Greetings,

Lulu has posted her picture, it says it failed, however I see it in my User CP settings.

Anyway, Lulu is a 10 1/2 year old yellow Labrador. She has enjoyed a great life in the country, on 20 acres in farming country close to Port Huron, Michigan. She came to us with a red color, (still have it saved) and she was about 4 to 6 months old, early Nov. 2000. She has been a smart, head strong and lovable lady.

She was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease in Nov.-Dec. 2010. She had tests and them was put on Lysodren for about a week. She became weak and did get a bit sick during the treatment. It was stopped about a week into the treatment, after testing showed she was possibly going to go into Addison's Disease. So for about 4 months now she has been off any medicine's for the disease. She has been doing fairly well, and we want to take her in for a recheck. And it is costly, about $200, and we are waiting for the money to come in to do this. We aren't rich. Her dad (me) programs computers and designs websites. But it has been rough for us, as it has been for many. We do plan on a test, and we also have been thinking of a second opinion on her treatment, and that I will explain in future posts. We don't doubt that she has had some Cushing's Disease. But our present Vet's office had a turnover, with veterinarians, ours retired in November, and then the Vet that took over in December, relocated to Wisconsin, leaving us with yet a third vet. We became a bit worrisome that perhaps a more experienced veterinarian, with knowledge of endocrine disorders might be warranted. And I believe I may have found a good alternative.

Anyway, another problem Lulu has had is she has suddenly become nervous when we have night time thunderstorms. I have had to give her a tranquilizer supplied by a veterinarian, which works in about 40 minutes, but then she is a bit of a zombie for the next 12 hours. Warren Eckstein , who has a radio show for pets, and a guest on national tv shows, sent me a bottle of Calm Down to try. I did, and it seemed to have an immediate affect, though it didn't last. Warren also suggested downloading thunderstorm sounds, and also smoke alarm sounds, which Lulu doesn't take a liking too either.

Lulu, is gifted in a way. I think she senses our fears and she often mimics us. In fact she is my blackberry picking companion, who started picking berries some 9 years ago when she first saw me pick them. She of course eats them her self. LOL.

Anyway, let me stop here. I have given Lulu's intro, and I will be on here more to learn more about Cushing's Disease. At the present Lulu seems to have a mild case, where as last December, she had some aggressive symptoms, including a very strong desire to eat, almost a demand. That is less prevalent at the moment.