.

Hi Everyone:
Well last night was not as good as the night before. When I gave Tipper her nasal meds. I think not enough came out of the dispenser for the one nostril. She did nopt breathe as well last night. I will try again tonight and try to make sure she gets it all. I forgot to mention to you that for the nasal drug my Vet charged me 50.00. I went to search it online and it was 13.00 at Costco and 15.00 at Walmart. Sometimes he really takes the joy out of things for me when I know he is taking advantage of me financially, knowing how much I love this dog. It really is so nasty of him. I don't trust any Vets after this experience with Cushings. I will never whole heartedly put my trust in one again. Anyway he said she should show improvement by 3-4 days, which would be by Saturday. I have until Monday to cancel her hospital appt. I still hear something when she is swallowing, and cannot figure it out as there are so many things in the back of the throat, and inside the throat itself that could cause this nosie I hear. I may have to put her thru this procedure after all if this drug does not come thru by Sunday. I am waiting for the vets office to open so I can get Tipper's results from her blood work and ACTH and Lucky's bloodwork. It is raining here today and when Tipper got up it didn't seem to bother her, so I am wondering if her cortisol is going up?? Hope everyone has a good weekend. God Bless
Patti

Hi Patti,

You can always reschedule the procedure if you'd like to give you more time to see how this is working for her over all. I think you should only do what you feel comfortable with and what You determine is best for Tipper.

That stinker of a vet. I'd tell him 50 bucks, from now on just give me a prescription for anything I need and I'll get it somewhere else. Highway robbery it is. Hmmmpphhhhhh

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Squirt hasn't had any treatment in 3 weeks now and she slept right through a mild storm last night that 2 months ago would have had her in near panic. But I see no cush signs in her...and I am watching closely. ;)

Hi there

Did you get the blood results back?

How did you both sleep last night? Hope you are both ok??

Big hug, kisses to Miss Tipper

Mel
xxxxxx

Hi Everyone:
Well I got Tippers results back and her cortisol did climb as I thought, but is not real high-yet.
on 2/8 pre 2.0 on 4/9 pre 1.1 on 5/9 pre 2.9
on 2/8 post 3.5 on 4/9 post2.3 on 5/9 post 3.1
My two other concerns are as follows:
Alk Phosphatase 2/8 36 4/9 153 5/9 178 (this continues to climb)
Albumin 2/8- 3.3 4/9-4.1 5/9- 4.0 (on borderline not high yet)
Bun 2/8- 7 4/9- 19 5/9- 26 ( this is also climbing- borderiline not high yet)
I was awake last night and kept listening to Tipper. I am convinced that the nose and throat issues are two separate ones. I believe the nasal one to be caused by Cushings narrowing her nasal passages.
The one with the throat I believe to be her larynx after much research and many nights listening to her. In older dogs sometimes the flap is damaged or stops working. It makes all the noise I kept saying about Tipper doing. If this is true only an operation thru the side of the neck to pin one side of the flap back will help her. Since she has always had acid reflux since she was younger from a vet giving her a strong antibiotic she may not be able to have this done, as she could aspirate food or water in her lungs when it comes up there would be no flap on one side to stop it. She would have to have a trachieotomy with a stoma out her neck permanently. I am so scared of all this I am a nervous wreck. I know now from all the research, this has to be her problem. Here again I will be in a bad position as the procedure to detect this is a scope, Ct Scan, etc. and that will take all my money I have left for her. I will have nothing for an operation. If this is truly the problem, which I would bet my house on, if she does not get help, she could smother and go into cardiac arrest. She is already doing the rapid shallow breathing.This is also the hard swallowing she is doing. If she didn't have the acid reflux it would be so much easier. I am waiting for a new Dr. to contact me from that hospital. It is my only other option. So the test results seem to be the least of my problems now. Mel thanks for asking about us, we are kind of really down right now. God Bless You All and All Your Babies. Hope everyone has a Happy Mothers Day.
Patti