Mira, 7yr old Husky - Cushings ruled out; liver cancer (Mira has passed)

We are there with you in spirit...

I'm with you too! Just a reminder that some of what you were seeing had to be the tramadol... it has opiate like effects. Are you seeing the oncologists? Sending love and strength.. Kim

We are ok. We are tired. No death sentence today! Thank for pushing me, more later.

~~sigh of relief~~ plus hugs and belly rubs!

Ok here is what happened at Advanced Cridical Care today. They won't say if she is ok or not. They never once mentioned putting her to sleep. They did want to keep her there and give her an iv and such. Which i know would help a lot but i wont have her spend any of this time away from me confused and frightened. But she certainly looked better there then at home. I took all the notes I had made about current conditions and when it was. We went thru that. She defined what pain might look like and Mira had shown all those last night. Today seems much better. She even jumped up in my Jeep herself and made it! I didn't want her to try though.

Anyway, Mira is to rest. No more walks. She was given pills to help her eat. So far that has worked. She eat 1/3can of food willingly. They gave her a shot to hopefully help her sleep. That didn't work but she is resting pretty peacefully.

They want us to do chemo but I doubt that we will. But those people that do that may prove to be a big help. They can tell me satisticsly how much time she has without chemo. They can give us drugs to help with the final days and maybe most importantly be able to help me to know when it's time to go. That is if we make it that far. I have an appointment with them late on Friday. That could be too late. Some of the answers won't come until the biopsy result is here. Which hopefully will be before then.

We also learned that they will do an ultrasound on our ten year old Kira even though she has no symptoms. I see no other way to catch this dreadful cancer in time in dogs. We had our answer in thirty minutes. They don't even put them out to do it. And the cost is very reasonable.

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Originally Posted by Squirt's Mom

Dear Janis,

If you can, go to ACC and just talk to them. Take Bud with you and ya'll just see what the specialists think. Then you have a bit more info which may provide the answers you need. Have you talked with anyone from the cancer forums? Did anyone have any experience similar to Mira's story to share?

Oh, I wish there were words to help you understand that you are not failing your baby girl in any way. To emotionally fail Mira you would have to walk away from her and erase her from your heart, never looking back. You are right by her side instead, holding her, hugging her, kissing her, and doing all you can to keep her comfortable and happy as she can be.

I can only imagine the helplessness you are feeling. It is this feeling of helplessness that fuels guilt; we always feel there HAS to be something we can do, there HAS to be something we are missing, there HAS to be something somewhere but we are simply unable to find it...we aren't smart enough, strong enough. So we feel as if we are failing and the guilt begins to eat us alive. Which makes us feel even more helpless, and hopeless. A terrible, horrifying cycle which we cannot stop and we become lost in the vortex.

But, you know what? Not all humans are capable of feeling these emotions, of finding themselves in this vicious cycle, because they can't comprehend the depth of love required in order for our souls to reach such a state of despair. To shed a single tear for a "dumb animal" is beyond their comprehension! How small and empty and cold their souls must be.

You and I and everyone here have been blessed; we were giving souls capable of holding love beyond measure. Each and everyone of us knows when we first fall in love with our furbabies that one day we will face the pain of losing them, of waking up one morning to find their physical place beside us forever empty. Yet we take them into our homes and hearts willingly, gladly, with joy, and we love them completely every single day we are given to share with them.

You love Mira and, Janis, love never fails.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

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My gosh you write the most beautiful things!

No I haven't been to any cancer forums. There is none like this one. I have looked. I thank you so much for letting me stay. And going thru this with me. If heaven has angels they are all right here.

They said i cant walk her. So I took her to the store with me tonight. They said she could have dog biscuits so I bought a big box. She likes to go. No correction, she likes to be anywhere I am. Her seperation anxiety was partly my fault. She latched on to me from the start and I latched back. I think I should give her more Tramadol, she is very restless. Keeps flopping over, getting up and moving, in the pillow out of the pillow, biting on her paw. Half the time she lays on her chest with her front paws crunched up under her. She isnt sleeping, not in days. They say dogs dont sleep when they are curled up, they can only sleep lying flat. How long her days must seem. I haven't slept much either.

God there were signs that something was wrong. A cry and an odd reaction. Then it was gone. God didn't want me to save her.

I feel so selfish for keeping her here, but when you look at the interest in her eyes when outside, I think she must not be feeling any pain right now. I just want to sit with her and watch life go by with her. Boy who's going to have the seperation anxiety now? I'm far too attached to her. Maybe she is sleeping now it's hard to tell from here but her breaths seem deep and slow and it sounds like she is snoring. I hope no one makes a sound. As i write this I dozed off myself and dreamed of something odd I can't remember. I wake with a start and see only ten minutes have pasted.

Do you ever have bad dreams about your dogs? I do all the time. They are always running away. A collar comes loose and I can't hang on. Then I'm screaming for them. Screaming there name and searching. I often wake up and cry. I get up and find the one that ran off and hug them and ask them to please never run away. I don't let myself think of there deaths normally and I'm sure my dreams are the result of that. I'm like a dog, I am unhappy when I'm not with my pack.

When our Kodi died it was when buds brothers wife had died. We had Kodi put to sleep the same day we left for a funeral four hours away. I wasn't thinking. We left Kira in the house in the care of a dog sitter. Nothing new there but half way there I suddenly realized... Kira had never been left alone ever!!!! Ho my god what had I done! I was frantic. I asked my parents to go sit with her. They said she had torn up the carpet at the door where she had last seen us. That night I told bud that right after the service I'm going home. He said well see. I said no I'm going. I cried uncontrollably that night not for Kodi but for what my Kira must be feeling. After the service I jumped in my car and dashed for home. Thinking over and over I'm coming kira I'm coming. I found a very tromitzed Kira when I got home. She ran from door to door. Like where is Kodi? Where is Kodi? I calmed her down and held her. He's gone Kira. She was never the same again. I pasted out on the sofa with her under my hand. Kira was never that carefree three year old she was when we left. Now she will loose another. Her constant friend fort the last seven years. This sucks, it just sucks. I'm sure all of your dogs have suffered from loss too.

Going back to ACC again today. Hopfully talk to chemo people, hopfully get a ultrasound and chest xray on ten yr old Kira and little Mira is not able to walk on left rear leg. Yes the LEFT again. Everything on her left side is failing!!! That's the side I'm on too I guess.

I found in my notes back when Mira was six months old I had sent my brother miras current blood test taken at that time and i had noted that the vet was concerned about miras liver!!!! Way back then, I don't even remember that. Knowing me I probably didn't want to remember. So many things i missed. I hope I'm in time to save Kira!! What if her blood test was misread too? She has many highs and lows too. Cushings being in there once too!

Since Squirt was diagnosed with Cushing's, I see it everywhere I look. So many times I have seen pups and been 100% sure they were cushinoid only to learn they really were just old and over-weight! :o:rolleyes:

I hope all is good with Kira's workup today!

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Janis -

Sending good thoughts to you and Kira today too! :)

Gretchen and Rusty

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Originally Posted by missbeagle

Janis -

Sending good thoughts to you and Kira today too! :)

Gretchen and Rusty

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Me too!!!!!!!!!!

Marianne

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Originally Posted by labblab

Me too!!!!!!!!!!

Marianne

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Me THREE!
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

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Originally Posted by frijole

me three!
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

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me four!!!!

Oh god kiras veritic is moments away. Looking a her blood test I see Cushings. I see liver and pancrious. Reg vet said urine infection. I did not see cancer. I'm so tired. Up all night with Mira.

Kira Cushings most likely. TELL ME I can still have her for three years. Does catching it earily help?

Somebody!!!!

Hi Janis,

Can you tell us why you think Kira may have cushing's? Cushing's is not a death sentence and with effective treatment, dogs can live out their natural life expectancy with a really good quality of life. My first cushdog is a rarity and was diagnosed at 3 years old. She is now 9 years old and still going strong. We think she had cushing's for at least before being diagnosed. My 2nd cushdog was a foster dog who we adopted because we knew he had cushing's. He had had the disease for a very, very long time and was a walking infection from head to tail, had very little fur and could hardly stand up due to severe muscle wasting. I've gotten estimates on his age of anywhere from 8 to 15 years old. He's been on treatment for three years and you'd never know he was the same pathetic dog that walked through our door in August, 2007. Whether a dog is diagnosed early or later in the disease, treatment can work miracles. I saw it happen twice. FYI, the object of treatment is to improve/resolve the symptoms so it is not recommended to treat a dog until the dog has overt symptoms.

Now that Kira may be cushingoid, please remember to get her records as well and post test results here.

Glynda

Hi Janis,

No, Cushing's is not a death sentence. If it turns out that Kira does have Cushing's it will mean a change in your lives in some areas but as Glynda said, with the right treatment, cush pups live out their normal life spans, some longer. Vets will tell clients that a diagnosis of Cushing's means 2 years with or without treatment and this is simply bull-hockey! They are just repeating what they were told in school...and much of that is way out of date! ;)

You need to know that Cushing's is a slowly progressing disease, taking years and years to do real damage in most cases. So don't let the possibility make you feel pressured into starting Kira on treatment now. Rushing into treatment is much more dangerous than waiting to make sure it IS Cushing's and then deciding the best treatment approach for her. So take your time, have her thoroughly tested, rule out all other possibilities like diabetes, thyroid issues and other non-adrenal problems, then proceed with treatment.

I so hope this is not the case for Kira but just the extra stress of the situation with Mira and that she gets a clean bill of health once the tests are done.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Thank you. The doctor didn't seem overly worried about it. I can not belive my vet misdiagnost both tests. He said it was just a urine infection. Oh well. Advanced Cridical Care (ACC) will take care of Kira from now on.

Of course I will pass along all the test results. But I can tell you right now Kira fits all the symptoms to the letter. She has for years. The desperation for food, drinking enormous amounts of water and peeing huge puddles. Lakes! The distended belly. She also said it explained the failure oh her knee legaments. And why the fur on her back never grew back after the last surgery. It's been seven months and still it looks like they shaved her yesterday. The other side done two years ago was slow to come in was back to normal in six months. I have so many questions for you all.

My memory is so poor. I recorded all the conversations between me and the doctors. All that complicated stuff. I probably have three hours worth. I need to focus on Mira right now. At the moment I feel like I've created a frankinstien. All these pills and forcing her to do stuff. The way she looks at me looks like she is saying why didn't you just let me go? Her eyes stare and her head wobbles.

Worse yet the very first thing I did was the wrong thing! Wecwanted her to sleep. When we left the office I just wanted to make her feel better as fast as I could. I remembered the doctor saying the peredizone will make feel the best so I gave it right away. FORCED it down her throat along with a pill that would make her want to eat. As I looked over the other three bottles I remembered she said not to give one of them until tomorrow. I asked bud about and he said it was the last one we got. Good God that was the predizone!! Now I'm looking at mira who panting hard and her eyes looking back wildly. Frankinstein! What have I done? Poor Mira who hasn't slept in days is a zommie. Shell never sleep now and she's not. She does not look much better, she is not limping though and she did sniff at bushes a bit looking for mice and lizards. I asked if she wanted to go for a walk but she did not want to. Have any of you felt like you created a frankinstin? We are not doing chemo. We just wanted to give her the most good days possible. Thirty days is all. I still have to let her go. Will the Mira I used to know ever come to visit?

Overt symptoms? What is it I'm looking for? She has all the symptoms I mentioned above. Is there something else?

(by the way... This site not only has wonderful people but the site itself runs very smoothly and quickly. Very user freindly. I'm impressed.)

Still reading and sending you strength and support on this journey. I can offer you encouragement for Kira should cushing's be the dx. My dog Haley was diagnosed at 12 1/2 and I treated her for FOUR YEARS with lysodren. She passed away the end of May but not from Cushings - she was just very old.

It seems you have found a great new vet clinic that can handle Kira's health. Overt cushing's symptoms would be extreme water drinking and urinating in the house, losing hair/skin irritations, back leg weakness to name a few.

With all you have on your plate right now, please know that cushing's goes undiagnosed in many many dogs (including my Haley) for years and years and years. While not ideal, it is OK because you usually do not have to treat right away. So - it is OK to focus on Mira. If 30 days is what you have then I am sure you will make those 30 as comfortable as you can. Hug her often, and know you have absolutely done all that is humanly possible for her.

And yes, we will be here for you as you need us. More huge hugs, Kim

"did not die of Cushings" that's comforting to know.

KIRA
Siberian Husky
10.5 yrs
10/29/10

ALK - 354 (10-150) high
ALT - 117 (5-107) high

LIP - 1474 (100-750) high

CHOL - 378 (112-328) high

MCV - 59 (60-77) low

That is the initial blood work.
We have an ultrasound behind us too. I cant recall the specifics right now but there is a tumor. Not giant like Miras.
Now we wait a week for her urine track infection to clear up. Then on to the next test.

Because of the ultrasound is why ACC doctor is heading us that way.

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Originally Posted by lulusmom

Hi Janis,

Can you tell us why you think Kira may have cushing's? Cushing's is not a death sentence and with effective treatment, dogs can live out their natural life expectancy with a really good quality of life. My first cushdog is a rarity and was diagnosed at 3 years old. She is now 9 years old and still going strong. We think she had cushing's for at least before being diagnosed. My 2nd cushdog was a foster dog who we adopted because we knew he had cushing's. He had had the disease for a very, very long time and was a walking infection from head to tail, had very little fur and could hardly stand up due to severe muscle wasting. I've gotten estimates on his age of anywhere from 8 to 15 years old. He's been on treatment for three years and you'd never know he was the same pathetic dog that walked through our door in August, 2007. Whether a dog is diagnosed early or later in the disease, treatment can work miracles. I saw it happen twice. FYI, the object of treatment is to improve/resolve the symptoms so it is not recommended to treat a dog until the dog has overt symptoms.

Now that Kira may be cushingoid, please remember to get her records as well and post test results here.

Glynda

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Today is our 32 yr anniversary.

We have had huskies for 31 yrs. Five of them
Sigh, Sasha, Kodi, Kira, Mira
9/6/78 9/10/84 9/16/92
My September babies
6+10=16
Sigh + Sasha = Kodi
3/27/00 2/27/03
Kira and Mira both born on the 27th
(Kodi and Kira were related)
Any guess which is more important to me? dogs or husband? oh well I can't help it the dogs don't yell at me. dogs win

Janis -

You can put Kira on milk thistle if you want to. The milk thistle is the cheap and that will help with the elevated liver enzymes. If you Google it a bit you will find information on milk thistle to help you get the right one. You can get some at the health food store. I'm not a vet tech, but although her liver enzynes are elevated, they are not super duper elevated.

Remember to give the antibiotics for the urinary tract infection with some food. Antibiotics are always absorbed better with food. :) I would assume they gave you Clavamox, which is an excellent broad spectrum antiobiotic. Also urinary tract infections are common in spayed females. My lab always gets Clavamox for her urinary tract infections.

Spend quality time with Mira and take lots of pics. I would spoil her rotten in every way possible for as much time as she has left. I would feed her anything she wanted to eat, even if it was ice cream and dog biscuits. Just make her as happy and content as you can.

The prednizone will help increase her appetite and might make her drink more too. Just symptoms of the pred to be aware of is all.

Just remember you have done NOTHING wrong with Mira. You shouldn't be kicking yourself in the bum for anything that you did or didn't do.

Oh yeah, and I don't always believe everything the vet tells me either. I do to a certain extent, but you know your dog better than anyone else on the planet. And yes, you are doing the rights things even now, you just don't know it.

Hugs and blessings to all three of you,

Gretchen and Rusty in NC

"It seems you have found a great new vet clinic that can handle Kira's health. Overt cushing's symptoms would be extreme water drinking and urinating in the house, losing& hair/skin irritations, back leg weakness to name a few."

She drinks tons of water always has. Every now and then she pees in the house. More often she is wanting to go out every half hour and always seems real desperate! She had to have knee surgery on both back legs. ACC doctor said cushings can effect knee ligamants which is what happened to kira. She has never lost fur in an unnatural way. BUT she had knee surgery just 7 months ago and the fur on her back has not grown back at all!

Gretchen -

Kira:
is taking Baytril 60s for her infection. The regular vet gave those to her. $$$$ expensive!!! ACC doctor was ok with that I guess. There hasn't been any giant water drinking since taking those.

This is what is keeping Mira with us:
This was devised by the ACCdoctor and adjusted at the cancer group in the same complex:
Currently she is taking at least 16 pills a day that consists of:
Prednisone
Neurontin (for spinal pain)
Tramadol (as much as 12 a day) for pain
Mirtazpine (so she will eat, works great!)
Metronidazole (for diarrhea)
Pepcid AC (for upset tummy)

I'm to add more Tramadol if she's in pain. She is taking like seven now. There are better pain pills but they are too hard on the liver. She was having a very hard time walking before this. I doubted she would ever go for a walk again. Yet yesterday morning Mira took ME for a long walk. Maybe two miles and she did not want to go home!!! No limping while walk or after it. We will go again when the sun comes up. She does have a coordination problem with the left front. She will hold it oddly. But she is placing it well when walking so far. I wish I could post pictures here and show you stuff. I measured her chest to see if the tumors are growing. She coughed oddly a bit ago. I half expected to see blood from the lung tumor. She's been up and around and following me today. Not great but... I'm not so sure shell make thirty days. When you think about the gaint tumors inside her, eating her up, its suprizing she is still here. I know i talked about the zommie thing. But today Mira seems more like Mira. And not a pill induced body. She got up just now and something snapped hope it was nothing The cancer doctor and I talked about when it time to go.

Ice cream??? Lucky dog! I have to be careful not to feed too many differant things. She has never changed food well. But we get lots of dog treats and top dollar chicken. I'm lucky I don't work. I can give all my attention to Mira. She is my very breath right now. And there are hugs for Kira too. Poor Kira she has to be locked outside sometimes so I can get food down Mira. When it comes to eating Kira is a Cushings dog all the way. I'm sure you all know how that is. She want everything!

Every day I have read your thread and every day I have heard the pain you suffer for your beloved dog.

I have not written because words have escaped me and I found myself wishing I could find a way to ease your mental anquish. Since I could not, I have found myself suffering with you.

My point is, you are not alone as I am sure you realize, we are all here for you.

The journey you are now on is indeed hard, but you will find the strength to travel it as you have so far.

Please know that we are here for you every day, every minute, so you really are not alone, ever!

Love,
Addy

And yet more angels fly by....

Mira won't eat...
I took Mira and Kira for a walk. Something I didn't think I'd ever do again. Mira wanted to go. And keep going. We walk by the house, no keep going mom. So we keep going. That's what the cancer doctor said to do. If she wants to go go... For maybe an hour and a half we covered about three miles. Mira is still not wanting to stop but not as much as before. One minute later Mira is laying in her I hurt way. I pet her and she growls at me. Uh Ho. She refused a bite of chicken so I gave her yet another Tramadol. Half hour later she still won't eat. I think I'll call the cancer place. Make sure I'm doing the pills right.

Janis -

Try some Parmesan cheese sprinkled on her food or some tuna fish. It makes things stinky. You can try burgers and rice too boiled on the stove and cooled down to eat. I make mine and warm in the microwave.

Baytril is a broad spectrum antibiotic. Kira should do well on that.

You can try pills in some cheese, sliced, cheese whiz, pill pickets, a piece of lunch meat. I always give mine with a chaser of treat to make sure it goes down.

We are all feeling your heartache today. You are not alone.

Gretchen

Hi Janis,

Please let us know what the vet says this morning. It sounds as if Mira is having a more and more difficult time finding happiness and comfort in her life. :(:(

We are with you, honey, and we do understand your anguish.

Many hugs and belly rubs,
Leslie and the girls - always

New blood test for Cushing's:

Kira
Siberian Husky
10.5 yrs
11/11/10

ALK - 386 (10-150) high
ALT - 178 (5-107) high

CK - 209 (10-200) high

CHOL - 402 (112-328) high

Not sure why they did this one. But everything is a bit higher then it was two weeks ago. And "CK" is in there now. Any comments?

Hi Janis,

Those values are often elevated in cush pups but Kira's are not near as high as many we have seen. It isn't unusual to see ALKP values in the 1000's. CK is creatine kinase. Why is has elevated since the last test, I can't say. Hopefully someone has more info on this for you and I will be happy to do some research into it with you.

Has the vet mentioned doing any cushing's specific testing on Kira such as the UC:CR, LDDS, HDDS, abdominal ultrasound, or ACTH? While the CBC can give some indicators that there may be a problem like Cushing's, this test (the CBC) cannot diagnose it.

How is our Mira doing today?

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Let me say this: (again sorry)
I do not believe that the one closest to the pet knows best! In fact I think they might know the worst. Small changes happen so slow that we don't even realize it's happened. Many times it's Bud who tells me something is wrong. I think it is wrong to expect this person to know when it's time to go just because they are always with the dog. It's damn crewl to expect it of them too. As if things aren't bad enough already. There should be clear signs laid out so this poor person is not trying to dysifer every move. I think taking pictures can help to see changes by comparing them. Those small changes are easier to see. Further more I think the right time to go is when this person is ready, not the dog. We have to keep living. And if we aren't ready.. feelings can go on forever. Well I hope you can understand that. We have to be certian we got every good moment there was. Some people send them away early, that's fine, some just let the die naturaly. That's fine too.

The cancer doctor said after 2to4 days of no good moments at all. Or when nothing helps. Or when a dog does not want to go for a walk. Or won't eat. For me it's when a dog can no longer stand up. Not long after that. That is way too long I know and I always feel bad about it and horribly selfish. But thats when I'm sure. That's when I'm able to give in and not freak out with uncertainty. But really we'll find out for certain pretty soon. I always hold on too long. My biggest fear is they will start crying, I'd never get that out of my head.

My mom says dogs hide their pain for fear the other dogs would kill them and eat them. It all goes back to when dogs were wild. Makes perfect since to me.

I didn't have a clue pretty Mira I swear I didn't!

Hi Janis,

I don't understand your reasons for re-posting this heart-breaking post. :confused: It was hard enough to read the first time and I really do think we all heard you then. Is this in response to something that has been said since you first posted it?

I realize you are out of your mind with grief, guilt, and worry but we are really trying to help you and your baby girls.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Kiras ultra sound and spot on symptoms has made them pretty certain. They will do more tests four days after we finish Kiras meds for the infection. They have me set for a Cushings consultation at the same time.

I don't know it depends on Mira. If she's here you won't be able to pry me away from her. Bud pointed at her a moment ago and said she's sleeping. She was. She ate a little while ago.

Thanks, Janis. Your vets are right in wanting to wait for Kira's infection to clear up before starting the Cushing's testing. Any stress, internal or external, can affect the results of these tests so the healthier and calmer the pup is the better. Keep in mind that Cushing's is a slow progressing condition. ;)

I am glad to hear that Mira ate a bit and that she is able to rest. :) I hope the rest of her day is good.

Of course, Mira is the one who needs your attention most right now and being by her side is where you belong every second you can.

Keep your chin up!
Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

PS... a belated Happy Anniversary to you and Bud! 32 years is wonderful!

The weirdest thing happened last night...

Mira took me and Kira for the longest walk last night. We left the house at about five am this morning. It was still dark out. And quiet. Everyone still in bed. We walked almost to Tustin and turned around just before it. We are walking real slow. *From behind me I hear a mans voice. I didn't understand what he said. He was on a bicycle on the other side of the street. Going fast!! He zipped by and behind him came these two dogs. Off the leash, running fast!!! These dogs looked like nothing I'd ever seen before. Beautiful goldish white that seemed to light up behind this man. Beautiful runners. It looked like a scene from a movie! I swear it did not look real! The dogs stayed focused on their master. They had to know we were there. Our dogs saw them. They seemed to wind in-between all the cars parked on the street. Coming in and out of view. Running free. WOW, WHAT WAS THAT? Dogs from heaven touch down on earth and run past us.*

They were slightly taller then our dogs. Shaped like huskies but very lean. Their thick fur seemed to fly behind them.*

I walk the streets around here in these last weeks and I ask for answers. Why? And I find nothing. And sometimes odd things happen.. And I wonder.*


Janis

Mira ate like a real champ a bit ago. 50% canned dog food and 50% chicken. Bless her heart. I hope it doesn't hurt her belly processing all that food at once. I didn't expect her to eat the whole thing. I worry far too much. Her panting woke me up many times last night. But she stayed with me. My bed buddy. Kira sleeps in her own room. Yes Kira has her own room. Miras window is in there too. We sleep during the day. Its so quiet and peaceful at night.

Bud says I should take the dogs for a walk at the same time same place and see if the man and his dogs go by again. I might.

A CUSHING'S REPORT:

I listened to the recording of the ACC doctor telling me about Kiras ultrasound. Here is some of what I'm hearing this time:

She has a very small mass in one of her adrenal glands. Some dogs aren't effected by this. There is a mass off the back side of it. It can be cancer. It usually is cancer but it doesn't appear to be evading anything right now. They usually grow very slowly and could take a year to get twice this size. If it's producing ???? then you get the symptoms of Cushings. (Kira has all the symptoms) It can be removed but she needs to be tested. If it were her dog she would not remove it knowing it may never be a problem. It should be watched via ultrasound. If it changes then you remove it. It's not real bad but she would need treatment for it. And we could see the symptoms of cushings reversed including her fur growing back.

Other concerns:
(1)There is a heart murmur that on a scale of 1 to 6 in loudness its about a 2. One side maybe slightly enlarged. (she said a little more on that but I'll move on)

(2) The liver looks ok. There are no masses there. But it appears to be braking down. We may need to find out what is going on with that too.

My thoughts:
I'm just glad that I don't have another terminally ill dog that's going to die soon and there is nothing we can do. Kira has a chance. Hopefully she will respond well. But I am very concerned that her most resent blood test shows even more elevated numbers. It looks like a big increase to me in the span of just two weeks.

My other concern:
How is she going to handle the loss of Mira. She will be effected in some way. They always are. She lost Kodi when she was three. And carefree Kira left with him. A sadness that never left her. When I took both dogs for a walk. Kira was very good about walking slow bless het heart. She looked over at Mira a bunch of times with great interest seeming concerned. What's wrong Mira?