Buddy, The Mighty Lizard Hunter - Suspected Pituitary Macro Tumor

Sharlene,
I would love to discuss the tremors with my vet when we go for an ACTH or some other test. It hasn't worked out. I need to go and pay for an office visit so I'll have their undivided attention for at least a few minutes. I took video of two of the tremors. I want them to see that. I also want to bombard them with the hundred questions I have!:D Even if they know very little about head tremors, seizures, strokes and hypoglycemia, at least I ran it by them first. I plan to get my $$$ worth out of that visit!:D They will be so glad to see me go!:D I am not hopeful that they will be of much help, but I have to try.:rolleyes:

Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

One of Buddy's front legs has been caving in on him this evening. I noticed it when he is trying to walk normally. It started about 10 minutes after his dinner at 5:30. At 6:40 PM Buddy continues to have difficulty walking. He is unstable. He barely makes it to his water bowl. I carried him out to go potty. He didn't want to walk at all. I carried him back in and gave him a small amount of sugar water. He licked eagerly. No head tremor as of yet but definite weakness all of a sudden. I will pick up some Caro syrup tomorrow after work and check the drug store for gluco-paste. I still don't know if he's having hypoglycemic episodes. I don't know what is going on. He has been fine all day until after dinner. Now he can barely walk. I will call the vet in the morning. It is going to be another sleepless night.:(:confused: It doesn't look like I have a lot of time to figure this problem out!:(

Oh my. Please video him walking as well so you can show it to the vet. I am so sorry. Kim

Oh Kim, how scary for both of you.
I hope that the vet finds a solution quickly.

Should I withhold his Trilostane in the morning if he is still unstable?:confused:
He just had an ACTH Test 8 days ago on 5-19-13
His numbers were Pre 3.2
Post 5.6

Previous ACTH 4-10-13
Pre 8.4
Post 15.2

Buddy had his Trilostane with breakfast at 7:15 AM. It is 7:22 PM.
Shouldn't his morning dose be out of his system by now? He only takes it once a day. Isn't Trilo supposed to leave the system within 12 hours?

No harm in playing it safe and not giving this time.

I would withhold it and see how he does. It could be that the cortisol is still dropping. It can drop for even up to and past 30 days on the same dosage.

Has there been any change since giving him the sugar water? This is the first time that he has had this occur?

Hang in there. This if it is related to the cortisol could have nothing to do with the tremors.
Keep us posted.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Kim,
I carried Buddy out to video him walking. That was a great idea once again. He walked normally. It has been an hour since I gave him the sugar water. An hour ago he could barely stand up.:eek: Maybe hypoglycemia??? I took the video anyway to show the doctor. Buddy ate normally and has not had any diarrhea or vomiting. Does his weakness and then improvement seem like Addison's to you?

Kathy

I would be surprised if it's Addisons but it can't hurt to stop the trilostane. When was the last time you had a full blood panel done? It might be worth a try to see if anything seems out of order.

Hang in there and know we are all with you giving you strength. Kim

See how he does for the rest of the night and in the morning. It doesn't hurt to not give him the trilostane.

We need to find out from some of our diabetes friends what the best way and item to use to get a reading during a tremor or walking weakness spell is, so we can find out if it is hypoglycemia.

So he is now acting completely normal with walking, actions, not lethartgic, etc?

Could this also be a problem with his muscle wastage? Where after getting up from being laying down he walks funny? Molly walks sideways with a stiff leg if she has been laying for too long and then gets up. She has to warm it up a bit then is perfectly fine. Sometimes I'll massage her if it seems particularly bad. She never seems in pain from it, just can't walk a straight line and looks drunk.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin