Buddy, The Mighty Lizard Hunter - Suspected Pituitary Macro Tumor

Holy Cow! Those people are clueless. :mad::mad:
Thank god, Buddy has you! Speechless in Canada :rolleyes:

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Hello all,:)

Buddy is due for another ACTH test 30 days after the last one. He is doing very well on his current Trilostane dosage of 20mg. once per day. His clinical signs are controlled for the most part. The only one remaining is rear leg weakness. Since he is doing so well, would it be safe if I were to push that test back about a week or so? I have plenty of 20 mg capsules left. The 30 day mark is going to hit right in the middle of state testing. That isn't something that a sub can just come in and do well, particularly when working with special needs students. I guess what I'm really asking is would it be safe for me to leave him on his current dose for a week or so longer? I need to get his ACTH test done during work hours because of the timeframe in which it needs to be done. That means taking a day off. Any thoughts?

Kathy and Buddy:cool:

Kathy,

Since Buddy is doing so well, I believe it would be fine to keep him at his current dose. Having the ACTH stim test done at the appropriate time is vital for accurate results, so rescheduling his ACTH stim test so it can be done properly is a great idea.

You are doing a fantastic job!!

Love and hugs,
Lori

Kathy, I think it should be just fine, too. I am so glad to hear about Buddy's improvements! :)

It does take longer to see resolution with issues such as muscle weakness, pot belly, and loss of hair. So even though this dose may turn out to be exactly right for him, it will just take some time to see more improvement.

In the meantime, Go Buddy Go!! ;)

Marianne

Hi Kathy, I too think it's pretty awesome that Buddy is doing so well. As Marianne says, some things take longer to see improvements in, but over all Buddy has done great.
I don't think pushing back is a problem till after state testing is over either. Mutual mass agreement. :)

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

My vet would always tell us to come in "the week of..." and not a particular day for testing. So, I think it would be ok.

Ladies,
Thank you for your support and wealth of information once again.:)
Where else can I get so much praise, guidance, information, support and virtual hugs!:)
Let me know and I'll join that group too!! Haha!:D

Hugs to all,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

LOL. Well there is our sister site for diabetes. They give out hugs pretty freely too. Hehehehe
More hugs!
Sharlene

I waited a week longer at one point & it was okay. Glad Buddy is doing so well. Way to go!! :)

Hi all,:)
I just loaded a photo of buddy to my profile. It is in the "here's buddy" album. It was taken this morning. It is called "lazy Sunday morning". His stomach was shaved for his ultrasound a little over a month ago. If you look carefully, you can see that the hair is growing on his tummy!!!! Check it out!

Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

Oh Buddy! He looks so adorable in his chill-axing Sunday pose! Trixie came back from a really long walk and she's been lying on the cool floor for awhile now. Her belly is shaved too! The rest of her really needs a clipping. Haven't had the heart to make her go thru a grooming on top of everything she's been through lately but this week she will really need to get a clip.
Buddy is so cute! How has he been feeling? Trixie started on the 7mg yesterday. Doing fine so far. (keeping fingers crossed and eagle eyes on her!)
Hope you and Buddy continue to have a relaxing Sunday.:D
Barbara

Buddy is way adorable! I love the new avatar photo too. :) and look who else has a new avatar photo. :cool:

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Kathy:
I just had a chance to look at Buddy's pictures. He is absolutely too cute!!! God Bless You and Buddy
Patti

Hi Kathy,

I just had o check out Budster's album, and wow, what a cutey! I do admire his extensive wardrobe :D

I also saw the script bottle you had posted, and the instructions for before/after food! WTH???? :eek::eek: Glad you at least know what you are doing, cause the vet/dispenser clearly doesn't :eek:

Oh well, glad to hear Buddy is doing so well. Its strange how we all stress out so badly when this starts, but as time goes on, it's just part of daily life. Knowledge IS power I guess. :D

Keep it up Mum, you are doing wonderfully!

Hi Naomi,
I love your insight! Yes, terrified at first, then it does just get to be a part of life. :p Buddy has very high liver levels and a grossly large liver. I'm trying to enjoy what time I have left with him and not stress so much about things I'm unable to control. You have all helped me come to that realization.

Buddy is allergic to grass also. I've never thought to put socks on him. What a great idea! Thanks!
Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy

Oh I can see it now, matching socks and jumpers! He'll be the envy of the neighbourhood! I must say though, I never would have guess that Oz would take to them so easily, and not having to listed to the chewing of paws for two nights in a row is just heaven on earth! :D eBay have some great ones I just saw, super cheap and lots of different designs. They stay on the feet well as they are cotton with non slip pads on the bottom, but they stretch around the feet without confining. Just like socks on your own foot. Worth the try! And hey, anything to make them happy huh?

Doggy socks?!! And they don't pull them off at night? I tried booties on Molly once and she refused to take a step in them, just lay down and went limp like they were killing her. (she is a bit of a drama queen sometimes) still if it helped her to leave her paws alone. She has habit licking paws and tail. I Wonder if they make a sock for the tail too. hmmm

Naomi is right. Buddy be styling.
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

We put winter boots on our miniature poodle, Miskit.

She sort of walked as if she had major soreness from riding a horse or something! Exaggerated, slow, with each leg sticking as far away from her body as she could make it go. God forbid one of those boots actually touched her!

I see people here in the city that use these little doggie rain socks.
They are good for when there is ice melter and salt on the icy sidewalks but Trixie won't stand for any apparel...especially on the paws! They look balloons that haven't been inflated. So funny to see the little paws with these brightly colored "rubbers"! :D
Is Buddy agreeable to "paw-wear'?? :)

Barbara,
Buddy had to wear a sock a few years ago when he Was bandaged after a paw pad injury. He didn't like it much. I had to tape it so he wouldn't pull it off. He also had to wear a cone because he couldn't leave it alone. :( Naomi's fur baby Oscar, wear socks because of a grass allergy. Buddy is allergic to grass also among many other things.:(
I pretty much have to keep him away from grass totally because of his grass allergy. That's why I was thinking that maybe the socks might help him. That's if I could get him to leave them on!:D
Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

Kathy, These little rubber socks look like they stay on somehow...they are called Pawz.
here is a link for them..they would be great to shield Buddy's paws from the grass.
http://pawzdogboots.com/

The Pawz are great, my Dad uses them for one of his dogs. They have floor boards throughout the house and Jake (13.5 y/o poodle) slips all over the place. They bought the boots to try and were a raging success! Jake doesn't try to pull them off, in fact he asks for them to be put on! :eek: As soon as they are, he runs bog-laps around the house in a happy dance. They are non slip obviously so it basically gave him his legs back. :D

I use the socks on Oz because his feet are so small I couldn't get the pawz on him (I tried them too), but his feet when standing are pretty much the same width as his ankles, so there is nothing to hold them in place. I've tried boots in the past too, and bandages with tape, but the boots fell off and he hated the tape - it was constricting. I don't know why, he doesn't object to the boots at all. Probably because they are so soft, the stretch so don't constrict his feet, but he can still run and walk in them easily. (except, if he runs too fast, they do tend to fall off). In a 30 minute trip to the park, I will usually pull them up at least once, but it's a small price to pay. I do realise when winter hits us that they will get wet when we go for a walk, but as long as it keeps the grass off his paws I'm cool with that. We also don't worry about them at any other time. For now it is just the walks, so he doesn't object too strongly.

Hey Kathy

Just checking in to see how you and the Buddy are?

Hoping his allergies aren't bothering him too much

Big hug

Mel
Xxxxx

Hi Mel,
We are both doing well. Thanks for asking.:)
Buddy's allergies continue to wreck havoc at times, but they are better for the most part. I tried to change his antihistamine because Benadryl drugs him so much and it wasn't working well. The change upset his stomach, so I switched back to Benadryl. I didn't want to have to deal with stomach issues again, particularly when he's on Trilostane.:(
As far as Cushing's symptoms, the only one that remains is rear leg weakness. Even that doesn't seem to slow him down much. He is unstable when he walks across the tile floor because his back legs often slip out from under him. Right now he is guarding in the front doorway, watching through the security doors. You never know when one of those pesky lizards might try to come through the crack in the door.:D

Yesterday, he actually caught one in the backyard and brought it inside to show me his prize! I told him to drop it and he did. Unfortunately,I didn't realize the lizard was still alive!:eek: It took off like a shot under the couch. Chaos ensued. The mighty lizard hunter was beside himself with grief over the loss of his prize and yapped hysterically. It was a ridiculously insane moment!:D:eek: All I could do was double up on the floor and LOL. A moment that never would've been possible before treatment!:)

Hugs to all,
Kathy and Buddy:)

Hi Kathy, I love all your stories about Buddy and his lizards, could be a title for a children's book :) it's awesome to hear that he is feeling better, even though his back legs are still bothering him....Simba has that too, seems like he can't move them sometimes, kinda scary but then he will run for his treats...wierd...anyways, glad for happy moments for you and Buddy, take care!

Rubbish the pills upset his belly it's such a delicate balance

Lizards would make Boyce pitch a fit, I bet he is really funny to watch when he is in stalking mode

Could you get some mats to put down in a line on the tiles He could then run around without slipping. I have wood floor so have mats as well

I tried putting mats down in the kitchen/dining room area and in the bathrooms. The rest of the house is carpeted. Mr. High and Mighty walked around the Mats, refusing to step on them, as if they were hot lava! Buddy is very bright and a little nuts! :D That's not a good combination!
;)
Hug,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

I love Buddy's personality. He is just hilarious! I laugh every time you tell one.
I agree, Buddy the Mighty Lizard Hunter, childrens book title. :)

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly muffin

ha.. I love the lizard story! He is so funny.

Hi Kathy and Buddy!
Just wanted to say thanks for all your love,support and kind words.I've only just begun to be able to start going thru the threads here and just wanted to say hello to you and Buddy.He sounds like quite the character and love the lizard story-made me laugh!!Hugs to you and your baby!
Love,
Patty

Patty,
Thank you so much for your lovely message. :o. I like many others, have had precious fur babies cross the rainbow bridge. I want You to know that we are with you and that we understand.

Buddy is scoring those lizards. Haven't they caught on yet that Buddy is on the prowl and they should watch their step! Did you ever find the one that went under the couch? :confused: That lizard better watch it if it's still hanging around.
Hate to hear the allergies are still causing discomfort...is it the time of year with leaf and grass pollen blowing around? Poor Buddy..sounds like it doesn't get him down though.
So great that only the back leg symptom is prominent and all other symptoms are gone. The legs should continue to get better from what I hear. Again..it doesn't sound like it holds him back at all...especially from the hunt! :D
Barbara

Yes Barbara, I did catch the lizard. This is not the first, second, or third time, that this is happened! Buddy loves to bring in his prizes to share!:p I have a system for just such an occurrence. The lizard was released unharmed this time!:D
It is 97° here today!:eek: Buddy has not been able to lizard hunt this afternoon, so he is restless! He usually goes out for a while when I get home from work. I can't let him out in the heat because once he gets a whiff of something, he is not leaving it! He will sit there and stare at a hole under the fence for hours waiting for that little critter to come out! I have to bring him in when he starts to get obsessed, Or he will frantically dig until he tears up his paws. Always the mighty hunter!:D
I am glad to hear that Trixie is doing so well!:)
Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

Buddy has some serious determination going on! Man, him and Molly would terrorize the neighborhood and certainly the lizard populations! hahahahahaa

He sure is a charmer.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Do Cush dogs run hotter due to raising cortisol levels?:confused:
It has been pretty hot the last few days, close to 100 degrees. I realize that those of you who are shoveling snow right now are not too sympathetic!:D Buddy has had a hard time cooling himself down enough to go to bed. AC is on during the day, so it's not that hot! It cools down in the evening so it's comfortable by bedtime, but he continues to pant heavily. I have been reluctant to buzz him down because his hair doesn't grow back as quickly anymore. It looks like I need to go ahead and do it tomorrow. Buddy only gets his Trilo in the morning and has been doing great. Could he need twice a day dosing? He is due for his ACTH test around the 9th. Due to administering state testing, I won't be able to get it done until about a week or so later, unless it's an emergency, of course. The heat always bothered him, but not usually this much. I am about ready to put him in the pool!!! ;) Buddy has been fine all day until now, which is 10:00 PM. He has been whimpered a few times in the last half hour or so. I gave him a body massage to see if there were any painful areas, he go no indication of any pain. Any thoughts?
Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

Hi Kathy
I wonder if he has an itch he cannot get at, just putting that out there as my boy did this a few times this week. Just laying there, then a whimper. Once I got that under control with bit of antihistamine he has been good. Flynn loves it in the sun too, but he would lay out there sunbathing till his blood boiled or hunt about, latest prey is mice! Eek, least he has not brought them inside!

Stay cool! :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Budster's Mom

Do Cush dogs run hotter due to raising cortisol levels?:confused:

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Yes, I believe, that dog's with Cushing's are prone to "heat flashes" and seek cooler places to lay. I used to have Harley's belly shaved and then I would spritz water on his belly and paws to help him stay cool.

Love and hugs, Lori

Kathy;
I know for a fact they are prone to heat problems, as I have been told by 2 Vets that that can no longer cool the core of their bodies well. If you walk your dog get a cool pack for them to wear. Get a fan ready or air conditioning as my Tipper is already hot and panting and summer has just started. When it doesn't even feel hot to me, and I am really sensitive to it with Lupus, she is hot so don't go by how you feel. When Tipper goes in my closet for storms I will have to put a fan in it as it is really hot and stuffy in there. She does not like the fan, but it is better than her succumbing to heat stroke.. I walk her before 10:am and after 7:00pm and she has to have her harness on with a cooling pack inside. I only take her out in the yard in between to potty, or sit in the shade, but she is scared to stay out most of the time now. Good Luck. Blessings
Patti

How is Buddy this morning. Not sure what the whimper was about, did you ever figure it out. Is he eating, drinking, pooping okay? No vomiting?
I thought that as the cortisol becomes more regulated that they stop the panting as much? High cortisol levels can raise the body temperature. Hopefully one of the others will know more about this.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

It is flea season. Is Frontline Plus safe to use for dogs on Trilostane?:confused:
I called my vets office and got some vet I didn't know. I was told that it was okay. As you know, my vet's office doesn't have the most updated information concerning the use of Trilostane. So, I've come to the experts once again. :D

Since Buddy was so uncomfortable last night, I groomed him very short today. Check out the photo I just uploaded to my Album.
Buddy slept through most of his buzz. I did his entire cut except for his back and his head while he was sound asleep. You won't believe it unless you see it for yourself!:D
Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool: