Molly, 13 yr, shih tzu - lhasa aspo - Molly has passed

Dropped off urine for another UPC follow up test this morning. Ordered a small bag of low protein dog food for her. Had a BP check this evening. I think still high, although they were happy with the bottom number and the "mean" number saying they are better.
The top number was different each time, 155, 175, 195 I think was the top but the bottom was like 67. So we're waiting to see what the IMS has to say. I suspect we'll be increasing the amoldopine, again. We are now at 1 1/2 pills per day, so just a teeny bit under 1mg.

Will update when we have results back on UPC. Last two were at 1.7 we want it lower.

Next up in January will be an ACTH retest and an ionized calcium test.

Hey Sharlene - I'm too behind on your thread! OOPS!

What is the inonized calcium test for?

Ionized calcium if high means a possibility of two things either cancer or parathyroid tumor. Ionized is not like the total that you will have on your regular blood test it is more of a singled out portion of calcium. So because we had checked pricing and there was a test at a better price that have us what we want on bun and creatinine we did that test. It turns out that ionized calcium was included in that test. Which is how we found Molly's was high. So recheck and it was high normal next test. We will be rechecking. The cut off is 1.40. Molly was 1.46 first time we checked and 1 40 second check. Unfortunately there is nothing good to be said about a high result on this test from what I can find out. Tell a vet you have high ionized calcium and their face literally falls to their feet. Found that out with two vets now.
To test for parathyroid you have to get the blood when the ionized calcium is spiking upwards and it has to be sent to michigan.
New vet had asked me what Molly's thyroid results where like and I had a thyroid panel done before all of this which was normal.
Anyway. One day at a time grasshopper is what I tell myself. :).

Wow. I have never, ever heard of this!!

So, if the next result is in the normal range, you will continue to monitor?

Yes, one day at a time is a good motto with these babies. They live in the moment, and we should too!

Yea, I think I would probably retest it like every 3 or 6 months just to keep an eye on it.
Woody's ionized was high, went back down and he did have cancer, so we know it can move, so yea, keep monitoring.
Interesting that it can show up in dogs with Addisons too, but they don't list cushings as a probability.

This is Dr. Peterson's article: http://endocrinevet.blogspot.ca/2012...rcalcemia.html

Sharlene, I see that renal disease is also listed as a possible cause...

Molly is certainly a long ways away from renal failure (and we intend to keep it that way!). But is it possible that chronic renal issues might raise the calcium up into that borderline range?

Marianne

I wonder about that too Marianne and will definitely ask the IMS about it. Nope, she isn't in renal failure, but then so much has happened so quickly that I wonder what is causing what at this point. I mean, her blood pressure was perfect last April and eyesight excellent. It is definitely a good question to get clarification on.

They checked for an anal sac tumor already, ruled out vitamin D toxicity and lab error, based on repeat higher results and of course ruled out Addisons, as we know she has High cortisol not low.

stopping in before I leave for work to wish you:


HAPPY 2015

Just popping in to wish you, Molly and your family a Happy 2015 from Henry and me. We wish you health and happiness in 2015, and hope that they will be able to help your BIL.

The very best in the coming year to you and yours, Sharlene!

How are hubby and BIL doing?