I am glad things are looking up for Lulu.
Keep us posted:):) I hope the test goes well.
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I am glad things are looking up for Lulu.
Keep us posted:):) I hope the test goes well.
Long day for Lulu and me! Results of her ACTH test in a couple of days, I hope! :)
Crossing fingers for good numbers!
Same here! :) Boriss had his test today. I picked Boriss up from the vet & brought/snuck him back to my office. He is SO tired..
Thanks Steph & Borris. Good luck with Borris' results. Yeah Lulu was tired yesterday and I think maybe today. My wife said she pooed good and the vet called her and said the pre was 3.5 and post 5.5. So he is happy and said repeat in 6 months. He said she appeared great for 12 years. But I know she was tired after the testing and being caged for several hours. She had a harder time getting up. He seemed to think prob. arthritis. However, she was weak in the hind quarters a year and a half ago. And her legs started getting weaker quickly the last two or four months. I notice that with the ACL surgery, some arthritis and the Cushings it's just three things into one. When she has been on the floor for a long time and it's hard floor, her back legs kind of turn a bit before she stands, sort of like a beginner on ice skates and your feet tend to splay outward.
So time will tell if her hindquarters improve. I believe they will as long as the disease is under control. But what I've heard it can take weeks and months.
That is what i read too. Muscles take the longest to get better. We are lucky Boriss just now started showing muscle weakness before he started his meds.
Your poor baby has been thru a lot with her legs. I hope you see improvement soon. I am glad her numbers are good! I hope things are only going UP from this point for LuLu. ;)
Thanks Boriss, And Lulu was antsy this morning. She has been trying to pooh, and I don't really know if she was productive. So with the pumpkin we give her, I am thinking maybe adding some Metamucil. I am going to look at the link sent me as mentioned a few days ago. I also am inquiring to the vet, called again this morning to Dr. Wilson, as Dr. Booth is gone for a week. I want to talk to him, he's the owner and the one that did her ACL surgery. I hear that Adequan works wonders. I also want to mention about the straining with possible constipation.
Did not give Lulu Duramax today, since we thought that if she were to get the injection, we probably don't want to do both?
Lulu didn't want me to go to work this morning, and though I am 3 miles from the vet (at home we are 25 miles) she was trembling a bit. And my wife said she stopped after I left. She misses me, maybe because I do most of the walking with her. But my wife (Linda a.k.a. Moo) is with her. And if the vet says to bring her in today, I would leave early from work. But I am still waiting. Otherwise Lulu is doing okay, able to walk and can get up the steps, it's just seems harder.
I don't know is Trilostane has side affects like constipation, but I do know that the strain is hard for Lulu since she has to put power into her leg muscles which I can see, but I know the intestine has muscles along with the sphincters to eliminate.
She had a nice formed pooh yesterday, so if there is blockage it isn't really bad, but it concerns me. She isn't bloated, and in fact in belly looks leaner as she is down about 5 pounds since being on Trilostane.
Well back to work, but I am the IT guy for this plant when I'm there working on a project for them, so will be monitoring and waiting for the vet to call.
Hi Lulu's Dad! Just here to 2nd that emotion with regard to the melatonin - I was giving it to Punk at the beginning of her Cushing's diagnosis and kept her on it because she used to have MAJOR thunderstorm panic and it has really helped. She still gets a little nervous now but just lies down until its over, rather than panting/shaking/climbing/total freakout like before the melatonin. Good luck!
Hi Punk's mom. You know I just stopped temporarily giving Melatonin, and have been only in the morning. I stopped this morning because I heard on the news something about melatonin, those teaser stories, stay up till 11. I didn't and fell asleep (LOL). And there weren't any storms lately.
Moo just texted Lulu is in family room watching tv, so she is doing okay for now. I still am waiting on hearing from Dr. Wilson. He usually calls in the evening.:)
Hi, LuLu could be a bit constipated, but if her rear legs are weaker, then it also might be more difficult for her to push as hard as she needs to all the time.
whoo hoo, LuLu is having tv time. :)
hugs,
Sharlene
I am glad Lulu had a good test and is improving. My thoughts are hovering about that six month test. Usually that is the period of time for testing dogs on Lyosdren.Quote:
My wife said she pooed good and the vet called her and said the pre was 3.5 and post 5.5. So he is happy and said repeat in 6 months.
It seem too long for a Trilostane dog to me. I dont remember reading anything about the recommended testing every three months changing.
Just call me the forum worry wart:D:D:D:D:D
Thanks Addy, just heard that Andy Williams died. He is about the last of the wonderful voices that I liked during my rock-and-roll years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p_Ar...eature=related
Thanks on the tip for 3 months. I will keep that in mind. Dr. Wilson called me, finally and agreed on the Adequan shot. I got him to call the Romeo, Michigan office and I drove Lulu there, so she has her first shot. I forgot to buy the Metamucil, so I gave her one of my generic pills that has the Psyllium in it. I will give her another one in the morning. She usually drinks water at the outside pump after I feed her. So I'm hoping that helps her. Dr. Wilson seems to think she might have a bit of colitis since I said her stools are more narrow. I know that colitis can cause yo to feel like you have to go more often and I think he's right, since Lulu is going and she isn't bloated.
Boy this Cushing's isn't your 'run of the mill' disease to have. This forum is great. There is so much information on here along with it's Facebook page, too. :)
That Andy Williams song brings back some memories. I was 11 years old when that song was climbing the charts. There were very few songs back then that both children and parents liked and that was one of them.
Finally, I fed this morning and she came down the steps herself. I usually try to keep her slowed, and fortunately there are landings on both the upstairs and basement steps. But the great news is she was prancing when she went out, she had a hot to her gait, as she barked at the neighborhood and it's dogs. I think the Adequan is working! Then she poohed and a bit of flatulence but she was able to bend her legs better and she had stool, soft though. And then again and this time more formed. Sorry about the details, but I am posting this paragraph on the Cushing's Forum. The metamucil tablets that I take might just be working, as the vet seems to think she may have some colitis. Metamucil is the over the counter drug of choice for this.
N/P about the poo! The forum is a get record if you ever forget how things were going at a point in time.
Lulu had an active day yesterday, my wife said she was concerned about diarrhea. I wasn't as concerned. We stopped the pumpkin and I only gave her one metamucil capsule yesterday. I might increase to two. I will try to buy some powder today, though maybe the capsules are easier as she eats them in her food in the morning. I add extra water to her food then.
She pooED a bit this morning, soft, but firm and good color. And she didn't strain after that, that I could tell. She is out in the dark barking, so will bring her in soon. I am going into a work project in Romeo this morning.
Just wanted to pop in to remind you that Metamucil has a label warning that it should not be taken within two hours of other drugs:
If you are giving the Metamucil with Lulu's breakfast, I am just concerned that it is at the same time as her trilostane. If so, I think you need to switch the Metamucil to another time.Quote:
Laxatives, including bulk fibers, may affect how well other medicines work. If you are taking a prescription medicine by mouth, take this product at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after the prescribed medicine.
Marianne
I will have to delay this. I have given Lulu her Trilostane about an hour later, so will switch. Thanks.
I will have to delay this. I have given Lulu her Trilostane about an hour later, so will switch. Thanks. Thought I sent this. It's been sitting here for three hours. Well now it's sent!:cool:
Well Lulu got her second Adequan today. I saw young Dr. Booth today. I hadn't seen him before, as I usually see Dr. Wilson who did her ACL surgery. We like the Romeo Wilson Vet Clinic and it's a 24 emergency care and reasonable prices. But they can be busy.
Lulu has problems lying down and getting up, especially getting up from our slippery kitchen floor, it helps if she is on a rug. She has a big problem being able to lie down, because of pain. Dr. Booth was able to see that in her left rear leg, which is the leg that has been giving Lulu her problems. He took an x-ray and said that it looked good. He saw the metal plates from her ACL surgery 6 years ago and said she looked good, the x-ray was good, there was some arthritis, but no more than you would expect at 12 years. He said that along with muscle weakness are causing that. The Cushing's Disease can cause that and I think Trilostane has a side affect too about muscle weakness.
Dr. Booth recommended Tramadol 50 mg twice a day, so I have started Lulu on this. I can still give Lulu Duramax and he drew blood, so will get results tomorrow. Not too bad with a cost of under 200 dollars for all this and I didn't have an appointment with Dr. Booth when I came in but he was the walk-in doctor today so I of course wanted to meet him. I was impressed with this young doctor and told my wife she would like him. He manipulated the muscles in Lulu's back legs and up on her back. He said she is in pretty good shape for a 12 year old. She even lost more weight, as she isn't as ravonous. She now weighs 72 lb and had been 82 - 86 lbs normally. I think the lower weight will help.
I am hoping this injection of Adequan helps like the first and that she starts being her old self more again.
Will go out and see if she wants a bit of a walk, but I'm not pushing her.
Oh, the doctor said to give her two teaspoons Metamucil twice a day, the unflavored kind.
Your young Dr. Booth sounds like a winner. :) It's good to have a place to go with Lulu that you are very comfortable with.
Hoping the Adequan helps. :)
hugs,
Sharlene
Haven't been on in a week. I am getting flack from everywhere, but accomplishing a lot, who isn't these days. But Lulu does seem to be progressing with her legs, she can get up and lie down a bit easier. She goes in for her third adequan shot and they seem to help. But there could be more improvement. MY main concern now is her bowls. She has spent time trying to eliminate and I have her on Metamucil, trying the capsules instead of the powder, but may switch back to powder, it's just that she wasn't eating the powder on the food.
The diarrhea she had concerns me, she had an accident, had to go out early this morning, but I think she feels better, it might have been some rice and salad we gave her. She had been getting a dirty butt and I was able to clean it up a bit. Usually when I do try she feels the need to go and tries. Now one who had ulcerative colitis I have to agree with Dr. Wilson-boss vet and owner of the huge Wilson Veterinary Clinic and satellite offices. He felt the metamucil would help with what he thinks is colitis. And colitis acts like this, the urge to go.
We are stopping the pumpkin for now as the stools are loose enough, too loose.
Stay tuned, more later!
Lulu got her third shot. I think she is liking these and she is walking better. We mentioned that she is having diarrhea and have stopped the pumpkin. So the doctor prescribed an antibiotic and I donated a stool sample. Dr. Booth said no worms, but she has a bacterial infection, clostridrium. So the Metronidazole is the antibiotic she is getting, 375 mg / twice a day for a week. I am wondering if Lulu got this from the cat litter as one of our cats has pancreatitis and had some diahrhea and we have to keep the two kitty litters pans cleaned often!
Update on Lulu, she seems more with it. She moves better, and she lies down and gets up better. On our tile floor she does have a bit of trouble getting up, so we do help her. She has at times moved on her belly to get to the carpet and gain more traction, the genius prodigal daughter she is!
The diarrhea has slowed, and her stool I saw last night and again this morning was formed her normal size stools, soft but not runny. :)
Thank you so much for these updates, and I am very glad to hear that Lulu is doing better with both her mobility and her stools. :) :)
Sometimes it can be so hard getting the stools straightened out. The same as with humans, sometimes the very same supplement can make GI issues either better or worse. It just takes experimentation to find out. We'll hope you've turned the corner now with Lulu!
Marianne
Lulu continues to walk much better, her stools are more formed, and she is acting like she is hungry more, since she has lost 18 lbs, we figure that she needs to put a little back on, since some of that weight might be muscle mass.
I have noticed that the last two mornings that she is peeing about a half dozen times or more. I thought at first that it was territorial, and she has done this before. And she does tend to pee more often, especially the last 3 years or so. But I carry my trusty flashlight out in the morning, and I didn't notice that her urine had a lot of volume, and that perhaps it is just trickling out. I have had her on cranberry pills for over two years and I remember the vet saying she had a prolapsed (?) vagina. Could it be the antibiotic doing this? She will be done with that on Wednesday morning.
Anyway, Lulu looks good and alert otherwise!
Lulu continues good progress. She had a mishap, yesterday when two neighbor dogs, including a girl friend of Lulu's, Bella with her big sis Daisy were trespassing. She galloped and she literally wore her hind legs tired. I even carried her a bit. But she recovered. Lulu adores Bella, so I was sorry to see this happen, and at least she got to meet her again. I will remember to keep my leash handy, because Lulu can be stubborn when she wants. :D:
I have decided since the slow urine drip isn't presently bothering her, to grab a sample later this morning and call the vet. That way if they want a sample I can drop it off as I am going into Romeo tomorrow and Lulu is due her 4th weekly adequan shot tomorrow.
:)
Another antibiotic for Lulu, as she finishes her one for her diarrhea she started one for her concentrated urine. Dr. Booth prescribed Cephalexin capsules, 1000 mg in the morning and 1000 mg in the evening for two weeks. Here's hoping that works! Otherwise Lulu continues to improve, and she is much more demanding. I like a spunky dog! :)
Awwww Yay for you and LuLu! And still like that young Dr. Booth. Sorry to hear LuLu has ad diarrhea though. Poor thing but isn't it awesome to have her all spunky and playful again. :)
Sharlene
Lulu continues to improve, her mobility is better, though she does have days where she feels like she's 70. Well don't we all! I still help her up on our slippery hard tiled floor. Her pee seems to be a bit better, though I would think her volume should be higher first thing in the morning. She doesn't complain, she just pees a lot of small pees. She has been like this, peeing more often probably for 3 years or so. So I guess I will keep an eye on her, and perhaps mention to the vet when we take her in for her monthly shot, as Dr. Wilson (or probably Dr. Booth) wants to see how the adequan is doing.
:) thanks for the update. Very happy to hear that LuLu continues to improve.
My molly is a frequent pee dog too. She'll go 5 or 6 times, rather than one long one. Unless it's raining, then 2 rather longer pees and a gallop back into the house.
Sharlene
Lulu continues to have good mobility, though she still has some trouble getting up and occasionally lying down. She had a bit of constipation yesterday so my wife added some pumpkin. That seems to have done the trick, she had a normal bowel movement this morning.
She sees Dr. Booth this Wednesday since Dr. Wilson (owner and the one who did Lulu's ACL ligament surgery on her back legs in 2005) said he wanted to see her after a month without more adequan and then to get her monthly dose if it has improved.
I am wondering if I should have Dr. Wilson see her or let Dr. Booth see her walk. He's a very good vet, but the ACL surgery is only done by him. So will think on that today. I don't like to have multiple vets as a rule and like to give our pets consistency in who they see when possible.
Well Lulu saw Dr. Booth yesterday and he thought she is doing well for a 12 year old. He prescribed a new antibiotic for her urinary tract infection, which they saw. He wants to do a re-test in the lab 2 or 3 days after she is finished in 2 weeks. I had her nails trimmed. She was antsy a bit during the night. I let her out about 4 am and waited for her. Then she was having a hard time lying down again. She splies her legs and it was difficult to get her to lay down. And of course she does have trouble getting up. I wonder if the adequan injection may have made her more sore. So she isn't having a great day. She did eat her food finally & I added two teaspoons of pumpkin to it as she was constipated yesterday and I think may still be. I am at work but my wife is home with her so I told her to make sure she gets up every once in a while. I will walk her outside when I get home as she walked a good distance this morning with me.
I AM thinking that maybe she needs more protein, and she loves ham or chicken. So I am wondering if maybe adding some hamburger to her meal would be good? Her weight is 67 lb, where she had been 84 lbs prior to treatment. She has been in the upper 60 lbs for the past month.
Not sure if I have an opinion on the hamburger. Zoe was dropping weight, a bit too much for my liking. I had decreased her raw and added more of her Honest Kitchen fish and sweet potato. I wasnt sure if it was from that, muscle wasting, something else. Long story short, I increased her food, increased the raw a tad and increased the wet food and she went from 16.5 to 17 pounds in two months. ( She is a little dog). I usually go by how she feels more than her actual weight.
Sometimes, I think they have bad days, just like us with their arthritis. I hope today is better for Lulu. You are doing a great job advocating for her. Keep up the good work.
Beef is typically higher in fats than chicken and fats can be a problem for our cush babies as they are prone to pancreatitis. If I were you, I would try to find lower fat foods to feed, increase carbs to add weight instead with things like rice, sweet potato, you could try white potatoes tho they may make the arthritis worse - just about any veggie we eat, they can eat. You can google and find good lists of foods to avoid with canines, too.
Glad Lulu is doing well and hope the weight issue improves soon.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Some recipes for Satin Balls, and other food ideas, designed to help pups gain weight -
Satin Balls - (Cat's recipe)
1 lb ground lamb, turkey or venison (or combination)
1 8 oz package of ricotta cheese
2 ounces almond butter
2 ounces coconut oil
4 ounces ground flaxseed
1 dozen egg yolks
2 cups rice cereal cooked
Other things to try include green tripe, sardines(canned in water and
drained) scrambled eggs, novelty meats like ostrich and rabbit, and certain
types of baby food. Baked treats can be good too, if the meat content is high
enough to get them interested. Don't OD on protein (as you know) with
Cushing's.
Kathy’s recipe
TO ADD WEIGHT - SATIN BALLS
20 pounds ground 70/30 beef or lamb
2 pounds beef or chicken livers pureed in the blender (gross I know)
12 eggs pureed in the blender
1-pound bag of cranberries pureed in the blender with the eggs
2 containers high fat ricotta cheese
2 cans jack mackerel or Salmon - drained
2 big cans spinach drained
1 box total cereal
1 jar wheat germ
1 big round box oatmeal
1 can of pumpkin
2 cups unsweetened applesauce
Bake at 350 like a meatloaf.
I should have let you know that Satin Balls are pretty high in fat content, as I'm sure you can easily see, and should not be given very often. A sudden increase in fats can trigger pancreatits and a steady diet can lead to a chronic condition there as well as other problems we don't want to add to the mix. So if you decide to try the balls, use them sparingly. These recipes were designed for dogs who have difficulty maintaining weight but who are otherwise fairly healthy.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Thanks for the recipes. And yes I considered the fat part, but if pancreatitis is a problem will use sparingly. One of our two almost 10 year old sister cats, Nellie has pancreatitis and we have the cats on a prescription diet. She is doing much better and she was getting pretty sick. By the way Lulu is Nellie's dog, she cuddles up with her and this has been her tradition since she was just under a year in age! Molly the other cat is a bit shy and doesn't cuddle up, but they both respect each other. I have the latest adorable picture of the two of them, but I don't see a link to upload on this forum, I guess because of the server space.
Lulu came upstairs all on her own tonight, unusual so maybe her legs are getting stronger. This is such a tricky disease taking the likes of an Einstein Endocrinologist to figure out or someone who studies the stock market ups and downs, there are good, average and not as good days, it seems, though Lulu has seemed to improve.
There are albums you can make here under your profile. Go to User CP and look down the left hand bar. You will see an area for albums where you can upload pics of Lulu...and any others you wish to share. ;)Quote:
I have the latest adorable picture of the two of them, but I don't see a link to upload on this forum, I guess because of the server space.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Thanks. I have started to upload pictures, but I am having a problem with the order of pictures. As I add new ones, they are being put at the front of the album. I am not seeing a way to move photos once they are posted, so I am going to wait before doing any more. I want to load chronologically, so I may have to put the most recent pix in first?Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirt's Mom