Down the Cushings Road Again -- Abbie, 15 year old beagle is now at peace

Judy

Sounds like Abbie and Jenna are about the same size/weight. Because I learned so much on this forum about the recommended dosage I asked my vet to start "low and slow" for Jenna's treatment. He respected that we are also starting 10mg x 2 day. Jenna is pretty much symptom free and is very happy. Our struggle is her blood work is off the charts; Liver, Kidney and Bilirubin's especially. The vet is very concerned about Jenna having Kidney problems if we don't start the medication. Her organs are working over time because the cortisol in her body? The medicine will arrive today, but I hesitant to start her until I can be there to see how she does. I was thinking rather than starting her tonight to start Saturday AM so I can be with her? What are your thoughts?
Maybe because the does is low she will handle it well. Jenna's got the typical Beagle appetite so getting her to take is no problem, lol.

Tammy

Hi Judy, hope this increase will help with Abbie's BP. I sympathize completely as we're trying to get molly's down too and increased trilostane and amoldipine both. (her ACTH had gone up so the increase was needed for more than just the BP) But her BP was back in the 200's. sigh These girls sure do keep us hopping don't they!!!

Molly does love the cooler weather we are having now with fall. A bit more energy on the walks and more bounce in the step. Hope Abbie is the feeling good too.

hugs

Sharlene and Judy

I received Jenna liquid medicine, we start tomorrow 10mg x 2 day.
My concern is Jenna is almost symptom free, except her beagle appetite I'm worried how to know she's loaded. I am nervous, I will post on my thread please follow me as I will need your support. I hope your fur babies are doing well

Hugs
Tammy (Jenna, Charlie and Sandie):)

Hi, folks! Abbie has been so quiet the last few days that I was really starting to worry about her--even more than usual. Then this evening she went for her first 30 minute walk in months! :D Weather is beautiful right now with low humidity and cool temps in morning and evening --supposed to continue for at least a few days so, hopefully, Abbie will feel up to more good walks.

Have run into an issue in the mornings--I give Abbie pepcid and zrytec wrapped in canned food when she gets up. Several mornings she hasn't wanted to take it. I have been able to open her mouth and put it in and close her mouth until she swallows but this is not an easy task. She also has been spitting out the cheeseball with her Vetoryl inside. I now roll the front edge in canned food and she takes it. I have no problems the rest of the day, including her evening Vetoryl inside cheese. Only conclusion I can make is that she is nauseous in the mornings. Not sure how to handle this--

I'm having the same issue with Molly in the mornings. Canned food works the best so far but it has to be a tasty food that she wants

My Harley took Pepcid AC for a while and then I did notice he was becoming nauseated with it so I switched him to slippery elm bark (SEB). The SEB really did help, the one cautionary note with the SEB is it has to be given a couple of hours away from other medications as it may interfere with absorption.

Hugs, Lori

Wishing for more good walks for Abbie (and her mom ;) ) and for long lasting good weatherconditons :)

Liverwurst...might be worth a try? :D Or can't she have that?

Sas and Quincy :)

Lori -- I have kept the SEB in the back of my mind but the timing would present problems since Abbie is on a twice-daily trilostane schedule. Also, I don't think Abbie would tolerate waiting two hours for her breakfast!

Saskia -- not sure about liverwurst but, along the same lines, I am wondering if I should get a different canned food to give with her morning pills. Royal Canin makes another low fat canned food that has a fishy smell -- not something I would want to eat first thing but beagles do like smelly things! I'll be speaking with the vet after next week's ACTH and will add that to my list.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Do you get Halo canned food in your area Judy?
I just found one that molly is (at the moment) loving, lower in fat and protein than the Medi-cal Moderate Protein canned that I get from the vet.
The Spot Stew Wholesome chicken version one, has veggies in it too. Still good enough consistency to wrap a pill up in too. You are giving Omega 3 right? Is good for kidney's but the pills are big enough they have to really be gobbled down.

Sharlene--I am able to get Halo here. Just looked at the canned chicken stew. Not surprised Molly likes it--really good ingredients.

I haven't been giving Abbie Omega-3. I have read that it is a good supplement for kidney issues and high bp but have been reluctant to start Abbie due to her propensity for diarrhea. Next UPC and BP check will be during the first week in November. If no significant improvement, will definitely need to make some treatment changes.