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

RO!! :cool::cool::cool: How nice to hear from you! :cool::cool::cool: I hope all is going well in your world these days. Don't be a stranger! ;)

Hi Ro!! Hope everything is going well with you. :)_

When I opened the link for the pheo, at the top is the option of another page, and if you click that, you can open it as a powerpoint

Another option is my photobucket, I converted all to jpegs:

http://s199.photobucket.com/user/Sha...?sort=4&page=1

try that?

Sharlene and molly muffin

Poor Flynny boy. Those itchies suck! You mentioned that devil cat (Elle) had a few fleas. It only takes one to drive Flynny crazy, if he has Flea allergy dermatitis. He can end up scratching for months because of one flea bite. It's the flea saliva that does it. Buddy had it!
His itching may not be food related at all. Just a thought…. Xxxxxx

I am actually leaning towards that too Kathy, he is itching mainly around his tail and there is a little bald spot there. :mad: I have looked up that drug apoquel, there is some mention in the side effects of neoplasia which alarmed me, so will discuss with Mike next time I am in touch with him.

Renee, I am going back to wet food. The ziwipeak Venison, he will like that better I am sure!! I get the dry venison as well and it is freeze dried and is like flakes. The only problem I have with it there is not enough crunch to keep his teeth clean. He cannot do bones, no matter how many times I try them they much up his bowel. :mad: I have tried home cooking, I do not mind doing it either. I had him on the quinoa for a bit with fish last month, such messy food... someone else mentioned that it flies all over the show and I was sweeping up those tiny grains left right and centre after he finished his meal!! I do worry with home cooking he won't get all his nutrients as I am not up with that. He has always had high quality food and the ziwipeak scores really well.

Sharlene, you little technowhizz!! That looks much better!

Hi Trish, I hope Flynn's tummy is feeling better today, give him a big hug n Kiss from me and my boys.

Ear mites hang out on the tail. Since he's scratching there, that's another thought. If he has ear mites, you will see brown residue in his ears. It's from the blood that the mites cause. It's yucky looking. :o Mites are difficult to get rid of. Rosie came with fleas, ticks, ear mites and skin mites. It took several months to get rid of her mites once and for all.

Tell Flynny that I'm trying and give him a butt scratch for me. Xxxx

Great link on the pheo, do you know if this test is referring to the plasma free blood test or another blood test?

For diagnosis of pheochromocytoma:
◦fMN - Se 62.5%, Sp 97.3%
◦fNMN – Se 100%, Sp 97.6%
◦Canine reference ranges!

•Adrenocortical tumors synthesize and secrete inhibin
•Serum [inhibin]: Se 100%, Sp 88.9%, accuracy 93.6% for identifying adrenal tumor as a pheochromocytoma
•Undetectable inhibin is highly supportive of pheochromocytoma in neutered dogs with adrenal tumor

Hi Vicki I think it is referring to this study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23311717

I think the author of the link I have posted is referring to the lack of studies in this area with her comment... Canine reference ranges! As there were only 8 dogs with pheo in the study.

Hey Trish - don't worry about providing crunch to keep the teeth clean. That is actually a myth. Most dogs don't truly 'crunch' their food, so much as just gulp it down. It takes a good long chew on a bone, tennis ball or rope to actually clean dogs teeth. My pugs have not eaten kibble for over 5 years, and their teeth are no worse or better (well... maybe better in some ways) than kibble eating dogs.

If the freeze dried is too flaky, try rehydrating it with warm water and make an 'oatmeal' out of it. However, he will need his face wiped after he eats. :D My pugs make a big old mess eating and I have to clean their faces just like a baby!

Check out some dehydrated foods, if you can. They can be very good for dogs with allergies.

Thanks Renee, I appreciate your input as you have experience with feeding with your rescues!

This is what I am going to give him when it arrives today http://ziwipeak.co.nz/

I have given him the lamb before and he did well on it for at least 4 months till March, then once the itchies and tummy flared I swapped him to orijen 6 fish with a bit of fresh fish added. So I have ordered the canned food the air-dried food and treats all in venison flavour. He likes the dehydrated food and has no trouble eating it. The problem is the portion is quite small and he likes to eat! His tummy is actually not too bad at the moment it is the itches causing the biggest problem. He does have the occasional bad mucousy poop like yesterday. It might be bothering him more as he is still a bit sluggish although better yesterday, slow walking. Could be arthritis as it is so much cooler... argh why can't he talk!!! Oh yeah, he's a dog :D

Oh dear..poor Flynn...what's going on with all these pups?? It just keeps coming doesn't it.
It's just so difficult figuring out the diet stuff. Trixie had been in white meat turkey because I always thought chicken didn't work for her, but now we're back to chicken.
I hope Flynn is okay today...oh those mucous poops...hate them!! Do you ever use Metronidazole (Flagyl) with Flynn for the IBD? I imagine you've already been that route.
You are so right!!! If these dogs could just talk!!! :eek: I say it every time!! Don't we wish.....

B.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Budster's Mom

Ear mites hang out on the tail. Since he's scratching there, that's another thought. If he has ear mites, you will see brown residue in his ears. It's from the blood that the mites cause. It's yucky looking. :o Mites are difficult to get rid of. Rosie came with fleas, ticks, ear mites and skin mites. It took several months to get rid of her mites once and for all.

Tell Flynny that I'm trying and give him a butt scratch for me. Xxxx

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Kathy, I have never had to worry about ear infections with him. But he has been scratching around his ears a lot. So I just had a good look and he has a bloody area in one of them. I just rang the clinic and Mike is in surgery all morning and then has the afternoon off :mad: the nurse is going to speak to him and ask if it is OK for Flynn to see one of the other vets and will call me back.

Thanks for getting me to check that!! xx

Have I said I love my vet, he will see Flynn before he goes home. Gotta fly, appointment in 20mins. Thanks for your tips all, what a difference they make when we are worried about our furry friends xxxx

Best of luck Trish and Flynn man! Your vet is indeed a real winner!

hugs
sharlene and molly muffin

We all love your vet and know local Mike well. :p

Mites aren't necessarily an infection, but it can ended up going there.
Rosie's ears were infected from them when she first arrived. I am thrilled that Mike can see Flynn before he leaves. :) I'm glad that you checked his ears.

Keep us posted. I'll check back in a little later. Xxxxx

I think I may call Mike too!! Overseas consult Mike??? :D :D

Barbara

Hmmm... itchies started in March?? Could be some seasonal allergies too!

YAY for awesome vets. They are priceless!

itches started last March too? I was thnking same thing as Kathy- itches arenot from the food.

Now Flynny- no more mucus poos. A rround of metronidazole will probabaly set him right, Trish

I'll check back n a bit.

Hey, we are back. Popped around and checked the parents are behaving which they are... mostly!! I am going to stay with Dad for a week from Sunday as Mum and her sister are off down to Christchurch to housesit for my uncle who is off to Las Vegas for some big fight. He loves his boxing :confused:

Anyway, Mike had a good look in his ears with the scope thingy, he had me look down them too. No sign of mites or any infection in either one. He said the bloody area is just trauma from him scratching. He agrees with you the itching not likely from food as his tummy is only just a tad upset. So he thinks environmental too. Most likely a flea bite, he had a good look over him. Prescribed an antihistamine although they have not helped that greatly in the past. Now funnily enough, before I had a chance to bring up the apoquel, he did. He started off by saying it is in short supply all over the world and they are out of new production till 2015. He said Europe especially has none left. He has a bottle of each of the different doses but has not used it yet. He said relatively low side effect profile, mainly GI which seems to diminish over a few days. I then said well funnily enough that I had heard of it just yesterday and had googled it and was concerned about neoplastic issues. He had not read that, but admitted he only had the general blurb from the manufacturer but will look more into it. He also wants me to put it on the list to discuss with IMS when we go up to Auckland May 5th. But said it could be a good option for Flynn if it checks out with IMS.

We discussed allergy testing again, he said about 75% success with the desensitisation programme. You get a list of about 70 potential allergans and he said they have just used it on two dogs but too early to tell if successful yet, he has seen it work in the past. You start off giving daily injections and slowly build it up over a few months. Cost $750. We agreed to see what the next scan shows, to see if Flynn's liver is stable. If it is, then we will reconsider doing this.

Was a pretty interesting trip, all the consulting rooms were full with the other vets so he took us out to the back rooms, was full of kittens and cats in cages in various stages of recovery from surgery, mainly neutering.

Ohhh and lastly, Mike has a new grandson, arrived a week early so I got a look at the photos on his phone. Very cute wee baby, he said you will never guess what his name is... I said probably not so tell me ... and you guessed it... It's FLYNN!! :eek::D:eek: I looked at him and just cracked up laughing... so funny! I said blardy hell Mike, you would want to go home at the end of a busy day and forget about your problem doggies... he said, well not much chance of that now is there... as I will be reminded of our Flynny all the time!!! LOL cute!

Mike's new grandson is named Flynn.....that is too funny Trish!!! :D You must feel better after the appointment. There's always a sense of relief to get all checked out by the experts! I need a vet in my family, how great would that be? ;) Hope Flynn can get some relief from itching! :rolleyes:

Barbara

Awww, your vet just sounds too cute!!

Yes, apoquel is in quite big demand. If he's offered it to you, I would jump right on it, with the IMS approval, of course. My very good friend just started using it on her frenchie, and she is just raving about how amazing it is. I am tickled that something has finally hit the market that is working so well for so many pups.

And, too funny about the new grandson named Flynn!! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trish

Mike has a new grandson, arrived a week early so I got a look at the photos on his phone. Very cute wee baby, he said you will never guess what his name is... I said probably not so tell me ... and you guessed it... It's FLYNN!! :eek::D:eek: I looked at him and just cracked up laughing... so funny! I said blardy hell Mike, you would want to go home at the end of a busy day and forget about your problem doggies... he said, well not much chance of that now is there... as I will be reminded of our Flynny all the time!!! LOL cute

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ROFL - This is hilarious!:D:D:D:D

I know, isn't it... the pair of us were just laughing and laughing, one of the nurses came out and said what's so funny you two! Flynn was like, what the heck is going on LOL.

He is going to hold on to the apoquel and once the IMS gives the OK that is what we will try. Thanks so much for telling me about that Renee!! Very timely it was :D

I reckon, a vet in the family would be ideal Barbara!! Imagine the money we could save!

Flynny is booked in again for next Tuesday so we have the updated bloods/UPC for the IMS trip the week after, BP check as well. I said that makes me nervous with all this itching going on, but Mike said well too bad, we need the results for IMS and the pred should be well and truly out his system by now lol... so guess I have to suck it up!

Oh your vet is too cute. Flynn! Well I love the name Flynn so good choice and really not a bad idea to have him always thinking on our Flynn man. Hehehe.
Got to feel for him a bit though I suppose. No leaving his work at the office now eh.
Glad there are no mites or other nasties.
Interesting about the new med.
just going into winter though there. Did Flynn act up this time last year?

Hugs
Sharlene and Molly muffin

I just checked his spreadsheet and he was scratching up a storm this time last year. Tummy was upset last April too.

Hi Trish,
So glad you decided to take Flynn in, and happy there is no ear infection. When I read what you wrote about his ear, I suspected that it was probably due to scratching, glad that was all it is.

I can't say enough how much I love your vet. He is a true gem. I have been very happy with my vet and she is good with Jasper, but its not the same as how Mike is with Flynn. And that is so cute that his new grandbaby is named Flynn!

Add me to the group that is over the top about their baby. I have always been somewhat like that about my dogs, but since this Cushings diagnosis and all that has happened since then, it is just ratcheted up. I can't help it, and I know I will never again be the same as I was before, with any dog. And that is not all good either. Under the surface I find myself questioning or second guessing my vet quite frequently, where I never did that before. Sometimes I get the sense that she is getting tired of my questions, or gets a little exasperated with my calls sometimes. In that sense I wish she was more like Mike.

It sounds like he is on top of Flynn's itchies. That new med sounds promising.

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper xo

Sounds like either the fleas get him at this time of the year. (Sending Ellie the look). Or there is something environment at this time of the year.
Pollen? Fall shedding pollen maybe or a combination.

At least if we are all going to be over the top with the furry kids we have good company. :)

Hugs
Sharlene and Molly muffin.

Yes, believe me I have been giving Elle the "look" too... even threatening her with another bath. If I do I am going to take a photo as she looked so funny last time I did that, but saying that she was a really good puss and sat in the warm water quite happily!!

Hi Tina!! I get that sense too sometimes, but I just keep on going. I am not going to risk anything by being too worried about what he thinks to not ask the questions when I am concerned. Imagine if we let things slide, I don't want to have to kick myself! Nothing wrong with being over the top, there are enough that ignore their dogs!! I have to shower Flynn for 2nd night in a row.. he has rolled in some dead thing just now up the beach. Phew, is not a nice perfume my boy!

Yes, I agree. I feel uncomfortable sometimes, but always ask anyway. I have to have my concerns addressed or I can't rest. I couldn't live with myself if I ignored something I was worried about. That sweet little guy is way too important.

Oh Flynny, a shower two nights in a row. Well, he knows you are on holiday Trish, he has to keep you busy! Lol! :D Ooh, that aroma after rolling in dead things is most unpleasant! :eek:

Nighty night, hope to catch you tomorrow. xo

Hey Trish, how much metamucil do you add to Flynny's food? I am still having a hard time with Peg :(, and am wondering whether some fiber might help (seems like it can't hurt! :o).

Marianne

Well, things seem to be working out so good job Dr Mike and Trish:)

It does seem to be more environmental than protein related, so hopefull a food that agreed wth him in the past will work again. An occasional mucus poo is not so bad when a pup has IBD. Zoe went on like that for a few years before we lost control of it and she had to have metronidazole every day so an occasional mucus poo is not so bad, Trish.

Hey Tina - sorry I disappeared last night. We are meant to be going out to dinner tonight for a friends birthday. But last night I had a call from one of them asking where the heck are we all, she was at the restaurant alone! Silly girl had the wrong night DOH!! So she came over here and we went out to Mexican! Nice night, with a margarita or two! Now we get to go out again tonight for the birthday... I love holidays, but its going too fast with only 4 days left :eek:!! I am walking Flynny at a different place today, to avoid the stinky dead thing... we need a big tide to wash whatever it is away!

Addy, yep an occasional bad poop not too bad, its only when he starts acting off that I get more worried. I cannot see him right now, he is buried under a blanket and totally covered. Cold too, I have the heater on :mad: I hope we never lose more control than we have but there are meds he can go on, just won't be prednisone again if I have my way, so not happy with what it did to his liver and I will be on tenterhooks next week to see what the latest on his blood results next Tuesday.

All I could do is think of our Flynny while I watched Koko chew and lick his paws:rolleyes::rolleyes: This is something he has never done. They did say we are to have a horrific allergy season becuase of the polar vortex, everything will polinate and bloom at the same time. But I think it more than a coincidence that I bought some Zuke training treats (I used to give Zoe when she went to school years ago). They have barley in them, he has never had barley besides all the other chemicals they have which he never eats.


So it looks like the drama king can only eat the expensive stuff so now I have to find Honest Kitchen treats as he was not impressed with a turkey walk one bit!!!!!:p:p Turned his nose up at it, he did:rolleyes:

I just had to come and tell you. I hope Flynny is not itchy any more.

whoa....Trink has developed an allergy to something and changing her feed has helped very little. I had been given her treats from Cloud Star, which were new to the gang so I switched her to Zukes along with the feed change. hmmmmmm....maybe this baby will have to do without treats for a bit and see if that helps her. I do NOT want her to have to keep getting these allergy shots but she's just about rubbed the hair off of her back. Her's started while we were still in the dead of winter.

whoa is right Leslie, how weird is that, I swear, Koko has never chewed his paws until a few days ago and he has had the Zuke training treats a week. I did not give him any this morning and he is at the groomers right now. She checked his pads for mats but he had none, or a bad nail so :confused::confused::confused:

I have been wondering how long Zukes would take to start making changes. They were acquired a while ago by one of the big companies (P&G?).

As soon as I heard they had been bought out, I went to PetCo and bought about 6 bags! So what we have is supposed to be the original...tho who really knows?! They were bought by Nestle/Purina CO.

And btw I wrote to Nestle and told them to please stay out of the dog food and treat business...that they did real good with chocolate so be satisfied and leave our dogs alone! :p

Zuke's was bought by P&G:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

I found some low calorie treats at Honest Kitchen's website. I guess it is either that or Stella and Chewy. I have not purchased dog treats in a long time but I need something extra special that Koko only gets durring our walks, I need a "gold" treat and he gets blueberries, potato and organic turkey breast treats in the house so they are not worth anything to him outside. He has come a long way from barking at dogs and wanting to eat anything he can find if he gets all worked up about a critter like a squrriel. I need one crunchy milk bone kind of treat and one very soft treat.

Sorry to hike jack your thread Trish!!!:o:o:o

Hello you

I've tried to catch up and so far have got : people turning up at wrong date for dinner lol, mum and dad behaving, Mexican dinners, dr mike new grandson Flynn love it, Elle getting the "look" Flynn having the itchies. Phew probably miss some.

How is the holiday going, I hope you had a good rest. How is Flynn now, he goes in Tuesday for bloods doesn't he fingers crossed for low numbers, when is his scan is it May.

Hope to catch up soon x