Zoe By My Side- Our Journey with Cushings

Thank you Marianne, that makes me feel better about the Metacam.:)

She has not handled the stress from the stim well at all.

I skipped her Vetoryl this am.

Hi Addy,
I was hesitant to offer my 2 cents as my experience in Cushings is so shallow especially when a vet has already given an instruction but I just have to.

How about you look into 'Adrenal Insufficiency'. That popped into my head as I was reading your post from last night regarding Zoe's what I'd call a 'Blunted ACTH numbers' and in your post this morning's which are pre & post of 1.5 & 1.7 where I don't really I see any increase in these two numbers.

Ginger's blunted ACTH test results of 2.9 pre & post were the first clue which made our 2nd IMS to suspect Ginger might have gone into Addison's and needs a daily prednisone therapy even though her electrolytes were in normal ranges and I see Zoe's numbers are even lower than 2.9. She said we have to go by their clinical signs and not only by the numbers.

Here's a part of my 1st IMS's latest assessment :
Adrenal Insufficiency is a well known phenomenon in human ICU patients and is gaining more and more acceptance in veterinary circles. With this syndrome, non adrenal illness decreases the ability of the adrenal gland to adequately respond to stress and prednisone therapy is needed often for short durations. Animals in which we suspect this often have blunted ACTH Stimulation tests but are not Addisonian, post- ACTH >2mg/dl.

I've been praying for Zoe's bounce back and am convinced that she will because her mom is going to make sure every stone gets turned around.
Last but not least, I don't know whether Zoe takes prednisone for something or not at the moment but if she isn't I'd talk to her vet about trying therapeutic dose of it to see if it makes any difference and I would hold on Vetoryl and restart it if needs to at a later date.
I'm pretty sure her peeing and drinking will increase along with prednisone as it did with Ginger but she's doing better as a whole.
I'm so sorry you and Zoe are having such a hard time these days.
Hugs & kisses. Ginger & Song.

Addy:
I was thinking that too, do you know if Zoe has had maybe a partial necrosis of her adrenal gland or glands? I know they said after using Vetoryl for an extended period of time this was a possibility. I can't remember you saying when her last US was?? I would think they could tell from that?? Hoping this all works out and Zoe is once again herself. Blessings
Patti

I’m sorry if I don’t address each of you individually, please know I read each response. It is just hard to write back sometimes. Thank you all for your input and support and caring.

It is hard because we know she has such a problem with that front leg and she is depressed from it. I too have been worried about her adrenals which is why I started decreasing her dose to begin with.

Perhaps something else is going on with Zoe as well.

How old is Zoe? She is adorable, I am sorry she is struggling

Oh Addy, none of us wants you to worry about that especially when you are under a tremendous amount of stress with all that's going on with poor Zoe. We are just to trying to be helpful since that's all we can do because it's so heartbreaking to see how distressed you have been recently.
I don't know how it will work out for her with her on going other problems but what I meant to say was discontinuing the Vetoryl all together and give her low doses of prednisone daily and not just lowering the dosage of Vetoryl for now since her numbers look VERY low.

Addy:
No need to answer and I am not trying to add stress by any means just trying to throw stuff out that may click so do not worry about answering all of us. We just hate to see this going on as you are always so helpful to all of us when we need it. Big hugs and lots of love from Tipper and I. Blessings
Patti

Just spoke with her doctor. Continue no Trilostane and give rescue dose of prednisone for 3 days. Give her 1/2 of a 5mg tablet which may be a bit much for her, if drinking and peeing get out of control but she is doing better ok to cut back to 1/4 tablet.

I forgot to ask if I should continue the tramadol and she called me from home as she is not in on Fridays.

I'm really glad that you've spoken with your vet as we are going into the weekend so you won't have to just worry and worry until next wk.
Now you have a plan and we like plans, right? As everyone was telling me that when I was feeling lost.:rolleyes: I'm really praying hard that this plan works for Zoe.

You finally think you got your baby stabilized, trying to take a breather and then their demeanor changes.:eek: My Ginger's appetite has been suffering lately and today she just can't seem to eat anything and sleeps pretty much all day. She wouldn't take her seizure pill so I had to give her the liquid form with a syringe. My IMS is on vac and we are scheduled to see her next Tues. so hopefully she will hang in there. It seems like always something with these babies. :o
Take care.:)

I'm late this week, but my excuse is I have been away and missed Friday on here. So Addy, it's Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatuuurday!! Another week gone by in the blink of an eye!

I don't see why you couldn't continue the Tramadol. Hope the Vetoryl holiday does the trick and Zoe perks up and that her legs stay ok... she got little cortisol circulating so that will escalate her discomfort too. When you trying the Metacam?

Jeepers so many balls in the air, lucky you are an expert juggler :D