Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

Please let us know when the vet talks to you and what they have to say. We are with you both, honey.

I'm here too, Patti, please let us know what happens at the vets.

Right here too Patti.
Hope Tipper is going to be okay. Maybe a BP med to bring it down into normal range? Is the vet calling you back?

Hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Everyone:
Thank you for helping me thru the tuff times. The vet said the girls told him I looked very shaken up so he vet called me finally. I told him 2 dogs in our group had passed within hours of one another, and it has me really down. He looked over Tipper's BP's for the last 7 months, done every week for that time period. He said she has had 3 very high ones. He does not want to put her on BP meds unless absolutely necessary. They can do things to their organs that are not good. He said to calm her down with the spray I got, and stay with her and let her lie down as much as possible. He said her weight could be a fluke. He said to wait until next week to do it again, if it is high again then we will take action. I do understand the reasoning, but it is heck on the old nerves. I don't want her having a stroke. I am so shaken from Buddy passing that anything can and will get me crying. I am being calm for her. She walked this morning and it was humid, I am wondering if that did it. We had the cool pack on, and walked slow, but you never know. With her breathing problems it could have stressed her body. Also he said he did view the DVD and his opinion is the same as the IMS. He said in older dogs the elasticity is not good in their lungs like when they were young. It takes a lot more effort to push the air in and out. During rem sleep she is doing this heavy breathing which is sometimes done by older dogs. That is why I see it a lot when she first lays down.The wheezing is the part that could be tracheal. He said get some more weight off her if possible. He said he is not worried about this deviation in her breathing. He said the Adequan shots have not been successful in dogs with tracheal disease, as it is a different kind of cartilage than what this drug binds to in the body, like joint cartilage, and is therefore not helpful for that. He has had great results for back and other problems. I am also worried because Tipper is allergic to everything, and that scares me. Has anyone on here had any luck with these shots and trachea problems that would conflict with what the vet has said? If so let me know asap and I will push him on this. If I can get this wheezing cleared up maybe she can breathe better. I will be on a quest for that, as Marcella has given me some good ideas of herbal treatments. Blessings
Patti

Hello you

Just checking in to see how you both are now?

Hoping she has settled down and your nerves have too, it's even more heightened after such a sad day yesterday.

Sending you a hug and Tipper the Ripper massive kisses of the slobbery kind as they are the best!

Mel
Xxx

Hi Patti,
Tipper has you and no one knows her better than that. You have given her the best life possible and she adores you for it. Buddy had tons of allergies too, but sorry I can't help you with the tracheal shot thing. I know that losing Buddy is playing heavily on your heart as it is for all of us. All we can do is try to plow on and do what we need to do to help the pups that are left. Buddy would want me to help the others and all of you. Big hugs,

Patti,
how frightening for you both!

I'm glad that the vet finally called and watched the DVD.
Praying that Tipper has some stress free nights. All of the scary storms are not helping.

Hi Everyone:
Still shell shocked from this week. I got up not feeling well so I guess the Lupus is kicking in. Oh well I don't care as long as my girl got up and is ok. She had times last night of wheezing and struggling for air, but for the most part did ok. It is raining here again. Supposed to continue thru the weekend. I think it is over 2 weeks straight of rain, going on three. It did stop this morning so Tipper could get at least one walk in. I have to keep her exercise up, her rear legs muscles have really wasted away. This is the only way I know to keep her going. I am increasing the amount of lentils I give her in place of some of her dog food in an effort to get some weight off of her. It just stopped raining so we will walk again. Blessings
Patti

Hi Patti,

The vet treating Josie told us he had had a great deal of success using the Adequan for collapsing trachea in small breed dogs. Maybe your vet would call him and talk about this for Tipper?

Dr. Earl F. Smith, D.V.M
Shackleford Road Veterinary Clinic
304 N Shackleford Rd
Little Rock, AR 72211

(501) 224-6998 (Edited to correct phone number)

Keep your chin up and don't neglect caring for yourself along the way, honey.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Leslie:
I swear you are the angel on my shoulder looking out for us. I have just made a letter with all the info telling my vet I want him to contact this Dr. to find out the particulars. I will leave it for him on Wednesday when I go for Tipper's blood pressure. If by some chance you go to this Dr. in the next week or so, please let him know I have given this to my vet and he will call him. I want to know in my heart I have left no stone unturned when it comes to my girl, as I know for sure you do with yours. If there is the slightest chance it could help her, and there is minimal risk I want to do it. Have a happy fourth with all the babies. Hugs and kisses form Tipper the Ripper for all you do for her to help. Blessings
Patti

Ok....something about that phone # didn't look right so I tried it - it's not right! :o I copied that from a web site - DUH!

The correct number is - (501) 224-6998

And I will edit the OP.

So hard to get Tipper out to walk when it's storming or so blasted muggy. Hard to be expected to get the weight off her without exercise? Poor Tipper can't eat lentils all the time! At least you vet is on top of the blood pressure thing. Big hugs to you both,

I'm sorry that you are feeling unwell today. You have to take care of yourself so you can be strong for Tipper. I know how hard that can be when every single minute is zapped away by our baby's care. Big healing hugs to you.

Patti,
I just wanted to pop in and let you know that I am thinking about you and Tipper. I don't always get posts entered to you, but I follow along on your thread all the time to keep up to date on Tipper. I think I read where fireworks don't bother her (hope I don't have that mixed up), so I am hoping you have a nice 4th. And hopefully you will get to feeling better yourself.

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper

Hi Everyone:
I just found out why Tipper is holding water and not losing weight. The store where I get her chicken breast told me all the chicken sold now is pumped full of sodium and water, even fresh and organic chicken. Tipper eats a small amount mixed with 2 of her meals. I was sick when I heard this as she is to be restricted on sodium because of her heart also. I found a place that sell Gerber's Amish Chicken with nothing at all added to it. I need to find a retailer where I can go get some. I am now cooking her Walleye from the lake where we live caught by a friend and frozen by me, so I know it has no salt. Hormel sells a canned chicken with no salt added. I will see if I can get a few cans to hold her over until I am able to get the others. My God are all of the forces on the earth working against you when your dog has Cushings? I can't get a break from worry here. At least I solved that mystery, and it can be corrected now. I am mentally exhausted from all this all the time, it is 24/7, but I need to keep up for my girl. God Bless Us All on this 4th of July, and all our service men and women.
Patti

Oh Patti, so sorry Tipper is having problems with food, your very right when you say that everything seems to go wrong when your dog has cushings....I wish I never heard of that word for all of us and our precious pups here and in Heaven....hang in there, sending hugs and prayers.....

You don't really want a break from the worry Patti, you are just feeling overwhelmed and stressed. We worry about them until we lose them. Then a much worse stress sets in. Yes, it's dang hard caring for the needs of a Cush pup, but it's so much harder when you are no longer able to, and still want that.xxxxxx

Patti, be careful about "white coat hypertension" Scarlett's regular vet was out of town and I let her be over-treated with Hydralazine (a drug I would suggest avoiding) supposedly to avoid a stroke. Her kidneys decompensated, as her pressure wan't really elevated, she was just nervous on the exam. It took two months of daily subq fluids and a three day hospitalization with iv fluids for her to get over that mistake of mine. Scarlett had good results with a low dose of Amlodipine to keep her pressure under control.

Larry:
Thank you for the help, I will make sure I take care of this. Hopefully when we go back her pressure will be down. I knew I read something on a thread about this, it must have been yours. Thank you again. Blessings
Patti

Hi Everyone;
Tipper had an ok nite for the most part. She has never had a problem distinguishing fireworks from thunder so it went ok. It did start to rain however so in the closet she went. I composed a letter to my vet with the information Leslie gave me about the trachea and adequan shots. I am asking him to call this Vet and get the information. I will leave it Wednesday when she gets her pressure checked again. I am having a horrible time getting a retailer near me that sells the chicken with no salt. I need to get off here and work on it. Have a good weekend everyone. Blessings
Patti

Hang in there Patti! You're doing a great job! :)Just remember to take care of yourself too. Tipper needs you to be healthy, calm and rested because she feeds off of your energy. I realize more than anyone how hard that is to actually accomplish. Big hugs my dear,

Hey you

Just wanted to post a note before I left to let you know that although I won't be online I will still be thinking of you. I ask Tia all the time to keep Tipper safe and I don't have to be here to do that

I am hoping that vet sorts things out for you so I see some good reports when I get back. If I can get online I will. We are doing to a remote place on purpose (for me to avoid work and cell phone reception)

I do hope you feel better soon. Disgusting about the chicken as well I thought that when you posted! Hope you sourced some

Lots of love to you and kisses to Tipper the Ripper

Mel
Xxxx

Mel, and Everyone:
Thanks for checking in on Tipper. I am waiting as I post for the market to call me and tell me they have my order of chicken for Tipper the Ripper. I found a market about 10 miles away where the butcher will work with me, and order this chicken in when I need it. I ordered 15 lbs of breast meat to start off with, in case I wouldn't be able to get more when needed for some reason. The butcher said he didn't know the price per lb until her made the order, so I could be really floored!. Oh well she needs it so what can I do? At Gerber Chicken the chicken is raised, killed , cleaned and packaged that is all they do to it. So no salt to hurt my Tipper!. This is the only place doing this with chicken, the others pump it all full of saline, so beware! Tipper has become so rounded like she swallowed a 6 inch ball. I was told on 2 prior occasions that her liver was not distended, I am wondering if it is now? I may talk to the IMS about a full body ultrasound. I am nervous as her ACTH will be coming in August and it is her alk phos I am worried about. The humidity is so thick here this morning it is 71%. Tipper did walk, but we inched along slowly. It looks like more rain on the way, what else is new? Hope everyone has a good weekend. Blessings
Patti

Sending hugs and prayers to you and Tipper, hope the chicken works well for him and that you have a great weekend...I understand the barrel tummy issues, Simba has that too at the moment, scary for us Moms and uncomfortable for them, this dreaded disease.....

Hi Patti,
I am so glad that you found somewhere to buy Tipper's Chicken. I totally understand. Buddy always ate much better than I did!:p. So sorry that rain is still hanging around.:o xxxxxxx

I have just about decided that it's chicken causing the diarrhea in my house. The three that eat it, Squirt, Trink and Brick, are having issues off and on..and have been for a while. I think Trink and Brick will go back to a fish based recipe and Squirt to the turkey based and see if that helps.

I've been steady losing weight over the last year and the only thing the docs and I can come up with is my mind - I think too much about where my food comes from, how it's processed and handled, the GMOs, cruelty to food animals, on and on and on til I simply can't eat anything. When I am able to eat, about half the time my gut gets torn up afterward. :eek::rolleyes: We be a malodorous bunch at times around here! :p

Hope Tipper had a decent night and you both were able to rest a bit better.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Hi Everyone:
I just wanted to mention you have to watch out for the fish and beef too. They put saline in the fish, and are going to start doing it in the beef. Of course some ocean fish have salt already. Last night Tipper had a bad nite. We had a storm with lots of thunder. She ran in and out of the closet panting and running up on the bed and down on the floor in circles. I had gotten the Composure in the mail to give her for stress. It did not seem to work. I even sprayed the pheromone spray, nothing seemed to work. We are supposed to have this weather for another week. This morning the humidity is so bad it looks like a fog in London. Tipper is growing ansy with the fish for food and I know is missing her chicken. I hope it comes the early part of the week, or I will have to go on a fishing trip to the lake, as my stash of fish is dwindling. Blessings
Patti

Patti-Just wanted to say hi and say I hope things get better for Tipper.
I know you said a lot of prayers for my Scoop and I appreciate that.

It seems like they inject everything with sodium these days. My granddaughter has to read Omnivore's Dilemma for her summer college reading. I bought two copies at the used book store, one for her and one for me. I am only on chapter two and I already don't want to eat anything. You can believe what all has corn in it and antibiotics:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Patti, sometimes their fat gets redistributed too, muscles get weaker, changes their shapes.

When I had Zoe's ultra sound done in April, my husband told me could I handle knowing what they all might find. I compare it to her original ultrasound done in 2010. There was a lot of bad news. I'm not trying to talk you out of an ultra sound, sweetie, just want you to be prepared in that oft chance of them finding inconclusive things which are probably common in older dogs, especially Cush pups.

hugs and love

Hi Everyone:
Just had a wonderful trip to the emergency room for a kidney stone. I started off feeling bad this morning, when the pain progressed in my back I immediately knew what it was. I have had several kidney stone attacks non of which were pleasant. I have not had one for many years, but once you have experienced this pain you will never forget it. Had the Lithotripsy done and it just killed my back. I had to get my sitter in a hurry for Tipper, and I did not want to go because of the weather and her being so scared. I had to drive myself. That was a wonderful 20 mile drive in agony. Anyway the pain is intense no matter the size of the stone, it can be as small as a grain of sand and kill you. So I had to get a male nurse of course. He has my arm so swollen up from putting in a catheter. I told him just get the drugs in and forget anything else. Finally put my drugs in and it took the edge off of my wanting to scream. Then got my scan. Had a wonderful ER Dr. and he said I need to get this dissolved asap. Said is was not quite large enough to do the Lithotripsy. He gave me pain meds and said to go home and get beer and drink it. I laughed and he said it was for real that it does help the stone pass. Well I don't drink so where do I get a beer in the middle of nowhere. Oh I could always ask the nosy neighbors, then they would really have something to talk about. I will figure it out. Anyway I told them I had to get out of there because of my dog, so they discharged me quick as a wink. I sent the sitter for the RX's and after I feed the babies I will lay down a bit. The drugs are starting to wear off and the pain is coming back. All I care about is if my girl is ok. Addy I do know what you mean about those scans, you can be really depressed about what they find. I am worried if it is something that has an easy fix that I would not know. I am torn and will think it out when I am feeling better. Blessings
Patti

Oh my goodness, honey! :eek: Find someone to be on standby to help you just in case. Let us know how you are when you can but take care of you and your sweet girl first and foremost.

Prayers and healing energies flying your way.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Hi Patti
I'm so sorry!Those kidney stones are so painful and you're right,even ones as small as a grain of sand.I hope you are as comfortable as possible and that the stone passes on its own so that you can find some relief.Sorry Tipper had such a bad night-the weather is just awful here too although we are not having any thunder,just humidity for 3 straight weeks now.I never heard of drinking a beer-that's funny.I think I'm going to take up drinking;).I hardly ever drink but as I was grocery shopping yesterday,the frozen pina coladas were calling out to me.:).I bought a few little packets of them and plan on having one as a treat tonight!:).Well,I hope you are feeling a bit better and the pain meds are doing their trick.Feel better!!-big hugs to you and Tipper.
Love,
Patty

If a beer will help, then tomorrow, go pick up a couple, unless there is somewhere to get one today. Hold your nose, cause the taste might not agree with you and drink it till that stone passes. I wonder if it helps because it makes you feel like heading to the potty more often. No idea why it would, but knowing how painful it is, I'd give it a try :)
Yes, we are having rain and humidity and sometimes thunderstorms too. It has been a wet spring and summer so far. :(

hugs! Take care of yourself
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Hi Everyone:
I actually feel human this morning. I had a bad nite with pain. I am going to get an appointment with the urologist. Tipper did ok last nite with some episodes of struggling. It is still very hot and humid here, and we did have showers last nite. I am hoping they call about Tipper's chicken soon, I am running low on the fresh fish, and I know she is missing her chicken. We got one walk in this morning and the sun is out, so maybe no rain today!! I am anxiously awaiting Tipper's blood pressure reading on Wednesday. I am nervous she will have to go on moer drugs if it is not way down. Blessings
Patti

Patti, I hope Tipper's blood pressure will be good when she has it checked.
I hope you will be feeling better soon with that kidney stone.

I sure hope you feel better soon. Saying prayers for Tipper's BP too.

**hIc** sss...ss..sss'nce yoo canna hab **HiC** beara i'sss hab..habbbbinnin onenrto fer ya **hIC**

LOL Leslie... Handing you a cup of black coffee.

Hi Patti,
Sending you tons of love and healing energy! :pBelly rubs for Tipper the Ripper.:D

Patti,
kidney stones are the worst! Glad that you are feeling better.
Tipper, watch over mommy.