Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

L-glutamine is one supplement that I have read that may help with muscle wasting, google it and see what you think. ;)

Hi Everyone:
One of my vets had told me about the L Glutamine for muscle wasting. I did not give it to Tipper for one reason. It said if your dog has ever had seizures do not give it to them. I still am not sure what Tipper did those few times she went in circles and fell down so that is my reluctance. I think I will ask the IMS and see what she thinks. If Tipper loses her ability to walk she is done for. That is her favorite thing in life and it will kill her if she can't walk. She slept fairly well last night. It seems she is not having as much of the labored breathing as before. I am taking the SDCH to Walmart this wek and getting the disc for the Dr. I hope she is able to figure this out from the small amount of video I could take. Just a quiet day here today, we had frost again last night. I t will be in the 60's today so I need to get Tipper out a lot before the afternoon sun. Blessings
Patti

I am thrilled to hear that Tipper had a better night! Breathing better is always a great thing! :)I guess that L glutamine isn't for Buddy either, because of head tremors.:(. I am glad that you got the video done and will be making a copy of it soon. Enjoy you chance to get out and walk today and have a wonderful holiday weekend.:)

Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

Sending hugs and prayers for you and Tipper, glad he still loves the walks, hope the video gives the vet some answers you need too, take care.....

Hi Everyone:
Well I had a disappointing day at Walmart yesterday.I took the SDHC card and the girl told me that they do not have the capabilities to use all SDHC cards! I told her it is 25 miles one way from my house and that I called and they told me they can do this. She said they gave you the wrong information. I was livid to say the least. There is a computer store near where Tipper goes to the vet Wednesday. I will take it there, they are my last hope. If nothing else I wwill have to amil the SDHC card to the Vet and see if she can find something to put it in and watch it. My old computer had a place on the tower to put many different size cards in it. This new one does not have that. Oh well back tothe drawing board. Tipper was in the closet last night as it rained almost all night. She is up and about and we did get one walk in this morning in between rain. It's funny last nite she she went in the closet. Today it is actually raining harder and she is walking around the house with me!. I think it all depends on her cortisol level on the day or time it happens, as to how badly she reacts. Last night it was barely sprinkling and she would not stay in the yard and go potty. Today she will go out to potty when it is pouring down rain, go figure! She has to go for her weekly blood pressure on Wednesday, I noticed a lump on her leg I need to have the vet look at it. She has had a number of fatty cysts taken off thru the years, so I am hoping that is what it is, and we will just leave it alone unless he can so a local on it. Hope everyone is doing well after the long weekend. I watched a documentary on CNN yesterday on the man that was awarded the Medal Of Honor in Afghanistan. His bravery, and valor was amazing, as he saved many soldiers lives. It was really scary to watch, but shows us all that we need to appreciate the freedoms in our country, as it doesn't come without huge sacrafice. God Bless All our Service People, and God Bless Us and Our Babies.
Patti

I am so sorry about your picture card. That is so frustrating! :( I hope the other place can get that copied for you. I videoed Buddy's tremors. I am going to play them directly from my IPod at the vet today. Can you play your picture card on your camera for the docs to view. I would think that would be the easiest way. Just a thought.;)

Always the best,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

Just nipping into say hi, how are my girls?

Typical they dragged you there only not to be able, no one seems to care about service anymore!

Hope you figure it out soon

Big hug, kisses to Tipper

Mel
Xxxxx

Mel and Kathy:
Mel we missed you terribly, but hope you ahd a wonderful time? Where did you go to? The beach part sounded so soothing. I hope you are all refreshed!! Kathy I can't play the video from an Ipad or my camera for the Dr. as I would have to drive to Pgh to do it. I need to get a disc made so I can either mail or email it to her. I am going out this week to get the right DVD to burn it on as I found my CD and USB for my camera today yeah!!! SO I can burn one this week hopefully if all goes well. I viewed the footage on my computer and it all came out well- you can hear all the noises she makes trying to breathe, and you can see how labored her breathing is. I just need to get it to the Dr. and am hopeful after seeing this she will realize what I have been trying to describe to her to no avail. I am praying for Buddy to have a good and productive visit at the vets. God Bless
Patti

I am so sorry that it all has to be so hard!!:(

Hugs,
Kathy

We went to a beach up north near Skegness, it was a nice break for all of us. Boyce loves being on holiday so I think it was good for him too

Did you manage to get the video on the computer now you found the software? How is Tipper today? And how are you, have all your symptoms calmed down now?

Big hug and kisses for Miss Tipper

Mel
Xxxx

Patti, do you have air conditioning? We have been putting the air conditioing on in the house even though it is not that hot out and I have noticed Zoe is not making those arf gag kind of sounds, it is hard to explain, makes me think of Tipper though and Zoe seems to be breathing much better with the air conditioning on.

I wanted to stop by to mention it to you.:)

Mel, Kathy and Addy:
Tipper had been breathing ok for the last few nights until last night. She started with the chest heaving and wheezing again. I am going to get the DVD disc tomorrow as I need to have someone with Tipper while I run to the store, and can't get anyone until tomorrow. I hope it all burns to the disc ok. If not I am sending the Dr. the SDHC card and she can figure it out! I do have air conditioning and I do have it on for Tipper. It seems this year she needs it on more than last and the temperature needs to be cooler also. I know with her heart and this Cushings that is what is doing it. She has already walked this morning, as it is really humid and will be 90. She won't be having any more walks today. I would take her at night, but she is tired and takes a nap early in the evening. I am not sure if she would get up and go or not, I may try it if it is cooler. I wet her head down, and put that cool pack in her vest before we go. It does seem to help, although nothing helps when it is humid as that is when I really have to watch her and I as we both have breathing difficulty. When I went to the vets yesterday I was told there was a tornado a few miles from me. We did have tornado warnings on the t.v. Tuesday night. There were actually 2 close to us. We were sleeping early for once and never heard any warning as the t.v. was off! I thank God I have air conditioning as Tipper would not be able to stand it if I didn't. I am still house cleaning and have 3 more rooms to go. So I am going to do one of them today. Tipper stays in the room with me when I am working and I take breaks and play with her. This dog makes my very existence possible, I don't know where I would be without her. God Bless Us All and all our babies.
Patti

Patti,

When our Lulu was hot, we kept air-conditioning on, and at night, if we could turn off (SE Michigan) and keep windows open, Lulu had her fan, that we would keep in the window or on the floor aimed at her. That helped a lot. We also have a ceiling fan we keep on all year around.

I really miss having her retrieve her doughnut from the pond. She would shake herself off and then roll on her back and you just knew that she felt 10 to 15 degrees cooler. Good luck.

I am so sorry that you and Tipper are struggling so much still. Have you tried spraying her tummy and bottom of paws when she feels hot. That helps cool Buddy when the temp starts to rise. Running the AC helps also, but you already do that! It helps Buddy breathe better because it shuts out so many environmental allergies.

Sending many hugs,
Kathy

Hi Everyone:
I just burned a DVD for Tipper's Dr. and put it in the mail. It isn't a great video, but under the circumstances under which I had to film it -it came out good enough to see the breathing problem. Also got some of the muscle contractions for her to see. I will anxiously await hearing from her on what to do. I also asked her about the L Glutamine for muscle wasting and if it was safe on Cush dogs because they are prone to seizures, and it says if you dog has them do not use it. I am concerned that Tipper's cortisol has been under control for some time now, but she continues to lose muscle mass. I hope she is able to figure out what is causing this breathing problem. It's a real hot one here today and the humidity is awful so Tipper only walked once this morning while it was cool. We are inside for the duration with the air cranked up. Hope everyone has a blessed day.
Patti

hugs to you and Tipper, Patti.

Morning

We are online together!

How are my girls?? Everything ok?

Mel
Xxxx

Hi Mel:
You all rested up from vacation? I am eagerly awaiting hearing from Tipper's Dr. after she gets the DVD and sees how she struggles to breathe at night. I pray she can come up with a solution. Had 2 tornadoes within 6 miles of my house a few days ago and it looks like another storm is brewing. Tipper has been in and out of the closet so she knows it is coming. Blessings
Patti

Came back to lots of work but am glad we took the break. Boyce loves his holidays so I think it did him good too

At least the vet can see what you are talking about now, that's the good thing about technology. It's very hard to describe things to them and sometimes I swear they think we are making it up so I do hope it clicks and she gets it. Must be hard each night wondering how sweet Tipper is going to be

Those storms freak me out from here, can't imagine one so close. They are just so powerful. I hope you get no more it's so devastating for everyone involved

Hoping you both get a restful night tonight.

Big hug, kisses to Tipper the Ripper

Mel
Xxxxxx

Sending hugs and prayer to you and Tipper, hope the dvd gets the vet to find some answers for you!

Enough tornadoes already!!! I don't blame Tipper. I'd probably hide in the closet too! :eek: I hope the docs get the video soon and they are able to figure a plan of action that will help you both. The waiting and uncertainty is so hard! Tell Tipper that I'll just have to send Buddy over there to kick those storms butts! He is fearless, you know!:D

Hugs,
Kathy

Hi Everyone:
We had a wild nite here last nite. What a storm, I thought Tipper was going to have a heart attack. The 50-60 mile an hour wind, and the unrelenting pounding rain went almost all nite long. Tipper stayed in the closet and panted so bad that I knew she was getting dehydrated. She won't drink anything during one of these episodes, as I have tried to coax her. By this morning she was spent. She is up and about and there is a huge dark sky looming for another storm. I don't think she can handle 2 back to back. I think her cortisol must be pretty low, and she has no cushion. She already got her walk in just in case it starts up again outside. I had to change the temperature on my air conditioning. I had it on 76 and that is just not cool enough for her. When I take her out to potty, just from a few minutes outside in the heat and humidity, she is panting like crazy until we get back inside. It may have to do with the heart murmur also. Hope you all have a good Sunday. Blessings
Patti

Molly gets pretty freaky when we have storms too and no matter what the air conditioner is set out, she'll pant and tremble. I'm lucky that if it's an office day for me, that I can just send an email and work from home. That helps as I don't like to leave her when she is like that.
She pants when it's warm outside, even if we don't go very far on her walk.
The reason I mention it is because we know Molly's cortisol and reserve is very high and she is still doing those things.
Did Tipper go back on vetoryl and is the dose the same or did you lower it?
Hope the Doc can figure out here breathing issues. You never did start Tipper on the medicine the IMS had recommended for the acid reflux did you? I was thinking I remember you had some concerns with that. Is there another drug that would be an option and do the same thing?

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Sharlene:
Tipper is back on the same dosage of Vetoryl she was on. I only kept her off for 4 days. I am assuming that her cortisol level is way down there as she just had an ACTH on May 9th- 2.9 pre and 3.1 post. So it may have gone down some more. When she starts shaking during a storm and can't stop I figure from the last experience she is low and has no reserve cushion to handle a storm. She is on the antacid it has been helping her. I pray to God this is nothing major affecting her breathing. I hope she does not have to go on Bronchodilators as they can be really bad. It is a shame these babies already have enough to put up with without the added stress of storms. God Bless
Patti

Okay,
Buddy is on his way over to shelter Tipper from those nasty storms.:D I told him about Tipper's fear. His response for "Hey if there's snacks, I'm in! :D We don't have storms to speak of here. We all wander around confused if it rains a little bit, wondering what the heck that stuff is?:confused: Don't get me started on the white stuff that they show on the weather Channel. Some people call it snow! We can see it from our local mountains, but I think it's a mirage.:D;) I sure hope those doc get busy and figure out what that breathing stuff is all about! Take care of you too!:)

Praying for you an Tipper,
Kathy

I can't imagine what they would be like scary for human let alone doggies

Hoping they don't turn up at all, I saw on the news about the one that hit yesterday it's so devastating for everyone.

I was religious about giving T her tablets but maybe because of the storms if you know they are coming could you skip a dose? Thinking out loud so ask the vet but I remember you saying she was a bit better with the storm once when she was off them

Did you ask about the melatonin? It's good you have a/c you can put on for her.

we brought a unit for Tia too and she was so grateful. I called it the cooli and would say to her shall I put it on and she would look at me and the get on her bed and go straight to sleep when it was on. I think the fan noise must be more annoying to them than the hum. House used to feel like a freezer and would have to cover Boyce sometimes as he hates to be cold but you do what you have to dont you

Sending you a hug and some kisses to Tipper

Mel
Xxxxxxx

Hi Mel and Kathy:
Tipper had an ok nite- no storms to report, but it is real overcast here today. Last night Tipper really had the bad breathing episodes. Sometimes what I noticed starts this is she takes a real deep breath, then she doesn't breathe for what seems eternity, then she starts with the chest heaving and wheezing. Sort of like sleep apnea in people. This does not happen every time she sleeps. This is so hard to pinpoint what is causing this it is driving me crazy. Things would be great if she never had to sleep, as during the day when she is up this does not happen. That is why I go back to that flap on the trachea. I still feel when she lays on her side it somehow doesn't function right and stay partially closed blocking her airway. I hope the Dr. got the DVD by today and calls me soon. I am worried about the stress on her heart, and how much longer she can endure this. We walked already today. We are not walking the distance we did, as she used to walk miles. Since the weather turned hot and humid, we are limited to the morning and we cannot walk that far during that time. I need to really keep it up as that is the only thing I feel that has saved her rear legs from getting weak. Yesterday she was licking her front legs, which she doesn't normally do excessively. I noticed her actually pulling the hairs out. I don't know what that is all about, but it has to hurt. Mel I am going to ask the Dr. about the melatonin when she calls, as Tipper has never shaken like this ever. Kathy Tipper said to tell Buddy to hurry and get here as she feels a storm coming on. Blessings
Patti

Aw Tipper, I hope the vet gets back to you soon, how scary for you...sending hugs and prayers...

Patti,
Does Tipper have allergies? Quite often they will chew on their feet if you are itchy due to allergies. Just a thought:confused: Poor Tipper and mom, those breathing issues can sure wear out both of you, and fast! Those docs better get busy watching that video! Maybe we should send them some popcorn to entice them to watch.;) They can have a movie afternoon!;) Feel better Tipper!:)

Hugs,
Kathy

just checking in on you and tipper and I am saddened to see that she is having difficulty with breathing.i am hoping that you hear from the vet today,sending you both xoxox...patty(milo)meka xoxox

Letti,Kathy,Patty:
Last nite Tipper had another bad breathing nite. I am hopeful that today the Dr. will contact me and have a game plan. I don't know how Tipper has any energy during the day, as the labored breathing has to wear her out. I can usually get things under control if it has something to do with test results, but her struggles to breathe, that is a different story. I am afraid this could be something I cannot control. I am going to call the Dr.'s office and offer them popcorn as Kathy suggested if they haven't watched the DVD! It is enough already and we need to move on this. During the day it is a different story with Tipper. She is ok, unless she lays down. Can't the educated talking heads here figure that out? If I was schooled in Anatomy and Physiology of dogs I would be saying to myself, what mechanism in the respiratory system could be affected by laying down, duh??? There can't be that many variables. I will never forgive myself if something happens to my girl because of this. I have to get this solved, and treated somehow. We had frost on the ground this morning if you can believe it!!. Hope it did not kill all my plants. Oh well, time for Tipper's second walk! God Bless
Patti

Hi Patti
I'm so sorry Tipper had a bad night-it must be totally exhausting and so scary for the both of you!I really do hope you hear from the vet today.You WOULD think they would be banging their heads together trying to fig this one out.You're doing the best that you can for Tipper and she knows that.Hope you are both having a better day and you get some news soon.Hugs to you and Tipper
Patty

Hi Everyone:
I just called the Dr. and asked if she got the DVD. They told me she did but was unable to open it at the hospital so she would take it home and get back to me the early part of next week. I am not real happy with that time delay, but what can you do. These Dr.'s do what they want to, when they want to! Well at least she got it, that is half the battle. Now if she is just able to open it up. Blessings
Patti

NEXT WEEK!! It takes a week to carry a DVD home and watch it for a few minutes!!!!! What a croc!:eek: :( I am less than patient with incompetence these days! You did so much work to make that happen and they can't take a few minutes to view it! I do not believe that a DVD will not open on a hospital computer. Having vented, they did at least get it, and you know they have it. I am so sorry Patti. I know how worried you are.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Depending upon the program used to create the DVD, it's possible. I don't understand why it will take her days to get back to you though.

Valerie and Everyone:
I guess the Dr. is going to take her good old time. They are so important that that want to be able to tell you when they have time to talk to you, they don't want you telling them to hurry. I am soooo sick of all this. I am just a person trying my best to help my dog, why can't they cooperate? I have bent over backwards, and I am tired of waiting.
Had to go to Pgh. to my Dr. today so I have to get caught up on things. Will post tomorrow. Blessings
Patti

Nipping in to give you a big hug. Hope your appointment went ok today

I know it's hard, hang in there

Kisses to Tipper

Mel
Xxxxx

Oh Patti,
I think those docs need a swift kick in the pants! Either that, or they just don't realize how worried you are about Tipper. They probably do care. Maybe they're overwhelmed. Still not an excuse. Tipper should be first priority, every one knows that!:D

Hugs,
Kathy

I wish I had some advice or something for you, it has to be so stressful and heart-wrenching. But I just wanted to send you {{hugs}} and good vibes.

Mel,Kathy, Renee:
I had to go to Pgh. yesterday for my Lupus to see my Dr. Had someone sit with Tipper. I make them call me every half hour and tell me what she is doing, and only go on the day my vet is in. That way in an emergency, Tipper can be taken right to the Vet by the sitter. It may sound like over kill, but I have gotten her this far with no incidents, and I plan on keeping it that way. So when the sitter watches her she knows what I expect from her. I tell her to just literally watch Tipper and do nothing else. It is raining here so not Tipper's favorite day, as she got no walk. We went to the vet for blood pressure today, she was 120 which was great, but gained like 5 ounces. We have to get a handle on that immediately because of the trachea issue. I was hoping that maybe the Dr. would see how badly Tipper struggles to breathe and call me this week instead of next, but I guess that isn't happening. I guess this will be an all day rain from the looks of it, so I need to get caught up on household chores, since I was out yesterday. Thanks everyone for checking on Tipper the Ripper. Blessings
Patti