Results 1 to 10 of 458

Thread: My big boy Gable - sweet Gabe is now at peace

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Glen Cove, NY
    Posts
    1,941

    Default My big boy Gable - sweet Gabe is now at peace

    I had Gabe , who is 7 years old, at the vet for blood work because I was worried about Cushing's, but the vet said the blood work came back perfect, except for low thyroid. Tested further on the thyroid and it came back low normal.

    The only thing that showed as "high" was his Triglycerides and Urinalysis:

    His Triglycerides were: 1129 ref. range: 29 - 291

    Urinalysis: ph: 7.5 ref. range: 5.5 - 7.0
    Protein: 1+

    Does any of this mean anything?

    For a while, Gable has been drinking a lot (this all started before Lena's diagnosis and where in fact, I first heard about Cushings). He had fur loss along his rump, and pees rivers, but never in the house. He pants constantly, but he's a big boy around 75 - 80 pounds. He's some lab mix, not really sure what else is in there. He has had episodes of vomiting and diarrhea, which also started before Lena died, but he has a sensitive stomach and sometimes swallows things whole. His teeth are fine. His stomach issues are a lot better now that we don't feed him anything new or give him treats that he might swallow.

    As I've mentioned, since Lena died he has thrown up a couple of times, and his stool is almost always loose. After a few months of Melatonin, his fur has come back like puppy fur and he hasn't lost anymore. I still think that the fur loss was due to his rubbing against the boxwoods in the backyard.

    Lately though he seems to drool a lot more. Even when he's lying on the floor, he now leaves wet marks from drool. His panting has always worried me, he breathes hard even when he's sleeping. The vet has listened to his heart and lungs and says they're fine.

    I don't know...maybe I'm just being paranoid because of Lena; and I know he still misses her; he knows when I'm sad...but sometimes I feel like something is wrong. He doesn't eat his kibble as much as he used to, but will still beg for table food and snacks.



    Thanks,
    Joan
    Last edited by Joan2517; 11-09-2016 at 01:31 PM. Reason: forgot to put the reasons for suspecting Cushings
    Joan, mom to my Angel Lena, Angel Gable, Angel Phoenix, Angel Doree, Cooper, Sibble, and now Raina.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    York, PA.
    Posts
    11,037

    Default Re: My big boy Gable

    High elevations in the triglycerides is commonly found in dogs with hypothyroidism, I think I would probably have another thyroid panel done and sent to Dr Dodds.

    Hugs, Lori

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Glen Cove, NY
    Posts
    1,941

    Default Re: My big boy Gable

    Thanks, Lori....who and where is Dr. Dodds?
    Joan, mom to my Angel Lena, Angel Gable, Angel Phoenix, Angel Doree, Cooper, Sibble, and now Raina.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    York, PA.
    Posts
    11,037

    Default Re: My big boy Gable

    Dr. Jean Dodds is considered an expert in canine hypothyroidism and founder of Hemopet and Hemolife, here's a link to her bio: http://www.hemopet.org/education/jea...erinarian.html

    Hemolife is where the blood samples are sent, a bit of info regarding: "Hemolife is unique in routinely offering expert clinical interpretive diagnostic comments that take into account the age, sex, and breed type, and activity of the animal; this yields an expected normal reference range for an individual pet (termed the “Case Specific” range on our reports) that differs from the generic broad reference range for the species (termed “General Range” on our reports)."

    http://www.hemopet.org/veterinary-di...aboratory.html

    A few of our members have emailed her with questions and she responded rather quickly even if their vet did not use Hemolife for the diagnostic testing.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Glen Cove, NY
    Posts
    1,941

    Default Re: My big boy Gable

    Thanks, Lori~
    Joan, mom to my Angel Lena, Angel Gable, Angel Phoenix, Angel Doree, Cooper, Sibble, and now Raina.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    6,593

    Default Re: My big boy Gable

    Hi Joan,

    Can you look at the blood chemistry and tell me if it included T4? If so, can you post the result? A high fat diet can also cause elevations in triglycerides. Was Gable fasted for the blood test? Does Gable have a lot of carbs in his diet and was the urine specimen collected by free catch or cystocentesis, which is a needle through the abdomen directly into the bladder? Both a high carb diet and any foreign matter in the collection container can cause high PH.

    Glynda

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •