Flynn 11 y/o Foxie Cross - Right adrenalectomy- Good Bye Flynny We will miss you

Hey Trish, you have lots of good news and right in time for the upcoming weekend! :D Haha...love Flynn's selective hearing on the beach! He's like "maybe I'll listen, maybe I won't"!! :D
Trixie was a royal pain on today's walk. I was too late for off leash hours, so hit another nearby park, it's along the river, she has to stay on the leash there. Stubborn girl pulled and halted the whole walk. Has to be her way or the highway! I wasn't in the mood! It's so much nicer when she can walk on her own without yanking me all over the place.
Coming home we got to our door and she just stops...it's like she's saying-"I'll decide when I go in"....she waits a minute, looks at me with the evil eye, then "okay, I'll walk in now". It has to be HER idea!! What a little bratnik!
Anyway glad both Flynn and Trixie feel well enough to inflict their personalities on us!! Funny pups! :D

Barbara

are you and Val in the 300 levels of Candy Crush!!????? :eek: I'm only 181 and stuck like glue!!

Barbara

Oh Flynn is just a real character, running and caring on and ignoring anything he doesn't Want to hear. hahaha I can see it now. Truly, there is a pretty hilarious movie running through my head.

Love the concise update edition, very handy that could be for when you don't have a lot of time to chat.

So dad needs to stop oozing
mom needs to stay on her own two feet
Flynn needs a hearing aid
Elle just needs Flynn's bed
Trish needs....more hours in the day for candy crush domination?

hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin

Ha ha Sharlene that cracked me up.

Basically what she said Trish :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trish

Itching better :D
Paw better :D
Poops good :D
Likes his new fishy diet :D
Both parents still out of hospital :D (dentist tomorrow)
Naughty dog on walks :D
Tomorrow is Friday :D:D:D

---

Love it!!! :D xxxxxx

hmmm, I could get used to short hand:D:D:D:D:D

or we could try code:p:p

do like the condensed version, short and sweet works sometimes!!!!

glad things are looking up

hw bowt txt spk, cn jst gt rd of vwls

ROFL

kinda scary that i understood that!

Sharlene and the muffin head

Hi Trish,
Ok, I am laughing my butt off at these last several posts. Flynn, you weren't listening to your Mum! Oh, I know that devilish look well, and then Jasper leaves me in the dust as he runs the opposite direction. If (and I mean if) I am able to chase him down and he knows he is caught, he promptly rolls over on his back trying to make the cutest face possible, and then turns into a wet noodle so I can hardly pick him up. So naughty!! But since he has gotten sick, I just chuckle when he does this as it usually means he is feeling pretty good. Before, I used to get so mad! :rolleyes:

The posts about the shorthand are so funny. Sharlene, I love your summary, especially the part about Flynn needing a hearing aid, Lol. :D :D

Glad to hear everyone is doing well. How was Dad's dental appt?

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper

Scary I got that too. Hope all is well and parents and dog are behaving themselves. Catch up soon

Happy Friday Trish! How's Dad? The teeth?

I think this just means we are trendy girls. LOL
tru dat

hugs,
Sharlene and molly muffin

Okay, I could read Trish's not so secret code too! I think it means that we're starting to be able to read each other's thoughts and minds.

NOW, THAT IS SCARY!!!! lol :D:D:D:D

Well what a lovely relaxing, lazy day with no emergencies!! I love it :) I have watched two movies tonight, heavy rain here tonight so nice laying on the couch chilling out!

Flynny is outside running around in the rain and barking!! Eek 10.15pm at night, neighbours will not be happy. But he has had no walk today because of the weather... oops here he is all wet! Mmmm nice wet dog smell :p

I think he is drinking a bit more because of the prednisone, we are starting to cut it back to only one 5mg a day. It got rid of the itching in one day, but I did change him to the fish diet same day so maybe a combination of both. Couple of days of ABs left to go and no side effects from that. In saying that is over there on the floor licking away but I think it is just because he is a bit damp still.

Dad had the tooth extraction yesterday, it went well and is not to sore. His biggest problem is nausea in the mornings and I think that is due to his antibtiotics, he has actually vomited the last two mornings. He was meant to be taking it with food and I think he forgot that. So I have put in place a strict regime of his antinausea and to eat his meal and take the antibiotics afterwards. Hopefully this will settle it down. I also got him some antibiotics probiotic today to help with gut. I did the dressing today too, still oozing :mad: can see a little hole in the wound maybe a sinus, but not nasty like it has been previously.

Tina, that wet noodle description made me laugh. He so does that too, if I want him to go somewhere he doesn't want to go he does exactly that to make it as hard as possible to pick him up! Funny aren't they, yes I get the not feeling mad after they have been so sick too. Although... he did try my patience the other night. Our beach is stony and full of driftwood so it is not an easy mission to get down there and get him! Lucky no one was in hearing distance when I was yelling to get back here!

Well my shorthand did not last long did it!! xx

Heheheheheh That is hilarious, Flynn, rocks, beach, fish, yelling woman! Only because it was you and Flynn of course.

What movies did you watch? Anything good?

Hmm, well maybe this time your dads wound will heal! That would be lovely. Crossing fingers since it's looking better than last time.

Oh totally he needs to remember to take with food. That stuff can make you feel awful on an empty stomach sometimes. Blech.

I have to run over to the vets at some point to pick up mollys liver supplement. I am not feeling particularly motivated to do much yet though. LOL Lazy here too.

hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin

Hi Trish,

Reading about Flynn being Flynn makes me happy! Hearing about the devil cat, Elle, is certainly a bonus. Love it! :D:D:D

Hey you how are things this week. Hoping mum and dad are still on the mend and that Flynn is good:D

Hi girls

Well the week is going by with a few ups and downs. Same old really ;)

Mike sent me a txt yesterday that he wanted to see Flynn's paw, it is still not totally settled down. He mentioned mast cell tumour in the txt and thought we should biopsy it :eek::eek: after I read that and freaked out and said I will bring him NOW! He told me to calm down and it is probably not that but he does not like to leave any stone unturned with Flynn :). Fair enough, so instead of leaving work and racing Flynn to his surgery right then and there :rolleyes: we planned for me to drop him in this morning and he would have bloods, UPC, BP etc and he could take a look at his paw. So in he went for the day with his blankie, toy, packed lunch and urine sample. Mike, bless him sent me a txt at 10am to say relax paw looks fine it had settled more since the last photo I had sent him, he did not think it needed a biopsy and his BP was good at 135! I appreciated that as it saved me stewing all day wondering what was going on.

Picked him up at 5, he has done the bloods.. he said he might have results back tonight from external lab and he would send them if back before he left work. Nothing yet and it is 8.30pm now, so most likely tomorrow. When we had our chat when I collected him, he had a look at a couple of new bumps and Flynnikin, gives him a big kiss when his face got close enough to him. That dog knows a good vet when he see's him, I think he has got real used to him now with all their up close BP monitoring! Mike did say the BPs had quite a spread, some up to 180, some 80 which he thought a little odd but they averaged out at the 135 so happy with that. His inhouse UPC was same as last time so be interesting what external lab shows. He is still keen to remove big lipoma on his side. Hmmm I am still thinking on that one. He also said I am not to worry if LFTs are higher has he is still on the prednisone, esp ALT. So will see what comes back tomorrow. While we were talking Flynny was walking around the room checking everything out, once he did that he looked up at us and gave a big Bark!! Cracked us up, he never does that so he must be feeling OK! He was like...Ok Mum, we done here, hurry up and lets go... I need FOOD!

Thanks for asking about Dad, I had to take him today for his ortho checkup. Hip much the same, still oozing, but no flare up. We also saw the infectious diseases physician who is monitoring ABs, Dads renal function has gone off a bit so he stopped one and halved the other. So hopefully wound will stay ok and creatinine will come back down to normal. It was 153, should be under about 115, I am making him drink more as he is not good at that and the nausea he has been having has made that worse. But the last few days he has been feeling better, he even took Flynn for a little walk up the beach which I could tell both of them enjoyed!

Me, I'm just tired :cool: But hey, tomorrows Friday already! Roll on lazy weekend! xxxxx

So happy to read that Dad and Flynn took a walk along the beach:)

Your Mike is such a keeper, I think he deserves our forum's BEST VET EVER award:D:D:D:D:D:D

I nominate and vote for Dr. Mike!!!!!

He keeps such good tabs on you both, I am sure Flynn's labs will be just fine.

Happy Weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I second the nomination for best vet yet. Glad to hear Flynn's paw is not as bad as it might have been. After results today, sure hope things settle down for you a bit.

See if you can get Dad to eat wetter foods if he doesn't like to drink water - ya know, like we do with our dogs. ;) Fix him some soups that are watery than normal and other things you can add water to without ruining the dish. If you have Dandelions that grow around you, fix him a salad from the young leaves - it can help with kidney and bladder problems a great deal. They can also be cooked like any other greens - collard, turnip, kale, etc.

You sure have a great vet in Mike! Wish we could all have good vets like that. And so glad he doesn't think the paw is a mast cell growth!

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Hey Trish, I'm on board with Mike as BEST VET EVER. :) :)

He's a good one, that's for sure.

Glad your dad and Flynn were able to get out together for a bit. I bet they have both missed that. Oh the adventures they can have again. Watch out New Zealand!

Gosh this week is just dragging on and on here. I keep hoping someone will tell me today is Friday but alas, no one has stepped up to the plate on this side of the world. LOL One can hope though.

Well, good that the paw is clearing up and no need for a biopsy after all.

I'm on poop patrol here again. joy joy. Nothing like getting down and checking out a dog poop, up close and personal to make the neighbors think you've gone round the bend. hahahahaha

Got to run. Another blasted meeting. Wonder if I can sort of snooze through this one. LOL I've done that before, where just sort of mind drifted off and then have someone ask if I have an update on something and I'm like, "huh, what? uh, no, not at this time, I'll send an email out when I know more (and in the back of my head I'm like, what am I updating again, I missed that part.)

ta for now
hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin (snoozing behind my chair currently)

Where do we vote for the best vet ever! Local Mike would get my vote too!

Tell you dad enough oozing already! Poor guy!:o

Glad Flynny's paw is healing. :p You are such a great mommy Trish
Xxxxxx

Well obviously I'm voting for dr Mike I luffs him and what he does for our boy Flynn:D Thank goodness it doesn't need a biopsy but none the less I hope it is clearing up.

So we have to go with stop oozing thoughts to dad, hugs to your mum and butt scratches to Flynn, hugs to Dr Mike and huge hugs to you as you really are going through it x

Trish,
I hope that dad's hip heals right this time. So frustrating I'm sure.
Mike sounds awesome, he gets my vote too.

Well it is not good news on the results front.

UPC gone up to 2.5 from 0.6 before Christmas.

But LFTs are WAY worse as below :(:(:(

FLYNN AST 91 H ( 0 - 79 )
FLYNN ALP 4274 H ( 0 - 185 )
FLYNN ALT 493 H ( 0 - 75 )
FLYNN ALB 45 H ( 26 - 44 )
FLYNN CHOL 12.4 H ( 3.0 - 9.0 )
FLYNN CL 100 L ( 105 - 121 )
FLYNN LIP 231 H ( 13 - 200 )
FLYNN CK 920 H ( 0 - 609 )

Blood count normal.

Email from Mike ... header DO NOT PANIC OR WORRY!!!!!!!
Hi Trish

Have had a long discussion with the pathologists at the lab and I am happy that most of these changes including UPCR increase can be explained by PREDNISONE. I and they have a bit more homework to do so will talk next week.

I just feel sick :(

What was the last results, how much have they gone up comparatively?

Yep, pred can have that affect on liver, we know that, just not if it would have gone up that much. (depending on how much it actually did go up)

so next question and the first one I'd ask, is how soon can we get him off the pred and is there something else we can try other than cortisteroid.

Don't panic until you know more. You know what you need, is a plan.
Now about that UPC. He did have some loose poops, so even though you waited it still might have had a lasting effect still, or might not have been entirely cleared up.
Again, Mike needs to come up with a plan to address this too.

Hang in there!
hugs
sharlene and molly muffin

Great minds think alike Sharlene, I just text him about that, getting him off the pred. He has had 5 days 5mg twice day, 5 days 5mg daily, today was first day of none as he is to go to it every 2nd day. I just txt to say I feel like I have poisoned Flynn asking him to put him on it.

This is 11th Feb
FLYNN ALT 242 H ( 0 - 75 )
FLYNN ALP 1444 H ( 0 - 185 )

His tummy has not been too bad, a few dodgy ones a couple weeks back.

He might not get back to me as they will be closing now. :(

I have only put abnormals above, all others and there are heaps are normal including renal function.

Could that tummy upset a few weeks back have actually been a mild pancreatic attack? I see lip is mildly above normal but wondering if it might have been higher during the upset? That would also have had an effect on the liver.

I hate when the values get too out of whack even if it is correctable and so on. Just no likeee.
Hmmm prob not tonight but I bet mike checks his email. He is going to know you will be all over these results. Lol.

Hugs

Sharlene and Molly muffin

Wasn't there going to be a 3 month ultrasound coming up?
Sharlene

I emailed earlier but I just txt him as well :rolleyes: so he will definitely get that. I guess he has to have weekend off even if he is super-vet. The IMS said to rescan in 2-3 months. It's only 2 months on 19th April.

We both thought he was doing so well so these results have sure thrown me for a loop today :( But the other liver tests like bilirubin is normal so his liver is not totally packed up. The urine from his UPC shows high cr and that has always made it worse, he is drinking more lately due to Pred so I am sure that has affected that. But the protein is also much higher.

Hi Trish,
I would think these numbers must be reflective of the prednisone that Flynn is on.

I really like what he wrote-don't panic or worry--if he didn't mean that he may have said something more cryptic-like "we need to talk", but he didn't so he must feel like he knows why these numbers look like this. I hope you can speak to him soon and hear what he thinks. You've got lots of normal numbers on the test too so that's good news. Hopefully you will hear from him soon, try not to worry too much in the meantime.

Barbara

HI Sharlene and Barbara - thanks for your comments girls

I know he warned me the the LFTs would go up with the pred, I was just not expecting it to go this high.

I restarted his Samilyn last night, he took it fine then. But this morning I gave it with a wee bit of fish as he has to have it on an empty tummy. But it is like a horse pill and he will not take it without a little food covering it. It came straight back up, immediately (just the pill, not the fish funnily enough). He does not seem nauseous and ran around outside right after. I think it is just the size of it. I put a little cheese around it and he took it and it has stayed down this time.

Mike did txt back
He said we should do three more doses of pred on alternate days then stop. So today, Monday and Weds. He said I have not poisoned him :rolleyes: and these levels are not a concern
1. His baseline levels are higher so a higher level is expected
2. Most patients (including people) are not aware that this happens with pred unless they have bloods taken while on it
3. The course of pred had been very short for a good reason
4. No problems with samilyn but this result does NOT indicate any impairment of his liver function
5. It's likely that his hepatocytes are more responsive to pred with this jump in levels
6. We need to look at the patient too! I thought he seemed very well in himself this week

I don't think I have read many on here with results this high though. I just hope it is the pred and is reversible and not something brewing again in his liver :(

Well, then fine, but the plan has to be that after the pred is stopped completely that a follow up test for levels will be done to verify that it was indeed the pred causing it. Nice to think that but this group and Flynn's mum, likes to see the results to be sure. :) ;)

Sure Flynn has a tricky liver. That little scamp is writing a whole new text book, on canine liver function, with chapters added by more than a few others, tina/jasper come to mind. hahaha

huggers Trish
Sharlene and molly muffin

Trish,
I saw Flynn’s labs this morning but was running late so wasn’t able to post to you before work. Glad you heard back from Mike already to ease your mind a bit, but I was basically going to say don’t worry a ton about the liver values. (I know you can’t help but worry some, especially with his history).

I would think that the increases are most definitely related to the prednisone, especially the ALP. Jasper’s has been staying consistently high, in the 2000’s now, and my vet has said it is because he is on long term steroids so it will always be elevated. But he needs the dex to live, so we can’t help it. After he was so sick in September with pancreatitis, or Addison’s crisis or both, he was on the dex daily for at least a week, maybe closer to two. His ALP on 09/25/13 was 4753 (<95). :eek: :eek: :eek: I about had a stroke, but my vet said it was directly because we had been giving him increased dex, higher than the physiologic dose he had been getting. I think this was the highest his ALP ever got. My vet also said that this value does not indicate liver damage or impairment in functioning.

I have a bit more to add but will need to post later. I am at work so need to keep this very brief. But I just wanted to share Jasper’s high number with you so maybe it would help ease your worries some. Our boys, they just seem to follow each other back and forth with these lab results and UPC’s! And my gray hair is increasing.

Hope we can chat later once I get home. I have more to post on Jasper then also.

PS Thanks for thinking of us Sharlene, LOL :) :p

Big hugs,
Tina and Jasper xo

He sent all those comments I posted via txt, he did not mention when we should retest but I will be onto that next week but I imagine we will have to wait a while to let the liver settle down. Just gave him his breakfast with his other meds including the Pred... damn drug. It did relieve his itching really fast so it does have its good side. Mike said to save the rest of the Pred that we are not going to use in case we need it in the future... not blardy likely lol

Hey Tina... you are a darling popping in at work to ease my mind. I am going to have to book in for colour touch up weekly at this rate... or maybe I should just let the silvers take over.... nah, not ready for that just yet! But I have to say I am very happy to read Jaspers were in the 4000's too and came back down phew! Thank you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

oh good, you heard from Mike. So this news got here right in time for the weekend and can put your mind at ease so your weekend is not spoiled by worrying about the numbers.. I know it's not all that easy to put out of your mind but at least you know he thinks this is all expected. I wish I had a "Mike"!! Love how attentive and reassuring he is!!
I was thinking the same thing about how Flynn seems and he has been doing so well...a little bad poops here and there are so common and otherwise he's been great. Then all those good normal numbers to remember. I'm so glad it all seems okay.

I give Trixie her Denamarin (liver supplement) with food around it too or else forget it...it's way too big a pill. If I don't get it all covered like a little sausage she will spit the pill out. Denamarin is also supposed to be given on an empty stomach but it's impossible...not to mention that Trixie's stomach is almost never empty. I give it right before bed with her canned food around it..that's as empty as her stomach is going to be over the 24 hours.

Now for that hot jelly donut and coffee you were going for :p...just one of my favorite indulgences...I hope you had it and enjoyed it!! :D
SO happy it's Friday...getting ready to order in some Indian food, no cooking tonight! ;)

Barbara

Evening.

Am here! Sorry to read about the latest results I would have freaked too. At least Mike isn't worried and you have a plan. So fish seems to be helping his ibd but stinking out the house :eek: maybe you need to invest in some yankee candles to help get rid! They are expensive but worth it. I got one delivered today from amazon fluffy towels I like it. Usually get Christmas cookie as that's my favourite

How is Dad? Mum doing ok after her scare?

We are ok, busy with work and I have stayed away a bit as just recently there have been many new people posting about macros and it brings it back for me, I am not at the stage of being able to add anything helpful as it's painful to think about.

Will hang around for a bit, will have to take Boyce but will be back. Will nip into Tracy's thread now. See you soon

Love
Mel
Xxxxxx