Confused and Overwhelmed-Diagnosed Anal Sac Carcinoma (Woody has passed)

[Woodydog]

Hi All

I found this site whilst looking for information on Cushings Disease, let me tell you our story.

I have a rescue Jack Russell Terrier age approximately 7/8 years, I,ve had him 3 years now and he is my life. I live alone with Woody, about 4 months ago I noticed that he had a little accident overnight, didn't think much of it cleaned it up and moved on. This happened again and again despite being let out for wee wee,s. I then started to monitor his water intake which had went from little to a lot, so I popped him over to the vet thinking UTI, but it wasn't. The vet asked me to closely monitor him over the next few days and bring him back towards end of the week with a sample. I monitored Woody very closely and realised that he was asking to go out more often and his fluid intake had almost doubled, so I took him back to vet with sample, he put sample on a meter (can,t remember name) and told me that Woody,s urine was very diluted and that he wanted to take bloods. So full blood work was done for diabetes and his urine was sent away with the blood for analysis. The blood results were no use as the blood had clotted (the vet thought this may happen as he struggled to get the blood in first place) but his urine showed very diluted and his calcium, phosphate levels were up but no sugar or protein in the urine. So one week later Woody went back into get the bloods re done, he also was to get a thyroid T4 test and an ACTH done where they injected took blood injected him then he was retested an hour later. These results showed up nothing significant other than in the vets words it could all still point to Cushings Disease as his liver enzymes were high. So on Monday Woody dog went back to vets for the LDDS test and I,m waiting on the results (gulp) his urine was still diluted on Monday and the vet down a full Blood Count too that he can run in his own clinic all others are sent away just to check on the things that were high calcium, phosphate, liver etc and they came back normal, some were at the higher level of normal but only the liver came back higher that it should but not greatly. So I know by reading that you all like facts and figures, so I will ask my vet for the results of all his tests and post on here. I have a feeling that the LDDS test will come back normal and I will never find out whats up with my boy. His symtoms are drinking loads 3 pints per day he weights 10 kg, weeing constantly, randomly panting, and he wont jump up on sofa any more he wants to be lifted, and he has developed a wee sacking tummy. I am confused and overwhelmed by all the figures and stuff my vets talk and just want my old Woody back.

Oh sorry this has turned into an essay, my name is Tracy and I live in Scotland.

[Roxee's Dad]

Hi Tracy and welcome to you and Woody.

We will be looking forward to the testing results. Does Woody have a ravenous appetite? Is he losing any hair or is it getting thinner?

Many more will stop by and welcome you and help you and woody through this.

[mcdavis]

Welcome to you and Woody. There are some really nice, and incredibly knowledgeable people who will be along shortly to ask for more information.
If you have test results that you can post it will really help.

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Tracy and welcome to you and Woody!

Confused and overwhelmed, huh? Oh boy, do I remember those days! But you have done much, much better than I. To put it mildly, I was a total basket case by the time I found this group, which quickly became our family. I think my first post was several thousand words long and rambled all over the freakin' place, mostly incoherently and rather insane sounding. A dear friend later told me she had an image of a woman with her finger in a light socket, hair standing on end; she kindly left out the parts about the bulging eyes and flying slobber! I was frustrated, angry, eat up with guilt, terrified and cried constantly. It was as if my world was ending and I felt so helpless to stop it. But these kind folk didn't run away from the mad woman who had fallen into their laps but took my hand and started teaching me what I needed to know to help my Sweet Bebe, Squirt. It's almost 6 years later and this is our home, our family, who saved my sanity and helped keep my baby alive through thick and thin. Squirt was 15 this past Feb. so do not lose hope. You and Woody are now family here, too, and we will be right by your side the whole way, every single step.

It sounds like your vet is off to a good start in finding out what is going on with your sweet boy. When you get them, please do post the test results - as you noticed, we do LOVE details! Ruling out the UTI, diabetes and thyroid issues is a very smart move as they all share signs with Cushing's and can cause false positives on the cushing's tests.

One other thing to mention to your vet while ya'll are looking is Diabetes Insipidus, or DI. DI does not involve blood sugars but is a condition in which the body does not process water correctly so blood tests cannot pick this condition up. It is typically tested via a test called a water deprivation test, which can be risky. So most vets simply start treating for DI and if the treatment works, the diagnosis can be made. DI is treated with an eye drop called Desmopressin. DI is fairly rare but we have seen several cases here.

I'm glad you found us and look forward to learning more about the both of you as time passes. Please take a look around the Helpful Resource section of the forum where you will find a wealth of information, in particular a thread of info for newcomers to Cushing's. The most important things for you to know today are these - 1) Cushing's is NOT a death sentence. Cush pups can and do live out their expected lifespans and beyond, typically passing from old age or conditions unrelated to Cushing's and 2) you and Woody are no longer alone; we will be with you every step of this journey - all you ever need to do is reach out and you will find us reaching back.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Helpful Resources for Owners of Cushing's Dogs
http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=10

Sticky: Links to Cushings Websites (especially helpful for new members!)
http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180

[Budsters Mom]

Hello and welcome from me too.
You have come to the right place! There are many K9Cushing's angels standing by to help and stay with you every step of the way. They love details, test results, any information you can get your hands on. The more the better. We will do all we can to help, but be ready for lots of questions! So again, welcome Tracy and Woody.

I was definitely confused, overwhelmed and completely exhausted when I stumbled upon this heavenly group of angels. Relax, sit back, and get comfortable. Our family welcomes and embraces you and Woody. Hugs,

[doxiesrock912]

Tracy, we all felt the same way when our dogs became ill. Cushings is a sneaky disease and the symptoms often progress for years before it's obvious that something is wrong.

There are many members here who can interpret the test results which is a good thing because not all vets are knowledgeable with Cushings.

Woody's symptoms do suggest Cushing's. Does he also seem to be hungry all of the time?

[Woodydog]

Thank you everyone I don,t feel so alone anymore, I think I scared myself reading all the information on Cushings and at one point I read it would shorten his life considerable and I guess I panicked as I,m not willing to lose him.

A bit more information now that I,ve calmed down a bit. Woody had an incident in 2011 where he was leaking urine, not much but enough for me to worry, this happened several times over 2 days so I popped him to the vet with a sample and tested for a UTI and it was negative, Woody was put on a broad stream AB and it seemed to help, so we (vet and I) thought it was an infection, later that year and early in 2012 Woody had 2 bouts of pancreatitis both times being hospitalised for several days, again we put it down to something he had eaten, but I,ve read somewhere that this could be a symptom of cushings. His appetite is shall I say ravenous, but Woody was a "street dog" so I,ve put it down to him being starved previously to coming to me, I can no longer keep a bin in the house as he raids it constantly, this is also been mentioned to the vet several times. I feel really guilty now that I didn,t push for more tests when he showed these symtoms back in 2011, does this mean I,ve made him suffer god I hope not.

Squirts Mum - That image made me laugh and I have to say I,m not to far away from that myself. No one seems to understand when they say "you look tired" "Yeah been up with the dog all night" they look at me as if I,m stupid.

The worst thing about this for me at the moment is when he has an accident like if I don,t wake up in time to let him out he will hide from me, head down as if he is waiting on getting into trouble, everytime he does this, it breaks my heart just that little bit more. As you can guess Woody didn't have the best of lives before he came to me, so I,m making sure he has a damn good life with me

My vet has mentioned to me about DI and feels if the cushings comes back negative then this looks like the next step, I forgot to mention earlier that when he got his LDDS test, they also took bloods to test his T3 thyroid.

Thank you for the warm welcome and as soon as I get test results you will all be the second to know

[Budsters Mom]

You are not alone in this. You have all of us now. We've all been up with our fur babies many a night, so we totally understand. We will help you and Woody anyway we can. Bless you for rescuing him from the streets. Hugs,

[Woodydog]

You are not alone in this. You have all of us now. We've all been up with our fur babies many a night, so we totally understand. We will help you and Woody anyway we can. Bless you for rescuing him from the streets. Hugs,

Thank you, your thread on Buddy was the first thread I ever read on here, and I have to admit to shedding a tear at some parts, I am so sorry he has passed, but he will happily be playing with all the other pups in Rainbow Bridge :

[Budsters Mom]

Tracy,
I am honored that you read Buddy's thread about my mighty lizard Hunter. Since there is far more than 1000 posts, that's quite a bit or reading! Yes, I had many sleepless nights and I would do it all again to have Buddy back healthy and pain free.

You and Woody are in excellent hands now. You are being loved and supported by a very special angel brigade. When you're told that you are not alone, it isn't just words. Our angels stayed with me 24/7 for several days after Buddy passed through the rainbow bridge. They would still be there now, in a flash if I needed them to be. They kept me talking when I was too numb to think straight and held me together with their love.

We truly are a family here. Feel free to tell us whatever you are feeling at the time. Yelling, screaming, ranting, crying, whatever, is allowed here. Your journey has just begun. We will be here to share it with you. That means, the joys and sorrows. Hugs,