Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

[goldengirl88]

Sharlene:
No I had not heard that, but now will research it. Tipper had a good nite last nite. I can see her becoming uncomfortable certain ways she lays. I think it is all the displacement of her organs etc. from this Cushings, and something may be pressing on something else. I see that as her only discomfort at the time. We were to go for blood pressure this morning, but something came up at the vets and we have to go tomorrow morning. It is going to be 60 something today, and next week go to the 30's and 40's. I do not see any weight dropping off of Tipper and I am really frustrated with this one. This dog is eating practically nothing for her size and still no success. If any one has any ideas other than tying her on a treadmill all day let me know, as I have tried everything and there is no break thru. Last nite in bed I watched the reality show with the Roloff family on their Oregon farm. They had a Mastiff named Rocky for 13 years. He developed a tumor and got very sick. He waited until all the children in the family came home from college break and died. The vet said the cancer would take him fast and in a matter of days he was gone. One morning one of the older kids found him in the rain dead in the yard. I was so overwhelmed I am crying right now typing this. I woke my Tipper up out of a sleep with my crying. I felt terrible this big loyal majestic dog dies alone with no one beside him. It was heartbreaking. I kept looking at my Tipper and I was up most of the nite crying over this dog. It sounds stupid, but it really affected me the way her died, all alone. I am still feeling the afterthoughts of it today. I don't know if any of you saw it, but it crushed me. Blessings
Patti

[Budsters Mom]

The Viagra post made me giggle. I can just see all these little pups running around with four hour erections! Yes, immature, but funny none the less!

[goldengirl88]

Kathy:
You are too funny!!

[addy]

Hi Patti,

I hope you and Tipper are adjusting to the time change. Zoe is making it to almost 5am (she was sleeping until six) but she is like Tipper, she cant understand why she has to wait for breakfast and dinner.

Hopefully we will all be adjusted in another week! Cold front is coming through tonite and then probably headed your way. Stay warm.

[molly muffin]

hahaha, that is hilarious Kathy!

The pup put on viagra, also has cushings. (just an FYI)

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Jan W.]

I just started reading this thread today and I was a little shocked!! I guess I have not been through it before because it was so long and I don't like getting in on the end of something so started this morning on/off reading and am only on page 40.
Now that I am zeroed in on the starting Cushings treatments, I can do some more concentrating on the other issues and boy - gee whiz!!!! What a ride you have had so far. I also worry about my girl's snoring and she also gags at times and used to gag more at night, but very seldom hear it now at night. She is gagging more when she drinks water. It is a horrible gag sound. It isn't all the time. So I have this in the back of my mind, but not on the front burner yet.
So reading all this to page 40 so far has brought a few things to highlight. Thanks for sharing your trials. Being a nurse, I know that Drs. aren't all knowing but I would rather go to one that admits to it and willing to learn or work with you than one that fluffs their chest out trying to make you think they are all knowing and make mistakes. My vet told me sometime back for me not to feel guilty about going to a specialist as he was very good with it. I don't feel guilty.
I may take a few days to get through all this, but please feel God wrapping his arms around you and your little one. Jan W.

[Jan W.]

Because I haven't read anywhere enough of your thread - just take what I'm about to add as fodder if it doesn't apply to you throw it out. Somewhere I found out that a reticulocyte count can be connected to Addison's disease - not sure if increased or decreased - but what are we doing with our guys on the trilostane---decreasing their cortisol levels which is moving toward Addisons. Just a thought -- not sure if lowering the cortisol could cause an increase or decrease in a reticulocyte count but if it could raise it this would make some sense. Maybe someone younger or with better memory than I can chime in here. Or my dementia may be setting in - not sure.
Also I saw something about pulmonary hypertension and not sure what this has to do with anything, but a co-worker of mine had pulmonary hypertension issues and her Dr. told her that flax seed may be causing some increase in her pulmonary hypertension. Don't know if it had to do with the flax seed or oil or what, or just the type of omega fatty acid. Jan W.

[Concernedmom]

Hi Patti I have not seen that episode yet of the Roloff family dog but every time I would watch it I would see the dog and wonder when the time would come. He looked old and grew up with the kids since they've been on tv. That is so sad that he died alone. I'm not sure if I can watch that episode knowing how it happens. Very sad

I wanted to also let you know the dog I had that had mitral Valve disease was on Viagra and it's very expensive. When you think of Viagra you certainly don't think of helping a dogs breathing. It was one of the last medicines the cardiologist prescribed for him before he died.

[doxiesrock912]

So some of them would be five legged pups
I just HAD to throw that in.

Patti, I was at a friend's fixing her computer and she had that episode on. As soon as we realized that Rocky was going to die on that episode we changed the channel. Neither of us was up for watching this. Many animals go off alone to die. It's as if they know how heartbroken their people will be. Cats are especially known for doing this so it is of no fault of the Roloff family. Rocky chose for them not to see him die. I really believe that.

[Concernedmom]

Me again. I was going to ask you what you feed Tipper. She does have a heart problem along with the cushings correct? I have my Buddy on a 6 am feeding of royal canin early cardiac dry and he gets 2 other feedings of cooked beef/pasta/ carrots with supplements prescribed by the holistic vet that put him on his homeopathic remedies. But he hasn't been wanting to eat his medicines so we've had to become creative and he's not wanting to eat his 6am feeding and the other feedings he doesn't want the homemade right now so I've opened a can of wellness beef stew and he dove into it. Don't know if he just wants to be picky or wants to change permanently. It concerns me because he seemed healthier on the homemade diet and now I don't know what canned food to feed him. What is better than others that is lower sodium for the heart. You usually have to watch the salt intake with heart problems. Do you need to watch salt intake too? I'm sure not knowing what to feed our Cush dogs drives us all crazy. T