Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

Hey Tipper's mom (aka someone else owned BY a JRT),

BTW, do you have a first name? I feel kind of funny calling you "Tipper's mom" all the time! ;) I haven't checked your thread for awhile and missed that you were having more problems. I do know what you mean about sometimes needing a break from this site as it can sometimes seem overwhelmingly sad. I cry every time I read of a dog lost here whether or not I had the opportunity to connect with their person.

I am not at all familiar with macros and I am not qualified to give you any advice. I can tell you my experience with Alivia, though. She has had two ultrasounds. Neither cost nearly as much as you've been quoted! They were around $500, so if you opt to have one, you may want to consider a road trip to Pittsburgh. Ali had an enlarged right adrenal gland which is "suspicious" for an adrenal tumor. The vets that did the ultrasounds were not in total agreement of their findings and so I really do not know for sure if that is what she has. I considered getting a third opinion, but as her regular vet said, then I would just have to decide who I believed. I KNEW that at her age I would not risk putting her through such a major surgery. So, my point is, you are right to consider what you will do with the information. You kind of have to weigh the definite benefit of having all the information you can to make informed decisions against the negative of putting them through too much unnecessary stress. You are following your heart and so will not make any wrong decisions.

It is 1 1/2 years since Alivia's diagnosis. She is not the same as she was, but neither am I. :p She is an old girl of 14 1/2 and has slowed down dramatically. Hard to see such a change in active JRTs. I have chosen (so far) not to treat Ali with any medications, but that has risks, too. Fortunately, Ali seemed to have gone through a remission for awhile (which makes no logical sense). But, she definitely has symptoms returning again. There are similarities among everyone here, but there are no two stories exactly alike.

You know Tipper better than anyone and you will always act in her best interest. Don't ever doubt that. Accept, though, that there will be changes in Tipper. I think we always think of them as our little babies and forget that they are aging at a much faster rate than we are. :(

Hang in there.

MBK:
Thank you for understanding my situation. It is really hard to see any dog go thru this, but especially JRT's since they are among the most active of dogs. I am handling the changes, but the things associated with a tumor I am terrified of. I live in the country now, and am scared to death of an emergency situation with Tipper, and no vet to help me. There are no animal hospitals close enough for an emergency. That has become my greatest fear that in an emergency I will not be able to get Tipper help. I never knew how wide spread this disease was. It is a shame that there are not more break throughs in the fight against this disease. Most average people are not even aware of it. Makes me wonder just how much is being done on research to help these poor animals. If it were only the Cushings symptoms, I would say Tipper is doing well. It is the other stuff concerning the tumor that is hard to take. She will be 11 on October 4th God willing . My only wish every day is that I can manage her symptoms, and that she could just grow old and go that way. I could handle that better. These dogs do live longer than others, sometimes to the age of 18. Prince Charles had them up to 19 years old. If she were a larger breed that had a short life span, I think that woud be a little easier to take. When you know she could have many more years ahead of her, it is devastating. I feel robbed of the wonderful times that were yet to come with her. I wish they could find a cure for this. It would make a huge impact on animal lovers faced with this situation. I am leaning towards not having Tipper have radiation, or an operation. I think that would be more for me than her, and I cannot see her suffer any more than she already has with this. I need her, but I am not willing to have her suffer thru things like that. I guess everyone on here has that demon to wrestle with. I am sorry to hear Alivia's symptoms are returning. I pray that she continues to do well, and goes into a "remission" again. My name is Patti by the way, sorry I forgot to tell you that. I wish for everyone on here the strength to get thru this with their babies. All we can keep asking for is another day.

Boriss:
Thanks for thinking of me. When I get scared that is all I can do also, is pray to God. I hope some day this disease will no longer take the lives of our babies, and that someone will find a cure. There are far too many people in the same boat as us, and they all deserve our sympathy and respect for fighting this battle with their precious babies. No one on here said it was going to be easy, but I didn't know how extremely draining it would be either. This forum helps so much more than words can say. You can pour out your greatest fears and people come to rescue you. I can't thank everyone on here enough, especially the ones who dedicate the time to help all the newly devastated members. You get on here and you are "shell shocked" not knowing where to turn. The generosity of the members with their time in helping is amazing. I have often thought animal lovers are among the greatest members of society. The compassion you all show daily is admirable. I hope for all of us the strength to fight the fight. I pray for us all.

Hi, Patti.

Nice to meet you. ;) Did I miss something? I am not sure where you got to the macro tumor diagnosis and the fear of that? Sometimes the internet is not a good thing. I know I have had both myself and Alivia diagnosed with some pretty awful things which, fortunately, turned out to be completely wrong! I know when Ali was first diagnosed I watched every move she made and sometimes scared myself to death. I still watch her way more than the average pet owner - I think everyone here does that. We can't help it. Try to just concentrate on what you know to be true and treating that.

This place can be a lifesaver for sure. There are a lot of GOOD people here, with the same concerns. They've certainly helped get me through some bad times with Alivia. There are a lot of ups and downs in the battle against Cushing's. I, too, feel frustrated that there doesn't seem to be much progress being made in its treatment.

Try to focus on enjoying your time with Tipper, as I know you do. If you can manage most of her symptoms, you are doing great!

MBK:
In one of my posts I talked about Tipper going in circles, the wagging of her tail a hundred miles an hour, then sort of falling down on her right rear leg. She has had several episodes of this- even before she was on the Vetoryl. I read the thread on macro tumors and this is one of the symptoms. She also does the pacing, and staring into space. Sometimes it is hard to wake her up. These are all symptoms according to the material on this thread. I don't know what else could cause it except an ear infection, and she was just checked by the vet, but I will have it done again on Tuesday as she gets her sonagram again. She just did it a few minutes ago when I took her outside. It always starts with the tail wagging rapidly. I read somewhere that a vet told someone with a cush dog that the dogs brain stem was being compromised. I am just scared to death of the worst case scenerio. It would make sense that this is what is happening. So she has had 3 episodes in the last 3 weeks. That is why I am thinking macro, and it scares the day lights out of me. Thanks for you help again.

Can you call her out of the circle? I sat with my IMS in her office and tried this with Ella. She circles A LOT. I was SO worried about her having something wrong neurologically! But if I call her name mid circle, she'll stop and look at me and maybe wag her tail at me. She might feel compelled to finish the circle before moving on to something else, but that's just her nerves. It is 100% behavioral for her. Good luck with Tipper! I hope it is just behavioral for her too!

Steph N' Ella:
Has your dog done this prior to the Cushings? What type does she have? Does she start it with the tail wagging rapidly? I could probably try to call her out of it- it last only seconds- she only does it once not repeated circles- then bends her rear leg and sort of falls over. If I can call her out of it- would that necessarily mean it is not neurological? Have you talked to your vet about it? If so what did they say? I am so scared Tipper has a macro tumor that I can barely get thru the day, and I am up most of the night. I would appreciate you help and anbody else that can comment on this. Thank you and God Bless you and your baby.

Ella doesn't have cushings...right now it is just hypothyroid and excessive thirst.

Exactly, if your can distract you dog and get them to stop or pause before they complete the circle, it is just behavioral, not neurological.

Ella does a bunch of repeated circles when she is excited. She also circles when she is in confined spaces. I talked to her breeder who owned her for her first 8 years of life and she said that she could never keep towels or blankets in Ella's kennel b/c she would be all tangled in the by the end of the day. So because she was kept in a kennel most of her life, circling is a nervous behavior.

I suggest that you get Tipper seen by a vet ASAP so that you can work on your worries together. I can hear your worry through your keybord...this is no way for you two to live!

Patti,

I know very little about Macros....but, I do know about JRTs! I do think there are other things that may be causing what you are seeing. First of all JRTs are quirky...if she did something she thought was fun, and especially if it got her mom's attention, she may continue it. In her mind she may have learned a new trick! A second possibility is as the cortisol lowers, she might be feeling an itchiness on her head or face from an allergy or something that the high cortisol had masked. Alivia does this.

I know you are terrified, but concentrate on what you KNOW. The money to see if that's what it is (or NOT) may be well worth it just to ease your mind. We can all drive ourselves crazy with the "what ifs"! It sounds like she is doing pretty well overall and that's a good thing!

Hi Everyone:
Thanks for all the help again. I am a nervous Nelly!! I just wanted to tell everyone Tipper just came from her Ultra Sound. Her liver is not enlarged, and her adrenal glands are returning to a more normal shape. Not there all the way , but headed in the right direction. The Vet is going to talk to Dr. Peterson about the circling Tipper is exhibiting, and see what he says about it. My Vet called Dr. Todd Axlund in Akron- the one who does the surgery thru the neck to remove the tumor. Well I was quite shocked at the info. He said Dr. Axlund said you are only buying the dog another 6 months of life. I could never put Tipper thru such a serious/dangerous operation to extend her life 6 months. I am glad my Vet called. Axlund did not speak too highly of the radiation either. My Vet said if I can call Tipper out of the circle it is cognitive. If not, it could involve the brain stem- that controls breathing etc. He said she is the tuffest little Jack Russell he has ever taken care of, and the most well behaved. I am just going to go along with treatment, as we have been doing, and put the rest in God's hands, as I constantly pray for a miracle for her. I think since this is so expensive, and I am no longer working, I am going to use the money as wisely on her as I can. I think the money right now is better spent on the ACTH, and the meds. Do you agree?? Also, my greatest fear of having an emergency, and no animal hospital less than an hour away, has somewhat diminished. I had a heart to heart with my vet today and told him if he was going to treat Tipper thru all of this, that I would expect him to come to her aid in an emergency- even in the middle of the night. I can't help it I just put it out there, just how I feel. He said he would and I have his cell phone number which I would never abuse. I would only use it in a dire emergency. So I can get there in 10- 15 minutes. So that has taken some worry off of me. Tipper goes on the 10th of October for her next ACTH test. He is going to ask Dr. Petterson why she has done the circling after both tests. I am praying she does not do it this time and that all goes well. I pray for you all and your babies.