14 year-old Shih Tzu With Recent Cushing's Diagnosis

Thanks for checking on us, Addy. Luckily, we did not get thunder with our snow last night, but it sure snowed a lot. It was a winter wonderland this morning, but I am THRILLED to say that most of it has melted and warmer temps are finally in our forecast for this weekend!!!

We went to the vet today and she didn't even check for yeast. She said she just figured there was some. She said they could look if I really wanted them to, but that most likely knowing her history, there would be at least some, possibly a lot. So, I am just going to treat it with the wipes again.

I got the copy of Hannah's blood work and we talked about her UA results. Everything was normal, including specific gravity. It was 1.032 and above 1.025 is normal. That's better than it has been the last two times it was checked. I am kind of confused now. Does this make you think even more that she doesn't have Cushing's? She is concentrating her urine fine. (It was a morning sample, but isn't that the best time to check it?) I guess it made the vet think she doesn't have a kidney problem, despite the high BUN. She still thinks that may be due to an ulcer.

We also discussed Hannah's constant itching and the inability to get it under control, no matter what we've done. I really appreciate that she is concerned about Hannah's comfort, as I feel terrible that she's lived in an e-collar for months.

So here is what we decided: we need to finish treating for what we think is an ulcer. I am also going to try to transition her to another food to see if this could all be due to a food allergy. She no longer needs the SO, considering her urine was fine after being on the ID for about 6 weeks. If her stomach can't handle the food, Izzy is still on the ID so I have it and metronidazole.

If that doesn't work, I am going to try her on a steroid. That has always been kind of my last resort. With warmer temps coming I know her seasonal allergies will get worse. I don't want her to be miserable and scratching herself raw. And I want to get her out of the e-collar. I am worried about the side effects, and the possibility that if she does indeed have Cushing's, it could make the drinking, urinating, and eating go crazy. But I feel like I need to try it to see if it brings her comfort. I hope that since we would try a low dose we could always reduce it and stop it if the side effects were bad. The derm vet did have a couple of steroids I hadn't heard of in mind because she thought those would be the most gentle on Hannah (but I can't remember why).

I have a little time to think about it while we treat the ulcer and try the food. But at some point I do need to think of her comfort and happiness, and maybe take a risk. I know I don't want her to live this way forever.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Julie & Hannah

I know I haven't checked in for a while. Something is wrong with Hannah. I've sensed it for over a week. Her back legs aren't right. Yesterday morning she couldn't stand up from a sitting position, but it was on the wood floor, so I thought maybe it was just that her back legs were getting weaker. She went to the vet and the vet said she did have some lower back pain and this could be a disc issue again. They did a laser treatment. She could walk fine.

This morning she was worse. She couldn't even walk right after getting up. Her back legs (especially the right one) were going in all directions. I put her on thicker carpet and it was still a little weird. It seems to have gotten a tiny bit better. She can walk around some of the time and was able to go potty. But she seems to have random times when her legs don't work. I tried to check her reflexes and she refuses to let me turn her toes under. She holds her leg really stiff. I don't know if it hurts or what, so I'm not going to do it anymore.

My mom is coming over this morning and I am going in to school to get things set up for a sub for the afternoon. I don't even know what to do anymore. I just have a feeling this might be it....that eventually she will be paralyzed. She's done so well after so much back trouble, but I don't know if that will be the case this time.

Not even sure what the vet will do. Just please keep us in your prayers.

Julie & Hannah

Hi Julie
Just wanted to say hello and thank you for all the support and kindness after my Fella passed.I just read your latest post about your sweet Hannah and she is in my thoughts and prayers.I'm just beginning to go thru threads but wanted to say hello and that I'm thinking of you.Hugs to you and Hannah.
Love,
Patty

Aw, Julie,

That is an awful feeling to have - that "something" is wrong. :( To voice that feeling somehow makes it more real. I felt that for several months before Squirt had the seizure; I took her in several times and Doc found nothing wrong - now I wonder if some part of me knew what that Proin was doing to her.

I so hope this is just a bad patch in the road and Hannah will soon be back to her usual self. Any possibility she hurt her back somehow and she's sore from that? We've decided that's what happened to Squirt's shoulder - some injury causing her pain. She moves better when she first gets up but the more she uses the shoulder, the more pain she displays.

Prayers and healing white light flying you way, sweetie. Keep in touch and let us know how things are going. We are right by your side.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Thanks Leslie and Patty.

I took Hannah to the vet again today. She examined her again and said she has a hard time knowing the root cause of the issue. Part of that is because Hannah is so stoic. She said she thinks there is a disc issue, and that it's possible this is also an arthritis issue because Hannah seems so much worse in the morning. We have had really weird weather (cold, then hot, then damp, then cold and damp, etc.) and she said that makes any arthritis issues much worse. She said there also may be some pain contributing to this.

I don't know what she could have done to hurt her back, so it could just be a flare from previous issues. This weird inability to use her back legs came on very suddenly.

She got acupuncture today (and tolerated it fairly well), and I was sent home with Tramadol for pain. I've never used it before and I know many people do and all of my vets feel it's very safe, but I worry about the wacky reactions some people mention. She said she will start her at a low dose, which is 1/4 of a 50 mg. tablet, but that she can safely take up to 1/2. Hannah is 12 lbs. Does that sound good? For now, I am to give it at night, but she said I can safely give it every 6 hours. (She thought twice a day would be good if I did it more often).

The weird thing is that she still walks/trots fine, where before she would move at the pace of a 95 year-old lady. I'm not sure what's going on. But I just have this nagging gut feeling that she isn't going to bounce back this time. I don't know how to explain it. I hope I'm wrong, but this morning I thought for sure she was becoming paralyzed and that it was the end.

We are just supposed to wait and see what happens. She wants to see if they acupuncture helps at all and if she improves, continues to have some morning issues, and get better, or if things progress.

Julie & Hannah

Julie

So sorry to hear this news, I hope that she bounces back with the pain medicine

Thinking of you both. Big hug, kisses to sweet Hannah

Mel
Xxxx

Gosh it does sound like the old problems maybe coming back to haunt her. Course with those disc issues, just a wrong step can move something enough to pinch the nerve or put pressure on something. Poor little Hannah.
Hope the acupuncture helps her. Mommas always know don't they. :(

Prayers and healing thoughts
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Julie,
I have friends whose dachshund had back issues. They would take her out and loop ladies pantyhose around her so that they could support her as she walked.

This prevented her legs from going out and helped her gain some strength back. It helped immensely they said.

Worth a try in conjunction with the other things that you're doing for her.

Hi Sweetie,

I know exactly how you are feeling because we know we cant have them forever and so everytime it is something serious we wonder is this it? Hannah has pulled through so many times, she might suprise you again. Zoe stands with her back legs splayed out so far sometimes:eek::eek::eek::eek: She will walk so slowly some days, like she cant hardly move and then a few hours later is hoping and running to get chicken:confused::confused: Some days she seems to have much trouble getting up from her bed.

I did read it is better for them to have a firm foam bed then a soft bed filled with dacron or shredded poly. We just bought a memory foam tiwn size mattress pad to cut up and put in Zoe's beds for more support for her. A clerk at the department store has an eldery dog with arthritis and she suggested it to us. It was cheaper then the $190 dog bed with memory foam and dacron gel:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I had to come to check if you were okay.

Love to you and Hannah and Izzy girl

Hi Julie,

My boy, Bear, weighs around 15 lbs and when he was on the 50 mg of Tramadol he received 1/2 tablet (this was for his post-op stone removal surgery). Unlike some of the other dogs, Bear and Harley never had a bad reaction (got loopy) to the Tramadol.

Hoping sweet Hannah feels much better soon.

Love and hugs, Lori