Patti,
I'm so glad that Tipper is realizing that this is the "good vet's office" and thta you both had a better night.
Daisy acts very calm and runs the whole place when we see the IMS vet, odd that is the only place where she doesn't shake at all.
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Patti,
I'm so glad that Tipper is realizing that this is the "good vet's office" and thta you both had a better night.
Daisy acts very calm and runs the whole place when we see the IMS vet, odd that is the only place where she doesn't shake at all.
Patti, I do not agree with Junior's mom. Tipper and Toby absolutely need to be separated ALL of the time. The attack happened when you were home. Tipper has snapped at you before. This is not the first time. Yes, Yorkies are known to be yappers and Buddy always had a lot to say. It's odd, but I miss that now. My friend's very sweet dog, ill dog, attacked and later was removed from the home by animal control. The dog ended up being euthanized. My friend never forgave herself. She knew her dog was unstable, but hadn't taken the necessary precautions. You must protect yourself, visitors to you home and all your precious animals. Big hugs,
Kathy:
They continue to be separated, it is just safer for them both that way. Blessings
Patti
Thanks for letting me know Patti. :p This situation has me worried as it is. I don't want anything to happen to any of you. Big hugs,
Hi Everyone:
Not too good of a nite for Tipper. She had a lot of struggling to breathe. It is worse when she first goes to sleep. Today the heat and humidity have returned with a vengeance. So she will not be out after morning. I am hoping to bathe her today. She used to like it, but lately she doesn't. I think she is just plain uncomfortable with her body condition, and the weight of her belly hanging down with no muscle support is bothering her back etc. I am sure the laser helps her with that. She was just such a muscular dog that I am sure she is not understanding what is happening to her body. Just think if all your ab muscles were gone. We would probably be having problems from it too. Well I am off her to get the bath ready for both dogs. It has been really hard to keep them separated, and Toby is so upset with the setup. It just has to be that way. Blessings
Patti
Patti, Sorry to hear Tipper did not have a very good night. I hope she will enjoy her bath today.
Hugs to you and Tipper and Toby.
Patti, I just read you're post on Scoop's thread and I wanted to tell I'm sorry you're having Lupus symptoms today. Hope you feel better.
Hugs
I'm sorry Tipper had a lousy night. It's starting to get a little warm here today too. I just switched from open windows to a/c. Trixie needs to be a cool as possible. I'm sorry Tipper doesn't enjoy her bath like she used to, this disease really stinks.
I just read your posts on Keesh's thread and I'm so excited about Lambert Pharmacy. The price on Vetoryl there is the best I've seen so far! Last month I used Dr Foster/Smith @$47 a box which I thought was pretty good but Lambert is way better at $39.90 I'll be ordering from them next week...I need 2 boxes of ten mgs just to get through a month. :(
At least I'll be saving about $20 this time!
Thanks for posting about Lambert!! :D
Barbara
Ahh, just read about Tipper having a bad night. They sure keep us occupied don't they? Hopefully a bath will make him feel better. Hugs going out to you, big time.
Barbara:
Remember if you buy 2 boxes from Nancy she will ship them free. I love that place they are really cheaper than any where I have found, they are an accredited pharmacy by the board, which is hard to do, and have a veterinary pharmacist right there. They sell lots of other things I found cheaper there too I am just ecstatic for you about Trixies numbers. Keep up the good work and she will continue to do well. Blessings
Patti
Thanks Patti-- When I place my order, I'll ask for Nancy.
Hoping Tipper has a better night tonight!! Sending positive thoughts your way!
Barbara
Aw Tipper, hope he starts liking his bath again, sending hugs!
Patti,
Toby is so upset because Yorkies have a need to be right in the middle of things. He does not understand your need to protect him above all else, he just feels left out. Try to give him as much attention as possible under the circumstances, but please don't put them together. Poor, little, sweet boy.:o
No wonder Tipper is lashing out, poor thing. She has to be exhausted just struggling to breathe at times.
Please take care of yourself too Patti. I know it's hard, but you have five animals counting on you. Sending strength, prayers, hugs and healing energy your way. :) xxxx
Hi Everyone:
Not too great of a nite for Tipper. She really has congested sounds, and hard swallowing, I could hear her get up during the nite swallowing, and swallowing. I have got to some how figure this out and help her, I am desperate. Last nite we had light rain, it did not bother her. She has already walked this morning so we are going to get ready for the vet trip here soon. Today will be the 4th shot and blood pressure and weight. I think she gained some. This is maddening as I feed her the exact same thing every day. I would like to get a lb off of her. Tipper did not enjoy her bath yesterday like she always did prior to Cushings. She is nice and clean anyway. She used to love her baths almost jumping in the utility sink. After I wet her down and saw the deterioration of her back leg muscles and the thin skin on her body it made me break down. I cannot believe this is my strong muscular Jack Russell. This is heart breaking to say the least. What this disease does is criminal. Well I got my IPhone 5 yesterday, but have not had time to get is set up with all that goes on here. I would not have gotten it because of the price point, but since I have employee benefits still, I got it for practically nothing. Gone are the good old days when both my phones and bills were paid by my work. Oh well you just have to adjust and tighten the old belt. Well we have to get ready and I have to trick Tipper as I don't want her pressure rising. Blessings
Patti
Oh Patti, I read your letter to my wife Linda (Moo) and we both are saying prayers for you. I hope the best for Tipper. She has been a great companion to you. I know our Lulu was, and we have been so blessed with our terrier mix Stanley, (picture in my latest album) that we have been able to cope better. Great you can get your IPhone yet, we are due to have an upgrade with our Droids, not sure if I will stay with or try an Iphone, but at least they are working still. and yes the bills are awful. I am still trying to get full-time work. I have managed to get a little computing at home from my current contract employer, but it isn't enough, and I don't know if we will make it much longer.
I am so sorry you cannot find work. That is a terrible situation to be in. I pray soon something will some your way. I know it has been hard adjusting for me on a fixed income now. Especially with all these vet bills that come at you from every direction. I will pray you find some work. Blessings
Patti
Sorry to hear Tipper had a lousy night. Hoping today's trip to the vet goes well and that Tipper is not too stressed from the trip!
Barbara
Hi Everyone:
Just a short one this time. Tipper did well at the vets today. Her blood pressure was good and her weight was down. She got her shot like a trooper, so no problems today. She is however laying at my feet as I type this wheezing very loudly as she tries to sleep. God please let me find a solution to this before it takes my girl. Blessings
Patti
Patti, Glad to hear Tipper's vet visit went well but sorry to hear about the wheezing. I'm sorry I don't have any advise to give you but just know that I think of you and Tipper and hope and pray things get better.
Hi Patti,
I am relieved to hear that Tipper's appointment went well this morning. :)Did the vet say anything about her breathing issues or is he just ignoring it? It seems to only happen when she sleeps. It that correct? Hugs to all of you. Belly rubs for Tipper and Toby. I feel sorry for him too. Xxxx
Hi Everyone:
It would seem that now during the day when Tipper lays down she is wheezing also. It only happens when she lays down. When she is standing she is ok. She did not want to go on a second walk today and that has me worried. Could be her foot, and then again could be something else. I am increasingly worried about this breathing. The vet never said a word about it yesterday as he was the substitute vet. Tipper drank more water the last few days so I am glad the ACTH is next Wednesday. I am going to try and get her moving again, I don't like this not wanting to walk. Tipper loves to walk she would walk miles f you kept going, so this scares me. Blessings
Patti
Has Tipper had an ultrasound? It's odd to me that the sounds are only when she lays down. Josie wheezed and honked all the time. Now when she lay on her side so that the mass was pressing more, she made more noises but she was never silent, never had normal breathing sounds. Is it possible the liver or something could be enlarged, pressing on the lungs causing her troubles? Just rambling, pulling thoughts out of the morass of my mind. :p I keep coming back to the scope she had that didn't find anything. :confused:
Hi:
Wanted to post as I forgot something. When I was at the laser session with Tipper the Dr. told me that a good way to help these dogs that have had muscle loss in the hind legs is to sit on a chair and let them put their front paws up on you. Rock them back and forth to strengthen that leg muscle. Do this several times a day, and keep doing it forever. I had also previously mentioned walking in circles and figure 8's. Blessings
Patti
Patti, I read your post on Lett's thread. Please let me and the others know what Dr. Bruyette says. I will be very interested.
Thank you for always thinking of Scoop and me.
I know Tipper is a sweetheart. Your love for her and how you going to the ends of the earth for her shows how special she is. This disease can do horrible things to some and I'm sure that doesn't help her mood sometimes. Sometimes I wish Scoop would have been able to meet the others, before he passed away, who are battling the same situation he was in. Hope you and Tipper have a good day. Love and hugs.
Vicki:
I posted on your thread as Dr. Bruyette just answered me. I truly hope I can get Tipper's breathing problem straightened out, or I feel she will not be with me long. Blessings
Patti
Do you think it would it make any difference if Tipper's head was raised when she's sleeping? Like a incline pillow so no pressure would be placed on the chest and trachea? Easier said then done to get a dog to sleep on a new pillow but when this is only happening when lying down leads me to think that there is pressure somewhere causing this labored breathing.
If the head and chest were gently angled up it might take the pressure off the top half? I'm thinking an incline wedge pillow with only a slight lift? Maybe it's worth a try?
They make them for cribs and the angle is very subtle....
something like this maybe--
http://www.dexproducts.com/products_sleeping_sl.htm
Barbara
Tipper has to be cranky and exhausted. She isn't getting proper rest, poor thing. I don't want to go walking either when I'm tired. Leslie might be on to something. When did Tipper have her last ultra-sound? Xxxxx
Hi Everyone:
Good suggestions about the angle in which Tipper's head and neck are. I have tried that many nites. The problem is she moves so much to get comfortable, and I have to keep lifting her head to put the pillow under and she gets mad and goes in the closet. At times it does help some, but I do believe this puts her trachea in a position where is kind of closes up part way when she lays, and that is why she is struggling for air. That is why I had the scope done, but so much for that. I am probably going to have an ultra sound after her next ACTH and blood work next Wednesday. Dependent on the results of the blood work I will probably opt to do one. They just got a newer high resolution machine which is good for showing everything. Do I really want to know or see a problem that I can do nothing about? That is the question I am asking myself. Last nite the breathing was not too bad, but we have a newly developed problem now. We have a maintenance man that takes care of common areas where we live. Yesterday I saw him in his little mule stopping all along the roads where we live and putting something on them. I was curious right away and went out and asked him what he was doing. He was spraying poison on all cracks everywhere on the road ways to kill weeds. Oh just great! And even greater, that they never even thought to consider the residents that live here and walk their animals on these roads. I thought I was going to have a stroke I was furious. If I had not seen him and walked my Tipper in that, and she constantly licks her feet I can only imagine what could have happened. I wanted to put my hands on his neck and strangle him!
We have a common bulletin board, why no notice this was going to be done???? I could just scream! I am still hot over this. It could have cost my Tipper her life. God what are these people thinking, or should I say not thinking? I will be composing a letter to the maintenance boss. So both dogs will go in the car and off this property to walk. Because Tipper has no flea protection on anymore, I am taking her about a 1/2 mile away where there is a warehouse and huge parking lot as she cannot do the grass. Ok I am doing better now that I vented. Tipper is laying by my feet struggling to breathe as I post this. I hope you and your babies have a good weekend. Blessings
patti
Patti,
Regarding an ultrasound..... Only you can answer the question as to whether you really want to know if something is found that you can do nothing about. For me, I would definitely answer yes to that question. Knowledge is power, at least then I could make a plan of action, even if it was to do nothing and appreciate the time I had left with my baby. I wouldn't be so obsessed about trying to find a cure if there wasn't one. I knew Buddy was terminal and his days were limited. I opted to make him as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. Even though it was painful, it did help me to know. Xxxxx
That's terrible about the weed spraying! Good thing you saw them and asked what was going on. Re: ultrasound Trust that you will know what to do when the time comes. I will be thinking about you and hoping that you find the answers you are looking for.
Nikki
I'm sorry to hear about Tipper's breathing problems. I can't offer any advice. Hopefully next week you can get some answers and take it from there. Thinking of you both.
Hi Everyone:
Well Tipper started off not having too bad of a nite, the breathing was not too bad. Then around 10:30 fireworks went of literally. We live less than 1000 yards of a lake. They had a festival there this weekend. So to cap it off they set off fireworks. Tipper is not afraid of them as she knows the difference between them and thunder. It just kept going for like and hour so she got disgusted and went in the closet. This dog just cannot catch a break. This morning when I took her for a walk she was panting the whole time. I am not sure if it was nervousness at walking at a different place or her heart. I am going to have to watch out for signs of problems. It is just that there are so many things going on at one time it is hard to pinpoint the cause, which is frustrating. I don't want to be taxing her heart, but don't know if that is the problem. I had not noticed her doing that around here when we walked. These Cush dogs do so many strange things it is hard to decipher what is going on. She is getting bored staying in the house, and is sure letting me know it. I am hoping for an early fall and she can walk better in cooler temps. Hope everyone is enjoying a good weekend with their babies. Blessings
Patti
Patti... is there a lake or something close by you could take Tipper too? I'm wondering if cooling off in knee deep water would make her feel better at least for a little bit and the change of scenery helps.
Keesh for the first time was panting this morning during his early morning walk, but I chalk that up to no meds cause he wouldn't eat.
I really hope you can get this breathing issue under control for both your sakes.
Sometimes when Tipper gets nervous about her surroundings she pants. I think she may be nervous as to why we are walking where we are because we normally walk in our neighborhood and that is what she is used to. I am going to keep track of it in my doggie diary. I hope it is not her heart, she has enough going on right now. I feel if we could only conquer this breathing issue she may have a shot at a longer lifetime. I would take her to the lake, but there are so many Canadian geese there right now, that I am afraid of a bacterial infection from the goose droppings everywhere. Tipper really licks her feet a lot, and I don't want to deal with something else. It is rather cool here today so I don't think heat was a factor. We'll see how it goes tomorrow morning. Blessings
Patti
Sending hugs Patti, praying Tipper's breathing improves...
How was last night and early today for the breathing?
H I Everyone:
I just got back from the vets with Tipper. She got her fifth shot. I had asked the vet a week ago to switch her from Hepato Support to Denamarin. He suggested a better and newer form of liver support that many vets told him they were having success with called S-Adenosyl- 100. It came in today so I picked it up when I was there. I am going to start her on it tomorrow as it has to be given on an empty stomach. If anyone has any experience with it please let me know before then. I will have to watch her for allergic reactions. He charged me 60.00 for it, and I was floored that a supplement could cost so much. I should have known he was up to his old gouging tricks. I just looked it up and it was 18.99. So tomorrow when he is not in I am calling his assistant who orders the drugs and tell her I want a refund of 40.00. I have had it with this crap! I cannot afford to be putting out this kind of money, and shame on him. What goes around comes around, and it is definitely going to come around to him!. Tipper was ok breathing last nite, not too much struggling. She did lose some more weight today, about 3 ounces. She is almost back to her original weight, but for 1 ounce, so the lentils did help me get her there. Hope everyone has a good day with their babies. Blessings
Patti
Hi Patti,
S-Adenosyl-100 and Denamarin are similar supplements. Both are based on SAMe, both contain Milk Thistle active ingredients. Both have been used for some time to help the liver in both humans and animals. They are neither one really "new" on the scene but may be new to your vet. ;) The S-Adenosyl has a few more ingredients than the Denamarin. Here are some links about each so you can compare them -
S-Adenosyl-100
http://www.drugs.com/vet/s-adenosyl-100.html
Denamarin
http://www.drugs.com/vet/denamarin.html
I hope it helps Tipper and am glad to hear she had a better night last nite. Did you talk to him about an ultrasound?
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Leslie:
I wanted to wait to see what her blood work shows Wednesday, and the ACTH numbers before making a decision. I think all this talk about sludge in the Gallbladder, tumors on the spleen, etc. has gotten me worried as to what is going on inside her from this disease. Was Squirt's tumor from the Cushings, or they didn't know? I guess I am also scared of what they might find and how I will be able to deal with it. I keep going back and forth with deciding to do it or not. The thing is many of these Cush dogs get Gallbladder problems. If she can be put on Ursidiol and it saves her life I want to know if she has sludge. I am just scared of finding out she has a tumor, as with her breathing I don't know if she would be able to withstand operation. I am really torn on what to do now. Blessings
Patti
No, Cushing's did not cause Squirt's tumor. As far as I know, Cushing's doesn't cause tumors period...it is caused *by* tumors. A big difference. ;)
I know what you mean about knowing vs not knowing. In some areas, it is much better for me to not know. Politics - it is vastly better for me and all who have contact with me if I am willfully, blissfully ignorant about what is going on in in the world of politics. A lesson I had to learn the hard way recently. However, I don't think willful ignorance in all areas is a good thing.
If Squirt hadn't had the US and no one had ever told me about the tumor, she wouldn't be here today. There is no doubt in my mind about this, none. In the first place, I would have continued to pick her up and carry her as usual - something they told me right off not to do - there was a certain way she was to picked up and carried to put the least amount of strain on the organ as possible; I would have let her continue to run and jump and climb when she could; I wouldn't have known to watch for anything out of the ordinary. Then, I'm not sure I would have recognized there was a problem, a serious life-threatening, issue until it was too late. To compound that problem, I would have taken her to the GP vet who may not have been equipped to deal with a ruptured spleen in a manner that would save her life - not nearly as prepared as a hospital setting would be but I wouldn't have thought to take her there first. I worried and fretted about the US just as you are then one of the admins told me that it is always better to know than to not know...and that certainly proved true in Squirt's case.
I have thought of having another US done on her when I can afford it - IF that time ever comes. ;) But in our case, I won't take any measures beyond meds, herbs, supplements and diet to aid anything that might be found. And yet, there might be things that would be beneficial to a condition discovered via an US that I wouldn't know to try without one. So...if I could afford it I would more than likely have one done just so I could try to help if possible. It's scary to think about either way but I know you'll make the right decision for ya'll.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang