Skippy has passed; 12 y/o Yorkie with likely pituitary tumor (Trilostane)

Skippy ate yesterday with great encouragement and this morning with less; I am continuing to give him the Clavamox and last night I gave him half a Tramadol. He is very lethargic and quiet but he will walk out to pee - no tremoring or panting. Judy, I hear you on the Clavamox and Carprofen. I am really reluctant to give him the Rimadyl and when the vet tried to give me more, I declined. I actually think I threw the last bottle away. Also, I am not so sure about the disc problem being the source of his pain although it was noted on the MRI and they could have pulled something during x ray. I could continue him on the baby aspirin and see if that helps at all. He is such sick boy; I no longer know whether or what to treat. Thanks Liltara for sharing your experience. The vet said that the pneumonia should clear with one round of the Clavamox. We'll see.

Your GP vet does not think that Skippy's pain/tremoring is due to his macro. All of the symptoms that you described previously, are Symptoms of an enlarging macro tumor. Yes, a disk problems can cause similar symptoms, but I would be reluctant to rule out the macro as the source of Skippy's pain. I am glad that the Tramadol seems to be helping.

Kathy

Kathy, I too think his macro could be the source of his pain. The only thing that is suspicious is that the pain began immediately after his trip to Purdue and starting the Clavamox, within ten hours. It would be a remarkable coincidence of timing. Vet was able to elicit a reaction in disc upon physical exam but it was not pronounced. So, we have the Macro, the Clavamox, the potential disc, the pneumonia and Cushing's. If it is the Macro causing the pain, do you know or have an opinion about whether he is still a candidate for radiation? I do know the larger the tumor and the more symptoms it is less likely that radiation will lead to an improved quality of life. And, Purdue may decline radiation and I will have my answer. Thank you for your thoughts.

Carole

Hi Carole,

I am sorry. I cannot answer your radiation question because I am not a vet. I do know that the neurosurgeon that was overseeing buddy's case advised me against radiation. His symptoms were advanced and she didn't feel he was strong enough and that it wouldn't buy him much time. That's really something you need to ask Skippy's vet because each of our fur babies are different.

Thank you Kathy and I will ask radiologists and IMS when I take him in for x rays next week. He is weak after the Wednesday/Thursday episode, but is beginning to return to the old/new normal. I just don't know what to think. Macro, pneumonia, disc, Clavamox, Cushing's or all of the above. He reluctantly walked for a few blocks tonight and is back to ravenous in general. I am not giving him Tramadol or Rimadyl for the time being as he does not appear to be in pain currently.

I remember Buttercup has horrible headaches from her macro tumor and they did the 3 treatment radiation at Davis. (I just reviewed her thread earlier and came across that) It didn't prevent the radiation from being done.

Poor Skippy hopefully he can get over these other issues so the main macro issue an be treated and he will feel better

Thanks Sharlene for reminding me about Buttercup. I too read his thread recently. Skippy goes back for another round of x rays on the 15th. Last night he was panting and restless and while it is hot here, he is in air conditioning. I gave him a Tramadol and he was able to settle. I have an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Scott-Moncrieff, his IMS. I doubt that she can offer any meaningful assessment until after they clear up the pneumonia and he has the CT scan. However, I do want to discuss the incident last week and the question of whether he is currently in pain with the panting and pacing. Thanks for offering a little hope.

Carole -

My dog Cassidy (Mojo's sister) has back disc issues and when she slips one her pain manifests as panting, shaking and inability to lay down and settle. The disc slipping for a dog is very painful and it is always frightening to see her like that.

Her eyes also tell me the story of her pain - glassy.

I hope this helps in some way as you try to assess if Skippy is in terrible pain - each dog is different, and it is so hard with a macro to deal with too, so follow your instincts. You know Skippy better than any vet or person here on this forum.

It would be so much easier if they could just talk to us, eh?

Wishing you and Skippy good luck today and positive outcomes.

Hi Liltara, such a thoughtful and sensitive comment, thank you. Skippy's IMS thinks the pain last week was due to radiology staffr twisting his body during radiographs. (This was also the opinion of the local vet.) Whether they are right or wrong, time will tell. The IMS doesn't feel that Skippy's condition has changed much although the crisis of yesterday was a student finding another nodule in his back leg. They have aspirated Skippy's nodules for Lymphoma several times previously and the findings were negative. However, it continues to be a question and that would mean "game over". While aspiration yesterday was not conclusive, it was not positive. Just too much blood in the draw and not enough fluid to accurately evaluate. Skippy goes again tomorrow for radiographs of lungs to see if we have cured bronchial pneumonia and another aspiration of the nodule. I did state that we must resolve the Lymphoma question before we proceed with CT and they agreed. Skippy and I are both worn down from this journey, the heat, the escalating expense and the uncertainty of it all. But we will both soldier forward. In for a dime, in for a dollar. He is weak and very Cushing's but quite the trooper.

I really don't know what to say, other than repeating myself by saying that I'm thinking & worrying about you & Skippy. You're doing everything you possibly can to help him and he loves you for it!