14 year-old Shih Tzu With Recent Cushing's Diagnosis

Wow, that is such great news. It is so nice to hear about positives updates.
xoxo
Cindy and Alex

Go Hannah!!!!!!:D:D:D:D:D

This is wonderful news. I am so happy for you both. Keep up the good work!!!!!


Hugs,
Addy

So Hannah and I are headed to the vet tomorrow because last night I noticed a pink area under her chin-can't tell if it is a bump or an irritation, but it looks to be about the size of the tip of my forefinger or thumb and she does not want me to touch it. It looks like there could possibly be a couple of very small scabs on it as well. The other side looks to be a little pink, but not the same as this.

She just got groomed on Sunday, so I don't know if this is new, or if I could just see it because she has a short haircut. I also don't know if it was irritated from the grooming. It could also be because she licks so often (her feet and front legs) and rubs her face on the carpet. She used to take a low-dose steroid (Triamcinilone)in the summer for allergies, but after I noticed licking in the winter and then found out she had Cushing's, we no longer do that. Much of the time I think it is nerves because she can go for long periods without itching and licking. We tried a couple of different diets to see if it was food with no change, and she is on a prescription food (Royal Canin SO) to prevent crystals.

Obviously we will be seeing the vet in a matter of hours, but any issue makes me so nervous, and I always assume the worst. Last time she was in for a little bump I found in her ear and they thought it was cancerous. Thank God, it was not, but that is my fear with this. I know Cushing's dogs can have skin issues, so I suppose it could be something to do with that as well. She does not have any hair loss in that area; I can just see this bright pink area through the white short hair. She has been itching that area on and off, now that I think about it, but on both sides of her mouth (this is more on her right).

Anyway, there is nothing I can do about it now, and worrying won't help, but I just thought I would post about it to get it out of my system, and to see if any of you have dogs who have had something like this.

Anxious for tomorrow,
Julie & Hannah

I will be anxious with you and the appointment for Hannah can not come fast enough. Most likely it is nothing serious, especially if she just came from the groomers.

My advice:

Breathe in, breathe out, big breath and a deep sigh. You need oxygen:D:D:D

Repeat as needed

Hugs and waiting with you,
Addy

Thanks, Addy. Good advice. Luckily, I was able to let it go last night. We are back from the vet and she thought it was some sort of dermatitis type irritation. She said it is kind of by a lip fold and it just looked a little inflamed and irritated. She thinks the grooming probably made it flare up. She also thought there was a hint of a yeast-like smell, but was glad it was dry, rather than wet. It does look better today then it looked on Tuesday night. We got some wipes that have a fungal med in them and I have to scrub the area twice a day for two weeks, and then as needed. She did not want to give a pill if she didn't have to because of the side effects (I guess they can be hard on the liver), so hopefully we can get it cleared up soon.

Feeling relieved!
Julie & Hannah

Hi Julie,

Glad it turned out to be nothing major and hope the scrubbies will heal it in no time! I know what a relief it was to hear what the vet had to say.

Awhile ago I found several lumps in Squirt's belly about 10pm one nite. By 11 it was cancer, by 8am it had metastasized. :o:rolleyes: It turned out what I was feeling was her BOOBS! :p She's lost weight since starting the Lyso and I hadn't felt them in years...so, of course, I panicked big time! LOL Our vets get quickly used to me flying in the door in tears over some silly little thing or the other. :o:D

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Leslie-
I am just like you! I totally go through the cycle of it's probably nothing serious, to it is the worst possible thing, with the worst prognosis. Luckily I didn't have enough time to get too worked up before the appointment. I really like the vet I saw today too. She just joined the practice a few months ago, but she seems to be really on top of research, and really wanted to think and talk about how many vaccines Hannah should get and how we should proceed from now on. I like my other vet too, but might actually try to see this one more often, since I know Cushing's is always at the front of her mind.

She also recommended a Thundershirt for my other Shih Tzu, Izzy, who is terrified of thunderstorms and fireworks, etc. and it has really helped! We went from constant shaking and panting and climbing all over us, to a calmer dog who still shakes occasionally or needs a bit of cuddling, but can pretty much lay down next to us and relax. I have my sanity back! So, if anyone else has issues, you may want to look into the Thundershirt. It has a money back guarantee too. Can't go wrong!

I hope the wipes will work too. I am concerned I am not doing it right. I don't know how much to scrub/wipe/etc., but I guess we'll see how it goes. Also, it is so close to her lip and she is always licking her feet, so I have to try to prevent her from rubbing it on her foot and then licking it. The vet assured me it should be okay and said I could wipe it with a washcloth after if I wanted to be extra safe. What can I say-I don't have human babies yet, so my dogs are my babies and I want them to be safe!

We go in the first week of August for her next blood test, so at least they can take a peek at it again then. I'm always waiting for the next result, as well as the next thing to go wrong...luckily there are usually a few peaceful weeks or months in between!

Julie & Hannah

Hello-

So we're treating the "chin issue" with the medicated wipes and Hannah lets me do that with no problem. My husband and I were out of town at his parents' house for a couple of days and my dogs stayed with my parents. My mom commented that Hannah doesn't seem to be able to/want to go up the two big steps to their porch. She went up them fine when we dropped them off and has always done it before. Then my mom thought maybe it was because she was tired from her walk.

Hannah's had difficulty jumping up on our bed for years, so I have a little stool type thing especially for her. Last night and today she seemed really resistant to use it. She usually just jumps right up and then onto the bed, but it was like she couldn't figure out how to get up there and wanted me to help her. Today I even had a tiny piece of sausage to see if that would make her jump right up (she is very food motivated) and it still took her a little while to do it.

This is a definite change since Thurs. Does the back leg weakness typically come on so quickly? I feel like it is a huge change. Nothing else is different. We haven't started any other new meds. She gets her Anipryl in the morning and now I do the chin wipes twice a day, which shouldn't affect her legs. She still doesn't pant or have the pot belly. Her eating has improved-she still loves to eat, but isn't begging or bugging us for food, or pushing my other dog out of her dish. She still gets a lot of drinks, and she usually gets up to get drinks at night now too, but she isn't going through bowls and bowls of water, and the peeing is still under control, just more often.

She is going to have another blood test in a couple of weeks to check her levels, since her ALKP level did actually drop significantly after being on Anipryl-I believe from 1770 to 680 or something (although that is still high, as I believe the high range was 212 at my vet's office). At this point I'll keep an eye on her and see what the next blood test shows, but I'm worried that we've moved into the next phase of issues with the back leg weakness (unless her legs hurt from something else? she does go up and down the steps willingly) and even maybe with this chin issue.

Just thought I would see if anyone has any other thoughts or recommendations.

Thanks!
Julie & Hannah

Hi Julie,

My Zoe's back leg weakness came on fast and worsened quickly. Of course you need to rule out any underlying problem. Hypothyroidism, arthritis, back problems just to name a few can cause hind leg weakness.

Do you see any trembling in her back legs?

Hugs,
Addy

Hi Julie,

I'm not sure how quickly the hind-leg weakness and hesitancy to jump can come on but I do know this - pups with elevated cortisol are prone to ligament damage, primarily the ACL and cruciate ligaments. These can tear suddenly. Since these pups are already prone to problems, it is best that they not be encouraged to jump, or climb stairs, etc. when they are hesitant to do so. Hannah knows how her legs are feeling and will act accordingly to preserve them under normal circumstances, ie, not in a fear or danger situation. So, if I were you, I would follow her lead and not try to make her jump or climb. ;) They can't speak to us in works but if we watch them, often we can still figure out what they are saying.

I remember when Squirt quit jumping up and down from things like she always had. I tried my best to keep her from jumping down period after her first knee surgery, but sometimes she did. :eek::rolleyes: It has been 2 years or more since she had jumped up on or down from anything. She does still climb up steps, not stairs, most of the time. Some days, her knees are bothering her so she patiently waits at the bottom for me to pick her up. She will occasionally go down on her own, but I usually make her wait for me to carry her. I look at it as giving my arms, back and legs some exercise, LOL, and more opportunities for hugs and kisses. ;)

Quote:

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...since her ALKP level did actually drop significantly after being on Anipryl-I believe from 1770 to 680 or something...

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One of Squirt's wonderful vets in TN told me that she had consistently seen ALKP values lowered in all her patients who were on Anipryl. It had the same effect on Squirt. At the time, I couldn't find any scientific studies, etc. about it and Dr. W said she had never read anything in the journals. But she knew what she had seen over the years and Anipryl lowers the ALKP for some reason. :cool: Thanks for reminding me about this little quirk!

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang