Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

Renee,
Thank you so much for the portion information and your valuable experience in preparing people food for our babies. It's just what I was hoping to read. So far Freckles has had problems with ground beef, even though it was 92% lean and boiled, but I am not sure if it was the beef or that she wolfed it down too fast in typical beagle fashion. I have to feed her in a special bowl with a raised bone in it that keeps her from taking big gulps of food. :)
I am happy to report that her beagle howls woke me this morning. It's been a long time since that happened, so I am hopeful her insides are calming down.
I hope everyone has a calm Sunday.
Louise

Hi Everyone:
I don't know what I would od without all of your help. I thank you all as this is a very hard journey for me. That being said I talked in depth with Glynda about Tipper's situation. She is wise beyond what you can even imagine, and a heart of gold to match. After going into details with her, I am going to let go of the pheo theory from what she said I feel comfortable that is not what Tipper has. I believe and does Glynda that this is a combination of the Vetoryl and something else like muscle wasting. Anyone on here reading this that you dog has tremors, please try something for me. If their legs is jumping please hold it firmly and see if you feel some type of energy coursing thru it. It is like holding an electrical cord and feeling the current running thru it. I will continue to try and film her doing this she still will not lay down with the lite on and I am so tired this morning from it. Also Glynda told me to examine where her breast bone is and, I have seen in the last months it going south more and more. This is fat redistribution and when she lays down may be pressing on her diaphragm causing the breathing noises. Makes perfect sense to me. Especially with her moving about the bed a lot she is trying to breathe better that is why she lays flat when she gets frustrated as this must alleviate the pressure. I need to definitely get the weight off her that she gained as this adds to the pressure. I won't be able to make the diet until Tuesday or Wednesday as no supplements came yet. Louise the sweet potato that she is allowed is for a 1 week portion of two cups mashed. Renee I will have to look at the completed list of supplements that I have not gotten yet. I have the main ones now and there will be some for Tipper's specific condition. I know the calcium ranks high on the list. Also for all of you wondering about too much protein in a cush dogs diet, I can tell you after all I have learned from Glynda and the nutritionist that is the phosphorous you need to watch out for not the protein, as it effects the kidneys. I never thought when I saw the word Cushings after researching Tipper's symptoms, that this journey would be so overwhelming. This is one of the worst if not the worst disease to manage and educate yourself on as it has no bounds. The material on it is endless, but the part that is so hurtful is there is no one even near finding all the causes and the cure. The amount of dogs with this disease is astronomical and grow every day as evidenced on this forum. God I pray for a cause and cure to be found so others that come after us don't have to travel this journey. Sometimes I feel my head will burst with all the things I try and read and remember and figure out. One thing is constant though, I will go on no matter what, to help my precious girl. This morning it is very frigid here I think in the single digits. The dogs will not be walking, but if it warms up I will take them in the yard and around the house to get their legs moving. The streets here look like glass they are so icy and more to come Monday. I am glad I do not have to go out. If it is bad Wednesday I will skip Tipper's blood pressure which I never do, but it is not worth an accident. I remember all to well last year when that man ran me off the road and kept going. I do not want that experience again. I am going to take this time to catch up on some things inside that need my attention. Hope everyone stays safe and warm with their babies. Blessings
Patti

Louise:
I am glad you had that thing about the tumor wrong as Tipper's is on the outside surrounding the adrenal gland. I am going to ask the IMS on the next US January 15th if it can be see going into her medulla or not. I think it would involve the cortex in her case but not positive. I know is Latin medulla means the center of something.Blessings
Patti

Oh, I am so glad Glynda was able to help you with settling the pheo question in your mind! She is a true treasure and has done the same for me so many times. I have been in total full-blown panic and Glynda can laugh at me for it and all is well immediately. I do tend to make mountains out of mole hills when it comes to my babies. :o:p You do remember the breast cancer / boob incident? :p:D:o:p:D:o And there have been many others over the years here. Our family is always here to help us think things through and take that next breath with a bit more ease. What would we do without them?

Speaking of ice - I left the outside faucet running so it wouldn't freeze. Maybe running a bit too strongly, tho. :D The pipes haven't frozen but the yard is a solid sheet of ice! Looks like an ice skating rink and that water is steady running, building it thicker and thicker! :p

Hi Patti,

When you observe Tipper walking, particularly when she is walking away from you, have you noticed a difference in her gait? Does her rear legs look really stiff when she walks and and does she walk with a wide based stance? Have you massaged her back legs, starting at the hip and noticed anything that feels like a dimpling or knot?

Glynda

Glynda:
She does walk kind of straight legged at times because she has luxating patella problems. She does however go to cold laser therapy once every 3 weeks, and they do her hip, back legs, back etc. I notice she does have a wider gait at times too. I have not noticed a knot anywhere near the hip. There is however a place about 2 inches long on her back where you can see it sunk from the weight of her belly pulling down and no muscle to hold it up. She does not always let you manipulate the rear legs, she gets a little nasty. Thank you so much for all your help. I am able to make better sense of things now. Blessings
Patti

In my experience, with non-cush dogs, tremors and inability to settle, circling, laying down and getting back up, are indicators of pain or muscle spasms. I have my old man pug on methocarbamol, which is a muscle relaxer, to help with this. He has a bad back and lots of arthritis. If he's in pain, he has a hard time laying down and settling. The muscle relaxer helps a lot. He also gets rimadyl daily too, but the muscle relaxer has made a big impact for him.

HIJACK:D:D

Quote:

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When you observe Tipper walking, particularly when she is walking away from you, have you noticed a difference in her gait? Does her rear legs look really stiff when she walks and and does she walk with a wide based stance? Have you massaged her back legs, starting at the hip and noticed anything that feels like a dimpling or knot?

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Zoe walks like that and her gait has changed since her surgery last February. What does it mean?

Addy:
I am wondering that too.

Me too as Woody walked like this and had a wide gait just before he collapsed the other week. Sorry patti we,re hijacking your thread :D