Alivia was recently diagnosed with Cushing's - Alivia has passed

Hi Mary Beth,

You and Ali were on my mind this morning and then here you are! I hope this is simply a UTI and a round of ABs will take care of it.

Please keep in touch and let us know how things are going.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Hi Mary Beth,

So good to read your thread. I try to be here as much as possible, but life tends to get in the way.

I am hoping for the best for Miss Alivia. I remember when Maddie got all her fur back--a little different kind of fur, but it was fur!!!

You always do a wonderful job with her and I know you enjoy each day!!!

Is it Chocovino time????:D

Hi Addy, Lori, Leslie and Marie,

Always nice to hear from you guys! Ali does have her fur back, Marie, and it's beautiful and shiny! All things considered we have been very lucky, so hopefully this is just a little blip. I haven't gotten any results back from the culture and blood work done Tuesday evening. Hopefully, I'll hear tomorrow otherwise with the holiday weekend it may not be until Tuesday. I hate waiting. She does seem better, though. Her appetitie has been great for the past 2 days!

Ali's internist has a new tech and she told her when she first met Alivia and heard her history she did not expect to be treating her for very long, but that was 6 years ago. She told the tech that Alivia has defied the odds and has had several miracles that really can't be explained. Alivia is one tough little 16 pound cookie! :D

Thanks for checking on us and I'll let you know when I get the results.

Chocovine sounds pretty good to me RIGHT now!

Quote:

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Alivia is one tough little 16 pound cookie

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and oh how we love that cookie!!!!!

Waiting stinks, especially over a holiday weekend!!!

I truly hope it is just a UTI, MB, saying many prayers for Alivia and you.

love,
addy

Alivia had the blood work and a urine culture Tuesday evening. I hadn't heard any results so I called them Friday and they faxed me her blood test results. Urine does show bacteria, but they were isolating the type and the internist did not want to prescribe an antibiotic until she had the specific results...so we are still waiting and now I doubt I will here anything until after the holiday. :(

Unfortunately a lot of her blood results were not in the normal range, although some just slightly outside normal. I haven't talked to her specialist since getting the results, but it seems like some of the abnormal results could be related to the UTI and some I'm sure could be age related (Alivia is 14 years 3 months old). I'll post the test results and maybe Glynda or another expert can weigh in.

Albumin 2.6 (2.7-4.4)
Albumin/Globulin Ratio 0.7 (0.8-2.0)
Alk Phosphatase 192 (5-131)
Urea Nitrogen 50 (6-31)
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 50 (4-27)
Amylase 1233 (290-1125)
Comment: Hemolysis 1+ No significant interference
Platelet Count 610 (170-400)
Neutrophils 80 (60-77)
Lymphocytes 11 (12-30)
Absolute Neutrophils 11360 (2060-10600)

T4 0.6 (0.8-3.5) Note new canine reference range.
The total T4 result is less than 1.0 mcg/dl. A Free-T4 by equilibrium dialysis may be helpful in supporting the diagnosis of hypothyroidism in patients demonstrating clinical signs compatible with hypothyroidism.

Urine MIC Culture
Preliminary: Bacteria isolated. Identification and sensitivity to follow.

Alivia seems to be drinking a little more (but not like a cush dog) and peeing more. Her urine has color and seems to have more odor than usual. I think that is probably consistent with a UTI. She had visible blood in her urine one time about 2 weeks ago. She seems a bit more tired recently but really has no other symptoms of hypothyroidism or cushings, either. Her fur is thick and soft. She lost one pound since her last vet visit (6 months ago!!). Her appetite was decreased for a few days, but now is normal (not excessive). She is still licking/biting at her rear end and has it red and irritated. I have her on a grain free diet and I've used tons of prescription and OTC shampoos, sprays, etc. but can't get that under control. Her specialist says a round of antibiotics may also help with that, but wants to wait for the urine culture result before determining which antibiotic to prescribe.

Sorry this is so long but I was trying to be thorough. Any thoughts and opinions would be appreciated.

Hope everyone is having a good holiday weekend!

Update: Alivia is taking Clavamox 2 x a day for 2 weeks for a UTI. I hope that is what caused some of her abnormal blood results I posted the other day.

I hope so too, MB, crossing fingers and paws!!!!

Day 3 of Alivia's antibiotic. Over the years Ali has become an expert at detecting pills in anything. She will not even eat an empty Pill Pocket if it were the last treat in the house. I crush her blood pressure pill and sprinkle that along with her compounded aspirin into her food. She has been on both of those for so many years that I think the taste of them is probably normal to her. But, it is not easy to introduce ANY new medication. In the past I've made her homemade meatballs, tried peanut butter, cheese, pretty much every trick. This time I made her roast beef au jus and start by giving her a little piece plain, possibly a second one plain...then around the third time when she is happily snatching it, I wrap a piece around her pill. That worked GREAT...for a whole day and a half. She caught on and started taking the plain ones and spitting the pill out on the floor. So, I have to force the pill into her mouth, hold her mouth shut while dangling a piece of roast beef in front of her. Eventually she swallows so she can have another piece of beef. Only 11 more days and 22 more pills to go... :p

Awww, it is harder when they dont like pills. My hoover vacum, Zoe, will eat the pills with nothing on them if you tell her it is chicken:D:D

Alivia is the resident expert pill finder outer:D:D:D:D:D

I hope her UTI is gone soon.

I heartily agree with your comments on my thread. Zoe is not ready to go anywhere except to nap or play with Koko or have a chicken walk. Ali is our miracle girl for sure. And I hope her miracles keep on coming.

Thanks, MB, for being there.

Oh, I didn't mention that after I shove a pill in her mouth and hold her mouth shut till she swallows I still have to pry her mouth open and make sure it's gone. She can somehow appear to swallow and then I would step on a pill in another room and have no idea what day it was from! I've even dipped pills in olive oil hoping they would slide down her throat! I think I have tried every trick and she continues to outsmart me. She is a master at finding ways to not take her pills! 10 days, 20 pills to go.

Addy, you are so lucky that Zoe doesn't mind "chicken" pills! I hope Koko is feeling better!