Buddy, The Mighty Lizard Hunter - Suspected Pituitary Macro Tumor

Aw, I feel so bad for you and Buddy, how scary....what next is right with our pups, praying for your Buddy that his head tremors get better and that you are ok too....hugs and thanks for explaining...

Tears are streaming down my face as I dictate this. When Buddy ended up at the emergency hospital because he was so ill, he was having head tremors at that time. He was so ill that he could not stand up by himself and was obviously in distress. A tumor was suspected because his liver look so large on the x-rays the regular vet. I had to leave him at the emergency vet so they could do an ultrasound and see if there was a mass. I had already started the grieving process expecting to have to let him go. I was determined not to let him suffer. I cried going out to the car carrying his Sherpa bag. I was unable to drive so I sat there in the car for a long time. I finally composed myself enough to drive home. Several hours later I was called to come pick him up. There was no mass, just a very large liver extending over the organs. They had fed him a couple hours before and he ate eagerly with no more vomiting. His head tremors had stopped. He wasn't ready to move on. We followed up with his vet a 2 days later. His head tremors had not returned. We left with the neuro referral and the rest is history. After getting his Cushings tested and controlled, the head tremors rear their ugly face again! I am back to square one. I don't want him to suffer. The head tremors obviously distress him. Will they stop again and for how long?:confused: It is all very sad. :( Yes, I am enjoying every precious minute that I have with him. Yes, I'm try not to look at what is yet to come, but it's hard. Especially hard when I thought the head tremors were gone. He is a perfectly fine, happy,little lizard hunter for the most part.i don't know what to do! :confused:

Have you ruled out a macro tumor (pituitary gland)? Obviously something is going on that they haven't figured it out. I'm kind of surprised that they thought treating the cushings would cease the head tremors. This isn't really something we see unless it is a macro tumor.

Perhaps you know all of this but just to be safe as I don't have time right now to read the entire history - most cases of cushings are pituitary tumors - very small near the brain. In about 1% of those cases the micro tumor becomes a macro tumor - it grows.

Have they done a cat scan of the brain? I know the last thing you need is more expense but I would think the neurologists would be focused on the head/brain vs the liver. But I'm not a neurologist.

You must be exhausted. I totally understand what is like to not have answers. Hang in there. Sending love, Kim

Oh Kathy,


Hugs and love,

the head tremors, they did not think it was some kind of seizure?
I have to wonder too about doing a cat scan as Kim suggested. I know money can be an issue, gosh, I cant believe what we have spent on Zoe in three years but if you could swing it----

Also, was Buddy tested for any tick borne diseases?


(((((((((((luv)))))))))))))))))))

I emailed the neuro-surgeon who did Buddy's consult to ask about a possible macro-tumor causing his head tremors. I copied part of it to share with you.......

Last Friday (May 3,) Buddy's head tremors returned. He had a couple of them on Friday, again yesterday, and one already this morning. His head vibrates/shakes when they occur. It feels like touching a vibrator. The rest of his body is still. He panics, whimpers and stays close until it subsides. A micro-tumor on his Pituitary gland caused his Cushings. Could it be growing into a macro-tumor causing the tremors? Would you recommend a cat scan of his brain to check for a Macro-tumor or do you think the tremors are caused by something else? Finances are an issue, so I would need to know how much a CAT scan would cost, Or whether it's worth even scanning for it under the circumstances.

Buddy is due for another ACTH test soon. That is another $300. His Cushings symptoms have all abated except for Rear leg weakness, which is better. He has been fine until the tremors started. I'm thinking that I need to focus on figuring out the tremors first and worry about the ACTH later.

Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

Kathy:
So sorry to hear about Buddy's problem with the head shaking. That is not anything I have ever heard about on here before. I pray it is not a macro tumor. I do know that Tipper's CT scan is going to be 950.00 if that helps you. The worst part of getting a scan to see if it is a macro tumor is there is virtually nothing you can do, except radiation and brain surgery. They are both very costly. That is why I never had Tipper's CT for the tumor on her Pituitary. In a way I really don't want to know because if I found out she had little time to live, I don't know how I would make it thru the day, it would just killl me. I swear I would just have a massive meltdown. I am praying for Buddy. Blessings
Patti

Good girl for sending the email. Re prices - they are all over the map but often teaching schools are less. I don't have the options you do - I had to drive 5 hrs each way to the nearest specialist which happened to be K State Univ Vet Hospital for my Annie. She was there 2 days and they did all sorts of blood work, ultrasounds, MRI, cat scan and her total bill was like $1400. They did the cat scan to rule out a macro and pituitary cushings (she ended up not having cushings at all).

I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there. Kim

Hi Kathy,
sorry to hear the head tremors are back. I am googling like crazy. :) So, anything seem to trigger the tremors? Such as an activity, running around, etc. Have they checked eyes and ears? Is the tremor movement, left to right, up and down? Does Buddy seem in any pain during this? Is Buddy alert during the tremor? Are you able to refocus him during a tremor, sometimes with a treat in front of them? Something maybe like peanut butter, honey or something sweet vs a regular treat. I'm throwing ideas and questions up as I am reading, so sorry if they are disjointed.

Quote:

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Tremors are fairly easy to differentiate from seizures because of their regularity. They can happen during rest or activity, but tend to worsen with excitement and lessen with rest. Owners often describe tremors as “shaking” or “shuddering”.

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hugs,
Sharlene

Kathy,

Daisy's head became wobbly one night when we first started the Trilostane. We lowered the dose, tested (ACTH) 3 weeks later and increased the dose to the original amount. She hasn't had them since.

Hope Buddy feels better soon!

Yes, Buddy is very aware of the tremors. He whimpers and stays close to me until they pass. His tremors are not caused by a high Trilo dose. He had them when he was so ill, before Cushings was discovered. They involve the whole head, no just one side. The movement is a vibration like a pager in a restaurant. Yes, they checked eyes and ears at all three hospitals, when they first started. They were clear. I don't know of any triggers. Friday was a normal work day. I was working out in the pool with a friend when one hit around 6:00 PM. He came over to the side of the pool and stood there looking helpless. I could see that he was having a tremor.He could have had others earlier in the day. I wasn't home. He had already had dinner, so he wasn't hungry. He had another one about an hour later. Yesterday, he had a couple during the day. He was groomed, but slept through most of it. He had another one this morning shortly after getting up. They don't follow a pattern. Their duration is varied. They can range from a few to several minutes. I don't know if Buddy is in any pain, but he's definitely aware and frightened. He is not distractible with any treats during a tremor. He looks at me with those big brown eyes begging for me to make it stop. He does best lying in his nest bed with me gently petting and talking to him softly until they pass. He appears stoic for quite a while after and doesn't leave his bed. That's about it. Thanks for helping me check it out.
Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool: