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

Thanks Kim, I will check out that slippery elm bark. Not sure I have ever seen it here, but then I have never gone looking for it either!!

He really seems a lot happier today, isn't that typical when I convinced them he needed these extra tests :D:D Still it will be good to know the results, wonder if I will get them today as the external lab is in another city about 4hrs drive away. Time will tell I guess.

Thx
Trish xx

Hi Trish,
So glad to hear that Flynn is feeling better! I am also glad to see that you are having a stim test done. I was relieved to read what the surgeon wrote about not being worried about his labs. But if it were me, I would want to make sure his cortisol was ok to verify that his other adrenal gland was working normally. It is all such a tricky balance, and I would much rather be safe than sorry. Hopefully the cortisol and electrolytes will all be normal, as well as the spec PL. And I will never get sick of hearing updates on your baby!!

Hugs from me and Jasper

Aww thanks Tina, I am sure my posting frequency will go down next week when I have to go back to work! Not many are about when I come on at night, as with the time difference you have all gone to bed :)

No blood results yet, won't be through until tomorrow morning. The local vet has day off - (funnily enough he told me he is taking his own dog down to the university to see our surgeon) - so he said they should arrive on his phone while he is down there, they will discuss and then let me know.

Flynny has had his best day yet! Two decent poops, hungry, drinking, a bit tired but just what I would expect as in post op tiredness not the lethargy of the last few days! I took him for a short walk on his leash and he wanted to run, I did not let him as a bit too early for that. So I am much happier he is feeling better, I don't want to jinx us but maybe he is turning the corner!!

I need to get out and get my christmas shopping done... hopefully he is good again tomorrow so I can drop him at my parents and hit the stores... not that there is much money left in the savings after all these vet bills!!! So I will have to be inventive :D

So, so glad to hear he is feeling better!!! It's time for you guys to get a break. I hope his labs come back good.

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I need to get out and get my christmas shopping done... hopefully he is good again tomorrow so I can drop him at my parents and hit the stores... not that there is much money left in the savings after all these vet bills!!! So I will have to be inventive

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Girlfriend, boy will I second that. Old photos and my printer have become a great present maker:););) Tuck some in with some goodies from Trader Joes (I broke up a set of cute bath salts, tied some festive ribbon around them, added a bar of chocolate and beautiful old photos of family members and I have some cute gift bags for under six bucks!!!!!:D:D:D:D:D

ACTH stim results
Pre 71 PMOL/L
1 hr 382 PMOL/L

Comment: based on published reference levels, this result is considered a high normal response. Post ACTH-stimulation cortisol levels <470nmol/L are typically seen in normal, non-cushingoid dogs. Low numbers of dogs with pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism can have this result while up to 50% of dogs with functional adrenocortical neoplasia may have normal acth stimulation results.

Lipase 227 IU/L (22-126) high
Amylase 925 IU/L (329-1074

Comment: Lipase can be increased with pancreatitis, GI disease or decreased GFR (renal disease, dehydration), Canine specific Lipase is pending.

Grrr they have not repeated the electrolytes as I requested. I am just googling to find out about those reference ranges for the stim as they are different to the usual ones posted here, I presume the pre is not too low or they would have commented on it to rule out addisons?

xx

I think I have done the conversion ok divide by 27.59
Pre 2.5
Post 13.8

So normal according the reference chart on here. Phew.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

OK, now go have some wine. Time for me to go to bed. I'll go with a smile on my face. Great news. Kim

Thanks Kim - I was very pleased to hear his one little adrenal gland is working and doing the job!!

When I was in town I went to the health shop and picked up some slippery elm, it comes in a powder, no instructions on how much to give so that will be my next googling quest :) Thanks for your advice on that!

He has had another good day, with diet and poops. Still a bit tireder than I would have thought at this stage. But today is the first day he has not had to go and see a vet! So I guess it is fair enough he feels like resting up. His stitches are due out, his normal vet has next four days off so I will take them out myself to spare him another trip to a strange vet, hope he doesn't wriggle too much as he HATES me clipping his nails and if I come at him with any sort of implement he runs and hides :D

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Originally Posted by Trish

When I was in town I went to the health shop and picked up some slippery elm, it comes in a powder, no instructions on how much to give so that will be my next googling quest :) Thanks for your advice on that!

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Here's a link to an article that has info on slippery elm: http://www.littlebigcat.com/health/slippery-elm/

An excerpt form that article:

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To give internally, mix about 1/4 teaspoon of Slippery Elm bark powder with cold water for every 10 pounds of body weight. For very small dogs, it is fine to use the same 1/4 teaspoon dose.

Author Anitra Frazier gives the following recipe for Slippery Elm Bark syrup in her book, The New Natural Cat, which applies equally well to our canine companions when adjusted for weight: Into a small saucepan place 1/2 cup cold water and 1 teaspoon powdered slippery elm bark. Whip with a fork. Bring to simmer over low flame, stirring constantly. Simmer 1 or 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Cool and refrigerate. Keeps 7 or 8 days. Give a teaspoon of syrup (5 cc) for an average-size cat (again, about 10 pounds) 5 minutes before a meal to minimize diarrhea, or to soothe and heal mouth ulcers.

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Hope the SEB helps Flynn.

Hi Lori - thanks for that info, I have worked out how much to give Flynn now. I have just sent an email to the vet to check it's ok, I read up on contraindications and it mentioned caution with any bowel obstruction. His bowel has only been working properly last two days so don't want to push it without the vet's agreement. It looks like it could help him though.

Addy! I picked up quite a few little pressies today, the girls at work are getting a nice natural lavendar soap and a wee lavendar votive candle and I will put in a choccie santa... and can nearly match your $6 per gift... so was very pleased with myself :D:D

sounds like things are going good. yay Flynn!!!!! I am so happy for you two. Boriss & Pearl bolt when I pull out the nail clippers too. I gave up. I take them to the dog wash to get them done. They act better for strangers.:rolleyes:

I took his stitches out this morning, he lay there like a little lamb! Probably thought he better stay still with such a sharp tool in my hand, hopefully it will make him a little more comfortable. They came out really easily and his wound looks great.

I usually get his nails done at the vets and they did them just before he had his surgery so he does not have to face that for a while :) He has never forgiven me for cutting one a little too short when he was young, poor boy.

I would like to give him a shower too, he has a bit of a smell about him, it might be the smell of the new food. It is nice and sunny so I might do that later this morning and wash all his bedding. He hates the shower too, well the washing part but he likes the rolling about on the towels afterwards getting dried off and he LOVES getting blow dried haha.

He seems good again this morning, yay! Have a good day all xx

Trish-

Phew....I am so glad he is turning the positive corner and his labs are good. He just had a rough surgery and it took a bit to get back on his paws. I am glad he let you remove the sutures. I hope he gets a break from vets now for awhile. I am sure your pocketbook could use a reprieve as well. Treating these babies gets expensive.

Enjoy the nice weather. I must say, spring is my favorite season:D.

Hugs,

Ro

Yes, the weather is lovely. It is more temperate here so we never get too boiling hot in summer, or any snow in winter. Suits us :)

Flynn continues to truck along, bowel ok, I have noticed a couple of softer/ little muscous stools. So I do wonder if he has a little upset bowel still, but they are all formed now. I have not heard back from local vet about his results from earlier in week (I went in and got a printout anyway for stim etc) or his thoughts on the SEB so I made an executive decision and decided to start it anyway!

He is close to 30lb so that is 3/4 teaspoon SEB, I mixed it with water and it thickened up but he does not like it and would not touch it! So I added it to his food and he ate most of it, but its the first time he has left a little food on his plate the last few days. I realised I had not been giving him enough of the royal canin GI food, so this morning he got a lot more than usual which might be why he left a bit. Will see how he goes and will give him another dose tonight. He is not on any other meds at the moment, so no risk of interactions.

Have a good day with your pups everyone :)
Trish xx

I think our boy has turned the corner! Yay!!!! So glad he is getting better every day. He must be feeling better if he wants to play. I bet he is ready for the beach;)

Enjoy your time off from work! I deal with patients too and it is nice to be away for awhile;)

It is 11 years today that Flynn came permanently into my life. I had never been a "dog" person, I had two cats and was perfectly happy with them. I was in my late 30's and had never had a dog, even as a kid.. we were a cat family! I first met him a week earlier, running in the traffic on a busy road. He looked healthy, but had no collar on. I was going to get my hair done that afternoon, I picked him up from the road thinking his (irresponsible) owner must have just popped into a store, but noone claimed him. He popped his head into the hairdresser and I asked them to give him a drink, he was still hanging around when I finished a couple of hours later. It was getting late, so I could not just leave him there on his own. So I took him home. That first night he destroyed a brand new pair or my shoes!

Hmmm I thought your not as cute as you look Lil Dog, which is what I called him back then :) I took him to the SPCA and handed him in. I called a week later to ask if his owner had claimed him. No, they hadn't... and worse.... he was on death row, getting put to sleep on Tuesday they said :eek: Oh gawd, I could not have that on my conscience so I said I would take him, boy was he happy to see me when I went to collect him. We had to dog proof the section as he was an escape artist and any opportunity he would be off running like the wind with me in hot pursuit! The cats moved out, I felt so bad for them having their comfy life disturbed, I had to feed them on the other side of fence for a few weeks until they accepted their new housemate and established a new pecking order - male cat at the top, Flynn next, female cat at the bottom poor girl.

The little monkey proceeded to nibble every cushion corner, blanket, my glasses, shoes, he even hopped onto the table picked up my camera carried it outside and left it in the rain. The vet estimated he was 6-9 months old at the time so we do not know his actual birthday. We celebrate it today, it is also my mothers birthday so we are having a BBQ this evening with the family.

I am so glad Flynn came into my life, it is like he picked me to live with and he has loved us unconditionally ever since as we love him. I will do whatever I can to keep him comfortable in his later years, he deserves it for all the love and fun and comfort he has given us over the years. I am most definitely a "dog person" now, he is a treasure xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy Birthday, sweet Flynn!!

Happy Birthday Flynn!!!!! That's a nice story about how you and Flynn came to be:D

we agree,what a great story...the happiest of birthdays to your flynn,enjoy the bbq !!! xoxox patty and milo:D

sweet story! Happy Birthday Flynn!!

Thanks for your good wishes :)

I have to go to work in an hour. Flynn is not well :( He did not want to get out of bed this morning and I had to coax him out to have a pee. He only ate half his breakfast. He is such a worry, at least he is going to Mum and Dad's for the day. He vomited yesterday morning too, he looked pretty good then and had just eaten his breakfast with SEB added, he did not like it and only ate a little. So I stopped giving him the SEB thinking it made him sick. He felt hungry immediately after and perked right up. I took him for a walk up the beach last night, he picked something up and ate it so wondering if whatever it was upset him.

Will see what today brings, hope he is feeling better later. xx

Happy birthday to Flynn! I sure hope he will be feeling better later today. I'm sending lots of positive thoughts your way!

Julie & Hannah

Hopefully, whatever he grabbed on the beach upset his tummy and nothing else. Get better Flynn!!!!

Fiddle sticks I missed Flynn's birthday. I love the story of his bday by the way. How sweet. Flynn and you were meant to be together. Destiny!
Happy Belated birthday Flynn.
Hope that was just a beach pickup! Flynn, stop scaring your mum!

Hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Hi all

Yay your back Sharlene, sounds like you had a fabulous time with your grandbaby :) I missed you though!

Well it seems like Flynn does have pancreatitis, vet rang me with results today

LIP 227 IU/L H (22 - 126)
AMY 925 IU/L (329 - 1074)

Spec cPL 865 ug/L

Spec – cPL Interpretation
Serum spec cPL concentration >=400 ug/L is consistent with pancreatitis. Serum spec cPL concentration between 201 and 399 ug/L is questionable. The patient may have pancreatitis and serum spec cPL concentration should be re-evaluated. If clinical signs are present, treat appropriately and perform additional diagnostics to rule out other differential diagnoses. Repeat the spec cPL in 1-2 weeks. If asymptomatic recommend retesting in 3-4 weeks. Normal range for cPL is <= 200ug/L.

So that seems pretty high to me, he has picked up over the day. Hungry again, but I am a little worried about giving him too much food in case we set it off again. He is quite shaky and panting too. The vet mentioned today about giving him pain relief like a Fentanyl patch, as he does not want to give him non steroidal if his intake is variable. Mum and Dad got quite a bit of fluids into him today so I don't think he is too dry. He has just been out barking at the boys kicking a ball around next door, so he can't be feeling too bad.

He has a vet appt tomorrow that we had made to check his BP, I so hope it is down but I don't think it is at the moment, if his trembling is anything to go by.

Vet said we just keep treating conservatively, low fat diet, push fluids, pain relief if needed and if sick IV fluids. I hope tihs settles down soon. I keep thinking we have turned the corner only to have another roadblock put int he way!!

Thanks for checking in on us xx

ugh poor Flynn, try smaller meals during the day, like 4 small meals, very bland, rice and boiled chicken kind of thing, till he can beat this thing.

Missed you all too.

Hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

He was on rice and boiled chicken for a week or so postop, was not helping the poop situation at all.

The vets told me to put him on Royal Canin gastrointestinal low fat which has given him formed stools. So hard to know what to do re diet. He seems to like it.

I tried him on SEB for two days, but yesterday morning he would not eat it and vomited, then was hungry and eating well rest of day. He also had one episode of loose BM. That has come right too.

He seems sore, pulling his back leg up while laying on his side resting. So I have just given him oral temgesic so hope that helps.

OH and he had eaten 3 hrs before the S pec Cpl test, now I read he should have fasted 12hrs?!?!

Jeepers it didn't help, the temgesic I mean. About a half hour after that he started crying and didn't stop for an hour or so and didn't know what he wanted to do, he went outside, cried, I took him for wee walk and he did a good normal poop. Lay with him on the floor on a soft blankie, cried, scratched his sweet spot on his back, cried, I might add while shifting about so I could get the spot better!! I contacted vet and he said that it can make them spacey. Well he has finally agreed to go to his bed and is asleep now. His tummy is soft, no vomiting and he just ate a small bite to eat that I offered him. So hopefully it was just drug reaction. These babies frighten the bejeezus out of me sometimes!!!!!!!! He is due to see vet tomorrow so will discuss pain relief further then. Hope we get a good sleep and he better in the morning. Night.

Hi Trish,

I hope Flynn has settled and is feeling a bit better. Holding my breath with you for Flynn. We have all gotten mighty attached to him. I think another pup had problems with the SEB, so could be it just did not agree with him. I am hoping the new food helps and whatever he ate on the beach has worked through his system. Dang, Zoe used to do that to me ALL the time:rolleyes::rolleyes: I would just get her better and she would go find something else outside to munch on:eek:

((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))) )))

Trish.. I hope you & Flynn were able to rest. :(

Hoping for a good night for you both.
Want us to sing twinkle twinkle little star to you? :)

What did the vet say today?

Hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Medication for pain is a must, pancreatitis is very painful. If it were me, I would start the chicken and rice again, using 99% fat free skin-less and boneless chicken breasts and boiling the rice until it becomes really mushy.

Wishing you both a good nights sleep and sending tons of healing light, hugs, and love.

Thanks everyone, he had a reasonable night but wanted out a few times, sometimes just to bark at invisible burglars! He was not keen to eat this morning, but he did have some food. I took him straight to vet on my way to work.

He redid bloods, electrolytes were good. Amylase high but we know that test was high last week and when checked at external lab was low. Did not do the spec cpl again. He had 500ml IV fluids, he is hungry as anything tonight but not going to give him too much in case we overstimulate his pancreas. He is lying by his plate hoping more food will materialise! Very perky tonight. But have seen this pattern before and he goes back down again over a few days. Local vet thought he could feel an orange size mass which he thought was faeces. He could not xray him (didn't I ask for that days agoooooooo!) as there was a 3hr bloody power cut!!!!!!! Excuse my language, but jeez, could not do BP for same reason.

I told him his bowels have been moving well last few days, but he gave him an enema and he had two more soft poops but he had not been this morning before we left home.

I worry about his breathing, he is fine when still but mouth breathes when he walks about and he has done that to some extent preop too, but I feel it is worse. He also trembles a lot when standing, pretty good when lying down.

Sooooooooo I had kind of stopped emailing his surgeon as I was starting to feel a bit of a pest. But I had sent them a Christmas cake and it arrived there this morning so he sent me an email to say thank you and asked after Flynn, so I replied straight away with this latest problem and told him local vet could feel this mass... I had felt a much smaller area when his bowels were not moving properly and you could dent it and it felt like full bowel to me too. I cannot feel it tonight though and there is nothing there remotely orange sized to me!! So long story short, surgeon suggested he should see him again and he wants him there tomorrow morning first thing. Eeek I am back at work only two days and cannot cancel again at short notice, so tomorrow morning I am getting up real early taking him down, then coming back to work and will check on things later in day and go back and get him or maybe he has to stay a night or two in the university hospital. I hate leaving him overnight, but that would almost be a relief in some ways so they can keep an eye on him.

Here he is running about wanting back rubs, food, a walk. Gawd I am going to look such a drama queen which I think they suspect already :D:D But he should be better than he is right now, he is 15 days postop.

Will let you know how we go xxxxxxxxxxxx neeeeeeeed sleeeeeeeeeeeeep, oh and he is not to have Temgesic again! He has had Cernia though which surgeon said does have some pain relief properties too.

Geez, Trish. You and Flynn have been through so much. Both of you need a break. I am sorry there have been so many ups and downs. I sure hope they can get him on the right track and keep him there.

Big, big hugs!

Wow, definitely ups and downs with this adrenal surgery stuff. I'd be a drama queen too! LOL

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Your not going to believe this, scan at university today showed they left a swab in my poor Flynn. He is going into surgery this afternoon to have it removed. Poor little boy :(

Oh my gosh, are you kidding me? That's absolutely horrible and I hope Flynn does well with the surgery. I can only imagine how stunned and upset you are. Thank goodness they found it before it caused some really serious problems. Saying prayers for your boy and sending positive thoughts and big cyber hugs.

Glynda

Holy crap! :eek::eek::eek: Poor Flynn. I cannot believe it. No wonder his tummy is messed up. Bless his heart and thank GOD you took him in. Please keep us posted. Love and hugs, Kim

Good Grief! You hear about stuff like this but how horrible! Poor Flynn. :( It sure does explain a few things though. Hopefully he'll come through just fine and then will be able to heal just fine.

Hugs,
Sharlene and Molly muffin