New to Cushings

I hope you've had some time to rest and that Annie is feeling less stressed today. I also want to repeat what Marianne said on Jackson's thread - please keep talking not only on Annie's thread here but on threads for other dogs as well. It is the community feel that keeps this forum alive and we ALL learn by talking to each other and reading on the many threads open here. So don't worry about not knowing enough yet to talk....just keep your open and caring heart going for everyone here by sharing with others, ok?

Hugs,
Leslie

Hi Leslie,

I’m doing better today and I really bless and thank you for the support and encouragement. I haven’t been MIA on purpose—just been spending most of my time over on the k9D site. Annie is scheduled for double cataract surgery with new lens implants on May 17th., so I’ve been trying to gear myself up for this next round. It was originally scheduled for the 24th of February, then everything fell apart with the new cushings diagnosis, and everything else. I do plan on posting about her surgery for anyone else with a dual-diagnosis pup, maybe in the “Anything Else” category or wherever you think might be more appropriate or helpful. The following actually needs to go there too but I need to vent now!

I have to tell you what happened to us last night. At about 9pm the doorbell rang, Jerry went to the door and two of our finest policemen were standing there with guns, badges and everything. I dropped my iPad and jumped to my feet thinking someone in the family had died and they couldn’t find us for some reason. Jerry invited them in and they informed us that the people who live behind us had accused us of poisoning one of their dogs! Annie was standing right by me, tail wagging and being a perfect hostess. I just burst into tears and said. “ How can they even think that? We Had to put OUR other dog down in January and now this little one has just been diagnosed with cushings disease plus she’s diabetic!” I think the older officer knew what cushings was because he told us he was sorry we were having to go through that. Both officers told us they knew we didn’t have anything to do the poisoning just because of the slope of the properties. If we has dumped anything into their backyard, it would have just drained downhill into ours putting our own dog at risk.

Now about the neighbor dogs. They have two beautiful dobermans and a darling long haired dachshund, who loves to run the fence with Annie. The dobermans, unfortunately have been trained as attack animals. Last summer, they also accused us of trying to poison their dogs with anti-freeze. Without being too graphic, I have reported them three times during the past two years for animal neglect and so has another neighbor. I know this is just payback but very upset and I was so scared that they might retaliate and try to poison Annie, I called them back over at 11:15 to check the fenced in part of the yard ( because I could see people peering out a window) and they didn’t find anything.

Anyway, I’m trying to focus on Annie and her needs. I did find out that the neighbor dog will be fine, for which I’m glad. I may not agree with the neighbors dog training choices, but I will never wish ill on anyone’s pet. They don’t train themselves—Blessings to all of you and your cushpups today. I’m especially thankful for this site as well as the k9D site today. Karen

Well, I’m crossing my fingers, legs and toes before I key this in...but Annie has survived through another Lysodren day—so far anyway. Me, maybe not so much because my anxiety over giving her this drug starts running in hi gear the night before. To help soothe the soul. after she successfully eats her Lyso-laden breakfast, I’ve been playing a couple of my favorite tunes, Through the Rain—Barry Manilow and my all time favorite by Queen, Another One Bites The Dust. I can already hear the collective “groan” out there! I know I’m old and I have been blessed with a Cushpup in my care.

I do have a legitimate concern/question to throw out into the universe today. A couple of days ago, I was giving Annie a nose to tail check and noticed her nose seemed to be dry and cracked. I called docs office and they had a gel for that so now I ‘m trying to get her nose back in shape. Is this a cushings thing because of inflammation or is this a diabetic thing. I know I’ve crossed over to the k9D forum, but with a dual diagnosis pup, there are some days I don’t know where to turn. Can anyone give me some advice please. Blessings to you all and your pups. Karen

Hi Karen! Your question about the dry, cracked nose is a good one. I don’t have any research to cite, but anecdotally, other members have complained about dry noses in their Cushpups. My own Lab boy definitely suffered from a dry, crusty nose and he also developed very crusty pressure calluses on his elbows where they came into contact with the floor when he was laying down. I would put Vaseline on his nose, and tried to cushion his elbows with the tube part of tube socks.

Again, I haven’t seen dry nose specifically commented on in the literature, but hopefully other folks may share comments or similar issues if they’ve seen them in their dogs.

Marianne

Lena had the dry nose too, Karen.

Several of my pups have had that dry nose and I use either coconut oil (which usually gets promptly licked off! LOL) or a salve I make olive oil and bees wax that has chickweed and calendula in it.

As for your music choices...."Another One Bites the Dust" is what I want played at my funeral! :D Everyone knows that plus it's written on my addendum sheets for my will along with my other song choices. LOL

Bag Balm works on dry noses also. It is safe if licked and has antibiotic properties to help guard against infection. You only need a very small amount a couple times a day.

Hmmm...Kathy’s reply made me scratch my head and delve deeper into my use of Vaseline. As it turns out, it probably was not a great choice on my part. Even though I’m unaware that it caused any problem for my dog, it’s not a good thing for a dog to be ingesting. So “nix” the Vaseline idea (and see, here I am correcting some misinformation of my own only a coupla days after our earlier conversation...;-)).

Oh my gosh Karen, what horrible neighbors. Glad Annie is doing well. I know we are giving our pups different meds but I stress out every morning and I talk to myself while putting it into his food-hoping and praying the dose isn’t too much. Jackson has a very dry nose and some recent elbow calluses. I ordered nose butter and elbow butter which I think are supposed to be all natural. We have a really hard time getting it on his nose though.

Hi All,
I decided to post here instead of posting on Simba’s Mom’s thread. After reading all the info there, I did take Annie to the vet to have her voice checked. I made a recording of her raspy bark and vocals with my phone that morning. After checking her out, the only information he could offer was perhaps some neuropathy starting in the muscles around her vocal cords because of her diabetes. He also reassured me that Lysodren would not cause LP and that was a condition seen mostly in larger breed dogs.

I also wanted to say “HI” to all my new friends here. You all have become a very special group of people to me and Annie. We will be facing some serious challenges in May, if all continues well. She is scheduled to have double cataract surgery with lens replacement on May 17th. My doc has worked with this ophthalmologist for years and thinks Annie will do well because her cataracts are not fully developed. I’ll be posting on the k9D site as well.

Because today was Annie’s Lyso day, I haven’t gotten anything done except dose in my chair and keep watch over my pup. She is sleeping peacefully in her bed with her head hanging over the side, her new favorite position, so my rational mind is telling me that she is just fine. I wish my rational mind would show up more often. Blessings to all today. Karen