My big boy Gable - sweet Gabe is now at peace

Oh Joan, what a painful day for you, all the way around. I’m so sorry. I know how much you wish you’d stayed with Lena, and my heart goes out to you as you relive that final night. You had no way of knowing how that night was going to turn out, but I surely understand your regret and sorrow. Life can provide such blessings, but also such sorrow.

But turning to Gable, I feel optimistic. Clearly the internist thinks you’re still on the right track with the trilostane treatment even though finding the optimal dosing protocol remains the challenge. But I have faith you’ll get there! I hope both you and your sweet boy can get a decent night’s sleep, and tomorrow morning will dawn a bit brighter now that you’ll be restarting his medication. Good luck, and we’ve got your back!

Hugs, hugs and more hugs!

Hugs back to you, Marianne. I feel better, we are both just tired. He is such a good boy.

How’s Gable (and you) doing today, Joan? Hope you guys had a peaceful night and that the trilo capsule went down the hatch this morning with no problem...

He got up a couple of times to drink, but went back to bed until around 5am. I never have a problem with giving him the pill. I give it with a forkful of wet dog food and he swallows it whole!

Thanks, Marianne, we're fine~

Oh Joan,
I’ve been thinking about your whole pack for three days, and my personal past two days have been so crazy I didn’t even get online until late today. I’m glad you are feeling better about Gable’s status, but I have a question and I only ask because I care. What did the specialist tell you, if anything, about the lump in Gable’s neck? Was It you that told me about the “twitchers”? I’vE had my share lately. Anyway Wednesday night, I wanted to send you my recliner so you could put it by the couch, load everybody on your couch and still have precious Gable by your side. I’m still looking for my magic wand.

I was relieved to hear that your big boy had a good restart on his meds. I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend and Blessings to you and all your pups.

PS, I know your little Lea is barking down to you, “I love you more Mom!” and thanks for taking such good care of everyone—you’re the best mom ever and I miss you too.

Gabe's urine culture:

Diagnostic report
12-May-2019 Urine MIC M130 Susan Kimmel, DVM
12:29 Source: Antech | Order item: Urine MIC M130 [199.739]
Sample collected: 12:36 12-May-2019 | Submitted: 09-May-2019 | Reported: 12-May-2019
Lab reference: NYAE72854215
Test Results Ref. range Unit
Culture, Urine
SOURCE Urine
- (Cystocentesis)
Preliminary #1 05/11/2019
No growth after 24 hours.
Final Report 05/12/2019
No growth present after 48 hours.

She felt the lump and measured it. I told her that my regular vet had syringed some fluid and said it was just a fatty cyst. That was that!

I could use that recliner right now! I'm working from home today and sitting at my grandson's desk and little chair. My rear-end keeps falling asleep! I can look out the window at the garden, it's pouring! Otherwise I would be sitting in the gazebo working there.

So far, so good on the meds...5mgs is really a small dose. He's still panting, but I don't think he's drinking as much. I'll have an ACTH test done over the weekend and see where the numbers are.

Hey Joan, all my dogs have had those fatty lipomas -- some of them have ended up being REALLY large. Depending on location, sometimes they can actually interfere with gait or other movement and need to be taken off. But if not, my understanding is that they pose no risk. So that's a relief!

So glad that at least you're seeing a little improvement with the drinking. Just to clarify, Gable's getting 5 mg. twice a day, right? He'd been getting 10 mg. once daily previously, and we're hoping that by splitting it up, we're thinking he'll get longer-acting benefit but without dropping his cortisol any lower..?

Yes, that's the plan. He was getting the 10mg in the morning, but then we stopped for a month until the specialist saw him. We'll see...

ACTH results from yesterday:

1.9 reference range 1.0 - 6.0
5.7 reference range 8.0 - 17.0
Thyroid: 2.5 reference range 2.5 - 2.6