14 year-old Shih Tzu With Recent Cushing's Diagnosis

Hi there,
I need some help. I think I'm going to try Hannah on Claritin. Does anyone have experience with this? My vet said Hannah, at 12 lbs., could take 5 mg twice a day and that doesn't sound like it could be right if humans take 10 mg. I'm going to talk to the vet who does laser treatments on Hannah tomorrow. I thought someone on here used it so I wanted to check.

I'm holding off on Cyclosporine for now bc the side effects mentioned here made me a little nervous and it would be $75 per month. My vet did not tell me of any side effects. Hannah is really itchy the past 48 hours so I am stressed out. My other option is the steroid spray but she itches all over the place so I'd need a lot. What are your thoughts on that? I am dog-sitting at my parents' house this weekend and they have 4 dogs and I have my 2. It's crazy over here. One is blind, two are old, three have high needs. It's gonna be a looooong weekend.
Julie & Hannah

Hi Julie,

I think Marianne knows about the Claritin. I am sure she will stop by.
I will have to most likely make the same decision about Zoe and the oral cyclosporine. I have not yet researched it. The opthamologist brought it up and I freaked and he did not think I should freak about it.
We are using the cyclosporine eye drops.

Dog sitting sounds fun!!!! Just put some good music on!!!!

I am sorry to hear of Hannah being so itchy. Hoping the Claritin will help.

love,
addy

Hi Everyone-

I know I've kind of dropped off the planet. Things have been really busy with the end of the school year coming, the fact that I was debating switching teaching positions, and because I am having our end of the year staff party at my house. Plus, Hannah has been an itchy mess and Izzy was due for her dental, so we've been making lots of vet trips too.

I switched Hannah to Claritin this past Sun. I haven't noticed much of a difference yet. I am still doing baths, but my vet told me to decrease to once a week so I don't dry her out too much. He also recommended that I add Omega 3 to see if that helps her skin at all. I bought something called Missing Link and it's a powder I add to her food once a day. I sent an email to the IM vet on 4/16 and have called three times since and have not heard a thing back. I wanted her advice on allergy treatment for Hannah (I wanted her opinion on Cyclosporine). I only saw her once (last summer) and have only talked to her twice since, but I am really irritated by this.

Lately Hannah has been really licking her genital area, and not necessarily the entire area, but right around her vulva, or whatever that is. It looked a little irritated and I was going to take her to the vet today, but the Chlorhexidine wipes I tried seemed to help a little. She has been previously irritated in that area and it doesn't look like a skin infection at this point. I also don't think it is a UTI because she is showing no other signs. We decided to give it a day or so and take her in if needed.

I also put in a call to the vet where she got acupuncture to see if it can help at all with allergies (or if they had other ideas, since they do a lot of holistic treatments). They said it might help and that I could make an appointment to discuss some options and maybe do acupuncture. The vet said she would recommend trying some oils, or other more natural treatments. I haven't decided if I am going to pursue that now.

I can usually keep her busy chewing on a rawhide (in order to keep her from licking/itching) but I have to watch her like a hawk because I worry about her choking (which she did once and it was HORRIBLE). It turns into me cutting off the gooey part every 5-10 min. but at least it keeps her happy and occupied.

She has been doing pretty well with her back but we got a laser treatment last weekend because I thought she seemed a little sore and reluctant to put her feet up on me when I put on her leash, which she usually does. She seems a little perkier now, and is doing well, so that is one success.

We're still not treating Cushing's and she has shown no increase in symptoms in the last year. She is not drinking or eating any more than she was a year ago, coat looks good, no panting, no pot belly...just the little bit of back leg weakness and the skin issues from licking. I still sometimes think about testing further to see if she has Cushing's, but for now it's not my biggest concern...

I still try to get on here and check in fairly often; I'm sorry for not posting more, but it has been a stressful time. I'm hoping things will calm down--hopefully soon, but definitely when the school year ends. I just wanted to let you all know I haven't fallen off the planet. :D

Hannah and Julie

brave woman hosting the staff party!

over on the diabetes forum, Patty gets deer antlers for her dog instead of rawhides, just a thought for something less soggy, let me know if you want me to search for the link.

there has also been a lot of allergy discussions over there and some folks have had luck with Chlortabs.

Just thought I'd throw more options out there for you!

When I met with Dr. Husbands he said he had been doing acupuncture on his 18 year old lab for a few years. He thought he was going to have to put his lab down this week as it was time. but he definitely is open to alternative healing methods and saving a buck. Cancer is his specialty though

hugs, Judi

HI Julie,

The dogs at worked used The Missing Link. It has good stuff in it. I hope it helps Hannah's skin.

A stuffed Kong wont help distract her? A lot of people freeze them to make it harder to get the food out.

Hosting a staff party sounds like fun!!!!!!!!!! Dont worry about the forum, you have a lot on your plate.

I have read a few things about Oral cyclosporine because we are facing that too somewhere down the line. I still am not sure how I feel about it.

The allergies are so bad this year, I am suffereing terribly myself and now the mosquitos are out and they are the size of a bird:eek::eek:

Good luck with the party,
love,
addy

Hi Julie,

Sorry to hear about Hannah and her allergies. It is a wicked allergey season. I was thinking abou asking IMS about the anthihistamine you are using.

Have you given any more thought to the Atopia? I have not wanted to think about it either. I did not increase Zoe's eye drops to the 2% cyclosporine either. I have that battle June 2nd.

I know how stressful it is when they are itchy and you cant sleep. Lack of sleep just makes everything more difficult to deal with.

Think about you all the time. Hugs and love,
addy

Hi Julie,
I just wanted you to know I am here and thinking of you.

For the rawhide, there are lamb's ears as well. They are smaller and it might be worth a try. Plus I picked up something....I don't remember its name, but it looks like a 6" stick of wood. That keeps Bailey occupied for quite some time. Finally, I freeze creamy peanut butter in Bailey's little Kong. I don't know that it slows her down, but it does make it very handy when you need something and it's right there in the freezer for you....all prepared.

-Susan

Hi Everyone,

I'm just writing quick to ask for some good vibes and/or prayers. Hannah seems to be having a disc flare-up of some sort. I noticed that when she turned around quickly her walk was sort of "off" and it kind of reminded me of last Sept. when her walk was way off. I think they call it ataxia-it looks like a drunk walk.

I tried the reflex test where you turn their paws over and see if they correct. She did it immediately with her right back foot, but took at least 2 or 3 seconds with the left. I tried a few more times and she didn't even always turn it over completely. This sent me into a panic.

She is walking normally and at a normal speed and is not showing signs of pain like she did in the past. I called the ER vet and they agreed I could just start Metacam and call my vet tomorrow, unless she gets worse, and then I should bring her in.

I texted my laser vet and plan to call the acupuncture vet tomorrow too. I have a meeting tomorrow morning to teach summer school, and also am supposed to teach a class to 30 other teachers tomorrow afternoon, so this is not good timing. I am a nervous wreck, but trying to remain calm.

Please keep us in your thoughts...

Julie & Hannah

Hi Julie,

I am sorry to hear about Hannah. I hope it is not the same as last time. You always have my thoughts and prayers I think about you both a lot and actually was going to ask you how her eye is doing.

I hope the Metacam helps.

thinking of you and Hannah and hoping it resolves quickly. hugs, Judi