Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

Oh Patti! This sounds so good! :cool::cool::):cool::cool: I can so relate to the joy of seeing them sleeping with more ease! Last nite I slept, really slept, for the first time since Squirt had the seizure. Hopefully this med will have Tipper up and at 'em again very soon!

The use of steroids is of concern to a cush parent, no question about it. BUT I know of several folks whose pups are on both Lysodren and Pred per instruction from Dr. Peterson. So while it isn't optimal, it is sometimes necessary. I know you will keep your hawk eye on her. ;) With luck, she won't need this pred every day once the problem is better controlled. I am wishing you all the best with this!

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

That is awesome! good job Tipper & mom.

Oh I do hope that this is the long term answer to Tippers breathing issues. Once the inflammation goes down do you then stop the meds unless it starts to be a problem again? How long does it take the inflammation to go down, did the vet say?
Hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

So thankful that Tipper is breathing easier, and that you both are sleeping better, we love happy posts! ;)

Patti I am so happy to read your post. I hope this continues to help Tipper.

Hi Everyone:
Well last night was not as good as the night before. When I gave Tipper her nasal meds. I think not enough came out of the dispenser for the one nostril. She did nopt breathe as well last night. I will try again tonight and try to make sure she gets it all. I forgot to mention to you that for the nasal drug my Vet charged me 50.00. I went to search it online and it was 13.00 at Costco and 15.00 at Walmart. Sometimes he really takes the joy out of things for me when I know he is taking advantage of me financially, knowing how much I love this dog. It really is so nasty of him. I don't trust any Vets after this experience with Cushings. I will never whole heartedly put my trust in one again. Anyway he said she should show improvement by 3-4 days, which would be by Saturday. I have until Monday to cancel her hospital appt. I still hear something when she is swallowing, and cannot figure it out as there are so many things in the back of the throat, and inside the throat itself that could cause this nosie I hear. I may have to put her thru this procedure after all if this drug does not come thru by Sunday. I am waiting for the vets office to open so I can get Tipper's results from her blood work and ACTH and Lucky's bloodwork. It is raining here today and when Tipper got up it didn't seem to bother her, so I am wondering if her cortisol is going up?? Hope everyone has a good weekend. God Bless
Patti

Hi Patti,

You can always reschedule the procedure if you'd like to give you more time to see how this is working for her over all. I think you should only do what you feel comfortable with and what You determine is best for Tipper.

That stinker of a vet. I'd tell him 50 bucks, from now on just give me a prescription for anything I need and I'll get it somewhere else. Highway robbery it is. Hmmmpphhhhhh

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Squirt hasn't had any treatment in 3 weeks now and she slept right through a mild storm last night that 2 months ago would have had her in near panic. But I see no cush signs in her...and I am watching closely. ;)

Hi there

Did you get the blood results back?

How did you both sleep last night? Hope you are both ok??

Big hug, kisses to Miss Tipper

Mel
xxxxxx

Hi Everyone:
Well I got Tippers results back and her cortisol did climb as I thought, but is not real high-yet.
on 2/8 pre 2.0 on 4/9 pre 1.1 on 5/9 pre 2.9
on 2/8 post 3.5 on 4/9 post2.3 on 5/9 post 3.1
My two other concerns are as follows:
Alk Phosphatase 2/8 36 4/9 153 5/9 178 (this continues to climb)
Albumin 2/8- 3.3 4/9-4.1 5/9- 4.0 (on borderline not high yet)
Bun 2/8- 7 4/9- 19 5/9- 26 ( this is also climbing- borderiline not high yet)
I was awake last night and kept listening to Tipper. I am convinced that the nose and throat issues are two separate ones. I believe the nasal one to be caused by Cushings narrowing her nasal passages.
The one with the throat I believe to be her larynx after much research and many nights listening to her. In older dogs sometimes the flap is damaged or stops working. It makes all the noise I kept saying about Tipper doing. If this is true only an operation thru the side of the neck to pin one side of the flap back will help her. Since she has always had acid reflux since she was younger from a vet giving her a strong antibiotic she may not be able to have this done, as she could aspirate food or water in her lungs when it comes up there would be no flap on one side to stop it. She would have to have a trachieotomy with a stoma out her neck permanently. I am so scared of all this I am a nervous wreck. I know now from all the research, this has to be her problem. Here again I will be in a bad position as the procedure to detect this is a scope, Ct Scan, etc. and that will take all my money I have left for her. I will have nothing for an operation. If this is truly the problem, which I would bet my house on, if she does not get help, she could smother and go into cardiac arrest. She is already doing the rapid shallow breathing.This is also the hard swallowing she is doing. If she didn't have the acid reflux it would be so much easier. I am waiting for a new Dr. to contact me from that hospital. It is my only other option. So the test results seem to be the least of my problems now. Mel thanks for asking about us, we are kind of really down right now. God Bless You All and All Your Babies. Hope everyone has a Happy Mothers Day.
Patti