Buddy, The Mighty Lizard Hunter - Suspected Pituitary Macro Tumor

So sorry Buddy is having such a problem. Have been reading along and hoping that you and Buddy are asleep since I have not seen you post in awhile. You are doing so great with the medication you have to control Buddy. Sending love and healing prayers for you and Buddy. Love, JoAnne

Good morning,

What a time of it you had last night. I'm so glad that Mel and Trish were able to be here with you.

I hope Buddy and you were both able to get some much needed rest.

I'll say again, I'm so glad you touched base with your vet so him and the specialist could work out a contingency plan with you. Sounds like this is just too low a dose, or that once a day doesn't work as well as twice a day to keep the inflammation down to where it needs to be. I think you Will get back to where you were, this just didn't work, but Buddy can still have a good quality of life with the right dose, carefully managed of pred and trilostane. So try not to get too discouraged by this set back. You already know that a dosage tweak up or down can make a world of difference for him.

How are things looking this morning? Are you starting the new medicine regime today?
Hang in there Kathy. You are a great mum to Buddy.

hugs,
sharlene and molly muffin

Very tired:o Thankfully the night shift with Mel and Trish got me through the night.;)
Kathy

Well, just oh fudge, gosh Kathy, I am so sorry to read this all. Of course you cant forget the bad when it is slapping you in the face. :(:(

I hope things have slowed down a bit. Something about the tramadol. I did read it can affect their central nervous system and spine. When Zoe was on it consistently for both her surgeries, she was doing many face plants. I have been giving her a small dose for two or three or four nights in a row, then back off a night or two and she was doing better. After a while on that dosing regime, I started noticing her rear end kind of wobbling to the side and she was more unsteady. I thought she needed more Tramadol as her back legs are pretty stiff. But when Koko came home from his dental, he had had a sedative and anesthesia and I noticed his back end wobbling like Zoe's.

Got me to thinking maybe Zoe's extra wobbliness is from her Tramadol. I cut back on it for two nights, she went without and she seemed a bit less off balance. It is hard to find the right balance, help the pain but not cause the side effects.

I have no proof of it and every dog is different. Just caused me to think about the Tramadol when I saw my Koko doing the same thing after his dental.

Kathy:
You are a wonderful mommy, and have sacrificed a lot for Buddy. You have consistently done an excellent job dealing with new issues cropping up. I try not to dwell on the set backs although they can really rock you. Buddy will get straightened out with your diligence, I am sure of it. That boy still has a lot of lizards to catch, so his quality of life is going to get better after this minor set back. Blessings
Patti

Addy,
Last night was the first time I have given Buddy any Tramadol in weeks. He hasn't needed any. His legs went out before the Prednisone and Tramadol. I will remember that it has that side effect though. Thanks.;)
Kathy

Kathy:
I just tried more times than I care to count to upload Tipper's breathing video to YouTube. It kept saying all files did not upload, that the server could be down. I will give it a shot later. If not I don't know what else could be wrong. Hope Buddy is doing ok today. Blessings
Patti

Hi Patti,
You could try sending a short clip to the forum's email address and maybe one of our administrators could figure out how to post it??

k9cushings@gmail.com

Kathy

Had to pop in before I head to work to check how Buddy is Kathy. I will be going with a spring in my step knowing he has perked up. Just goes to show it takes a bit of navigating when we tweak doses for our babies, so pleased he is feeling better and hope you get a nap today to catch up on your sleep :) xx

A friend dropped by to borrow something while I was currently brewing up a fresh batch of SEB. She asked how I figured out how to do all of this stuff on my own. I told her that I wasn't doing any of it on my own, that I was surrounded by angels. I did not elaborate.;) Thank you Angels for rescuing me once again. Those special-needs angels with the crooked wings are very needy, aren't they? LOL:D
Kathy

Trish, many hugs and thank you's for babysitting me last night.:)
You're the best!
Kathy

Hey Kathy

Just checking in to say hello, how you both doing this afternoon?

Is it boiling there? I got burnt today even with factor 50!

Big hug

Mel
Xxxxx

Mel, thanks for babysitting me last night! I am so glad that you checked in so I could tell you that.:) Big hugs,
Kathy

Not baby sitting. Being a friend when you needed one and I am glad I could be there...

awww Mel and Trish, awwwww:):):):):):)

how is Buddy?

Nipping into say Night, it's late here and I unfortunately have to work tomorrow!

Hope you are both doing ok and I will be back in the morning

Big hug to you and some belly rubs for the little man

Mel
Xxxxx

Good night sweet Mel. You are the best! Hugs to you and kisses to Boycie.
Kathy

Hi Kathy
I am home from work, now everyone is sleeping just as it should be!!! I like it when my nights are quiet as that means everyone is doing good :D:D Hoping you and Buddy have a much more settled and painfree night!! I have to get a presentation finished for a talk I have to do tomorrow night, its on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia to a group of pharmacists so I better have all my drug info right!!! Typical me doing it last minute :eek: So I will be here on the computer all night no doubt! So pop in if your up!!

I see you just did your 1000th post!! That creeped up fast :D:D and such a comfort you are to all of our posters xxxxx

Kathy:
I will try to send a short clip to the administrator. It could be the SDHC card I used. When I went to do this I was out of them and the closest store was a dollar store, well I should say the only store. That is all we have in this little town. It was some off brand that I would not normally buy. Hope Buddy is doing well and having a good nite. I am wondering, if the Manuka honey could serve 2 purposes for Buddy. To settle his stomach, and to swap it out for the corn syrup? Just a thought. That way he would get both advantages from one product. Blessings
Patti

Thank you so much Trish. What a wonderful, supportive night angel you are!:) I hope your lecture goes well. It's weird because you're a day ahead of me, so it's not really my tomorrow, but it's your tomorrow. ;) It is very soothing to know you're there, when the guys in the white vans start circling again.:eek:

Patti,
I can't use any kind of honey on Buddy because he is allergic to bees. Honey should b avoided by those with bee allergies. Allergies always make Buddy's treatment more challenging. Thanks anyway.xxxxxxx
Kathy

I hope Buddy is better this morning. You'll had a rough night. Maybe today will be better for you. Love, JoAnne

Oh Kathy,
I'm just catching up on your posts...wow..what a bad night you had! How great though that Mel and Trish, from the other side of the world were there for you!! You were not alone and I'm certain that gave you some comfort while you going through such distress in the wee hours.

It's a long, long night when you know your pup is hurting. Poor Buddy....how is he doing today? I am hoping so much that he is okay today and not at all in pain and up and around in his usual fashion.
Thinking of you and Buddy too! :p
Barbara

We are hanging in there. Thanks for checking. Hugs,
Kathy

Pleased you posted as I was wondering.

Hope it has cooled down now

Big hug

Mel
Xxxxx

Mel,
You are one of my many blessings. I am very thankful for you.:) I love that you take sweet Tia's photo with you when you go on holiday. Big hugs my sweet,
Kathy

Being here even if it's not saying much makes me feel like I am honouring my little girl and what we learnt and experienced.

I need to see her face, I will take a few. I have 3 in my direct line of sight at home. Alongside Tara and Juno my girls before Tia.

I am looking forward to getting away from work, I need this break that I do know!

Big hug back to you and kisses galore for our mighty hunter

Mel
Xxxxx

Nights are not going well for Buddy. I know that he is in pain. :(
Kathy

Just nipping in to let you know I am here..

Sorry Buddy is having a rough night again, hoping that you can get the dose of pred sorted out soon to make him more comfortable.

Can he have any more tramadol tonight to take the edge off? I wonder whether his cortisol is running a bit higher at night as that can make them restless

I know it's tough, praying for you that he feels better soon

Tight hug
Mel
Xxxxx

His cortisol would be running higher because he gets the second dose of prednisone in the evening and takes his Trilostane in the morning. Point being,I cannot continue to let him be a pain every night. I gave him a quarter of a tramadol at 11:30. He can have another quarter if he needs it. I can't just keep pumping pain meds into him though. He's fine during the day. Active, involved, eating and pooping well. I am also pretty shook up about Scoop and poor Vicki.
Kathy

I wonder whether you could add a small dose of trilo at night to balance that out instead of the tramadol.. I understand completely about not wanting to give him lots of medicine Kathy

Its hard we become attached to all the puppies on here, I have cried for them both too.

No, Trilostane needs to begin given in the morning only. That is part of the Trilostane/prednisone combo treatment. The cortisol is supposed to be able to rise in the evening. That helps slow down the tumor somewhat, While still controlling the Cushing's symptoms during the day.
Kathy

I didn't know as we never persued that avenue. I am sorry I can't be of more help x

It is working during the day. He actually does quite well. It is bedtime when the problem occurs. When he starts to cry and moan, he's in pain.
Kathy

The doctor did say it would take three or four days To regulate the dose back where it was to eliminate the symptoms, Before all of this started. Then I'm supposed to put him on a maintenance dose. I haven't given it long enough to work yet, If it's going to work. It did work before.
Kathy

Helpless is the word, I know that's how it used to make me feel.

You are doing your very best Kathy

Tight hug

Mel
Xxxxxx

Ok so we are only night 2 it will work it did before

It is not good enough Mel.
Kathy

Last night he did fine. He slept from 930 to 6 this morning. No crying.
Kathy

I know there are no words. I am the same always want to do more, must be some thing that can be done so I totally get what you mean

I am sure if there was anything else you would have found it so I do believe you are doing your very best Kathy you just wished it was more and thats because of how much you love little buddy

Hi Kathy, Hi Mel!!

I am finally home from giving the speech, it went pretty good. I got a nice pressie of 3 different olive oils and 2 packs of tasty olives so that was kind of them! Let me get a cuppa and i shall be back, sorry Buddy is uncomfortable again Kathy, I would give him as much Tramadol as he is allowed to see if he settles. I know you don't like doing that, but he might need more till that Prednisone kicks back in. Back in a tic