Jasper (12 yr old Mini Schnauzer) is now at peace

Morning Tina,

I will be thinking nothing but good thoughts today for Jasper's liver & kidneys. I know that is a scary thing.

I am not sure about the liver continuing to enlarge. I am sure someone with experience will come by with answers for that. I worry about Boriss & his liver too. Sometimes his feels large to me. I will probably have all the levels tested next month.

I am glad his nose is going to be okay. I had a bulldog in the past who always had a dry crusty nose. We just used the vitamin e oil to help the crusty stuff to go away. It didn't seem to bother him.

Yay on things in general being good and hopefully that no protein increase in the urine.
I did read that their can be a relation between the Percorten and urine/water consumption. So that is a possibility, and if that is, then maybe Dex too. So, don't panic yet on the kidneys.

Crossing fingers for todays results!

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Hi Everyone, thanks for all the good thoughts sent Jasper's way. I anxiously waited all day for my vet to call, but didn't hear from her. She usually calls me at work but sometimes will call after I am home right before the clinic closes. When I got home I saw there was a vm message from her and I was so relieved, I thought "the results must be good news, or she would have called me at work".

Well, unfortunately the news is not good. His protein:creatinine ratio has more than doubled from 3 months ago. Then it was 1.27, on 1/14 it was 3.57. She said this is a significant elevation and indicates that he is losing a lot more protein from his kidneys. She did not mention a reference range, so I called and had a tech check the report. She said it didn't list the reference range so will need to have my vet call to clarify that. I checked on line and it shows a couple of different reference values, depending on if the BUN is within normal limits. But values above 2.0 indicates there is medically significant protein loss through the kidneys even if the BUN is within normal limits. His BUN was not checked this time but it has always been normal.

She said she doesn't know if it is a primary kidney issue, associated with his medication, or a function of the Cushings or Addison's, but that we need to look into it. She didn't feel he needed his BP checked the other night, but now feels like it needs to be checked to make sure that hypertension isn't contributing to the value going up. I will take him in tomorrow after work to have a tech check it. I am worried about it being inaccurately high due to the stress of being at the vet. On Monday it was very busy and chaotic there, and he was very anxious.

She said she will be getting another consult with the one and only IMS we have in the state, fortunately he is in town. She has already consulted with him about Jasper once, and he was very helpful. She said she wants to talk to him to help determine the next step. She said she would be calling in a few days as soon as she gets the consult.

So we will get his BP checked tomorrow and then wait. I will need to wait till then to ask all my questions about his enlarged liver. I am trying really hard to not panic over this, but I am pretty upset. I turned the radio up loud, went into the bathroom, and had a 20 minute crying jag. I didn't want Jasper to see or hear me. Well, he was laying outside the closed door when I came out of course, and just looked up at me with the most innocent and wise look on his face, as if to say "I know Mama, I know". I had to fight so hard to not start bawling again, and just picked him up and held him tight.

You guys, I am trying with all my might to stay positive and not get discouraged, but I can't help but feel that he just can't get a break. I feel so weary and I am absolutely terrified of what all this liver and kidney stuff will mean for him.

My mind wanders back to when all of this first started. He was drinking and peeing alot, had an accident in the house, and all the testing started. He has been through the wringer with all the tests that arrived at the Cushings diagnosis, getting toxic on the Lysodren twice, the Addison's crisis, two hospitalizations, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis from all the stress, now the Addisons diagnosis, all of the ups and downs with trying to stabilize him on the steroids. Through all of this he is still drinking and peeing too much, except now his adrenals are fried from the Lysodren, he has to take steroids that are causing his liver to enlarge, and now the kidney stuff. I feel like I have done all of this to him, and if we would have just left everything alone, he would be better off. After all, I am adjusting to all the drinking and peeing. I am so upset I don't know what to feel. I know I have been doing what I thought was best for him at the time, but that is not helping me feel any better. I am sick with worry for him. He just innocently trusts, and doesn't deserve any of this.

Thanks for listening, and sorry if this seems like whining, I don't mean to. I am just feeling so down right now.

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper

Ah Tina, I'm reaching out with a huge hug for you both. I don't know what to say because I don't have any advice. I know your vet is on top of things and smart enough to seek help when it's needed so I'll pray that they come up with something to give you both relief.

Everything you have done for your baby has been out of love. Do not question yourself or your actions one little bit. I've been here 8 yrs and I have read your thread multiple times and I simply cannot explain what happened with Jasper while on the lysodren. I understand hindsight and all but just remember what you did was the right thing at the time and you have done nothing wrong whatsoever.

I wish I could wave a magic wand! Instead I send love and prayers. Kim

Oh sweetie of course you are. This is a perfectly normal reaction to constant worry and the up and downs that you have been through. You and Jasper have certainly been through more than most have.

However, you did do everything that you are suppose to do in these cases. You had symptoms, you tried to find out what was wrong. You did and then you followed a prescribed treatment plan. The same one that is recommended for all dogs, either lysodren or trilostane. Jasper just had a very instant sensitivity to the treatment. You couldn't know that.

It's great that your vet is consulting with the specialist and I certainly hope that there will be a path forward that won't be overly strenuous for Jasper.

We aim for stabilization and a good quality of life. Jasper has that and he can go on having that.

You are of course worried and I hope that some of the others who Way more knowledge about the urine protein issue will be by to give their opinion.

I though will give you a big hug and lend you a shoulder to cry on any time you want it.

hugs,
Sharlene and molly muffin

Tina and Jasper.......the not knowing.....ugh...it is horrible. You know when those times happen....where you just break...it is because of immense love....if your baby is near and you hold him tight think those words over and over and he will feel that through you and know where this emotion is coming from. And you focusing on those words will keep you focused as well. Dont stop saying them...not even for a second. over and over and over, otherwise the doubt (which is NOT our friend) creeps in and weakens your amazing strength. I know you love your baby so so so much. My heart hurts for you, what your experiencing right now wish i was actually there to just hold you!!!! And you got to let all that out.....its just not healthy to hold it in. Sending you love and hugs sweetheart. The answer will come and action plan will come into place. kiss on snout to jasper.

Hi Tina

We all know this stage is the worse, you find out something is wrong then and feel so awful but once you get to talk to the specialist and get a plan in place you know where you are working towards. So you are allowed a bit to feel upset right now, but back on the horse you go Tina!!

Flynn has an enlarged liver too, they see it on ultrasound and also during surgery. He also has protein in his urine. Both things I am going to followup up once he is recovered more, so they are kinda parked at the moment until he gets more strength back.

Take heart from the normal BUN and hopefully that is still where it is that. One day at a time, you have had good news this week too, so lets hold onto that until you can speak to specialist.

Still, we all know totally how you are feeling, it is so stink when you want everything to go good but we are here to help you through it!

Paw's up Tina and Jasper!!!!

Trish and Flynn xx

Well, everyone else has said everything I want to say to you.:(:(

I know this is hard and you want to hide in the closet or under the covers and boy you and Jasper sure deserve a break. So I am here to tell you, go ahead and cry and scream and just release it all, have a total meltdown. Sometimes it is the best thing to do and then we start again.

I cant offer you medical advice only emotional support Tina but one thing I do know is you did nothing to Jasper. You are not responsible. Something was wrong and you tried to help him out of love and caring and things turned out differently but it is not your fault. Honey, sometimes life just is not fair and good people and good dogs get hurt and suffer.

Somehow, I am determined to drill into your head you have done nothing wrong so just watch out because I just might show up everyday to remind you of that;)

Now, go find a drawer and promise me you are going to scream all that guilt into the dang drawer, slam it shut and keep it shut for awhile.

We are always here for you and I totally know how scared you were waiting for that call. Yesterday by 2pm I felt like an overwound grandfather clock about to burst its springs.:eek::eek::eek:

Man, it was hard to pull it together when I finally got home but I did and you will to because Jasper is looking at your beautiful face and he is worried because mom is scared.


(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) ))))))))))

Oh no Tina.. I am so upset for you & Jasper. I totally understand It is so hard to stay positive. You have been on a roller coaster of emotions.

You are doing everything in your power to make things good for Jasper. You are the best mom he could ever have.

I will be saving a prayer for you & Jasper. I know the waiting part is going to be hard.

big hugs..

Kim, Sharlene, Trish, Skye, Addy, Amy, thank you all for the support, hugs and pep talks. Huge hugs to you all. I have spent the last day or so pulling myself up by the bootstraps. It has not been an easy task.

Jasper had his BP check on 1/16 pm. I decided to take him about 20 min early or so, so we could just quietly sit in an exam room for a while so he could be more relaxed when it was checked. The tech did 3 readings and said it was 150, which is the same as it was a few months ago. She said this is at the higher end of normal, they like it to be under 160. He seemed pretty calm so I feel this is accurate. His heart rate was 80, which she said was good also. So, it doesn't look like his BP is the cause for the increased protein in his urine. The tech spent quite a bit of time with us, she was as reassuring as she could be. She was very validating with all my concerns, nice to know I haven't been over reacting I guess. She said she knows it is hard, she was very knowledgeable with all the details of Jaspers case. I was kind of surprised because there a lot of techs at the office, and Jasper has seen many of them at different times since all of this started. Then she said Jasper is one of her favorites. That explains that. ;) She is one of my favorites also, very smart, calm and patient.

So my plan was to just wait until my vet contacted me with what she learned from the IMS consult. Yesterday at work, I started feeling kind of panicky about things, started worrying that we should have checked the urine sooner before the level got this high because if treatment is needed we could have started that sooner; worried that a urine culture wasn't done before the test, as I read that if an infection is present it can cause a falsely high reading in the protein:creatine ratio; and also worried that it had been a while since he had bloodwork done to check the kidney values, and maybe his BUN and creatine weren't normal anymore as they had been. ( Addy and Leslie, I am giving you a run for your money as the forum's worst worrier :p ).

So I left a message at the office for my vet, just wanted to run my questions by her so I didn't dwell on them all weekend. She called as I was leaving work, and answered/reassured me on all my concerns. She said it is a good thing that his BP was ok so we know it is not contributing to the problem, so we don't have to worry about treating that. She sent the consult off to the IMS, so thinks we might hear back as early as Monday. She also answered my questions about the enlarged liver, the main one being if it is being damaged due to the enlargement. She said no, that the function is not affected, however the ALP could continue to increase due to the steroids. I asked her about Denamarin, she said she thought that might be a good idea, so we are going to talk about that also after we get the kidney stuff figured out.

We discussed quite a bit, she was very supportive on all fronts, said she totally understood how frustrating this has all been, and said that she feels frustrated too. I told her I am more scared than frustrated. She said Jasper's "multi-dimensional presentation and issues" has been one of her biggest challenges since she started practicing. I thought "well, that's my Boy". :rolleyes:

Trish, thanks for mentioning that Flynn has an enlarged liver and protein in his urine. It is reassuring to see how well he is doing even though he has those issue also. I had been telling Jasper all about his surgery and all that he went through day by day so Jasper could help keep Flynn in our prayers. He is Jasper's role model. And I totally admire how positive you have been throughout, I am going to try to make you my role model! :D

So that is where we are at. I am still pretty scared, but don't feel that panic in my gut right now. I'll take that. Thanks again for all the kind words.

Love and hugs,

Tina and "multi-dimensional" Jasper :)