Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

[frijole]

I would think if it were a pheo the tremors wouldn't stop when you called her name. Annie's were mostly at night but not just when sleeping so I think I'd cross pheo off the list.

Did you see my post re videoing the congestive episodes? Thanks, Kim

[addy]

Patti- did Tipper have these nightly sleeping tremors when she was on 30mgs once a day? I'll recap what we have had, maybe it will give you insight, not sure:

Zoe's tremors and head bobbing, and severe front leg tremors started in mid October, I had never seen them before except for her bad front leg but that tremor was never so severe that her whole head would shake from her front leg shaking. The tremors usually occurred in the early evening sometimes before her evening Vetoryl dose, sometimes after. There were times her head would shake like you described- Parkinsons and then she would literally fall over. I thought it was mini seizures. She has not had one for 12 days now and her tremors are better. Her post was 1.9 ug/dl. As you know I cut back her evening dose by one half to see what I get now.

That is why I wondered for Tipper if you saw her tremors on once day dosing.

[My sweet Ginger]

Hi Patti, do you know what your IMS meant when she said Pheo dogs do horribly under anesthesia? I'm asking because Ginger had a terrible reaction after she came out of her sedation for her ultrasound last week and I'm thinking of doing this urine test to further investigate if she has Pheo.
The more I think about Ginger's progress (reaction) since the initial Lysodren loading the more head scratching I'm doing about her cushings diagnosis. To my very untrained eye, she just seems to do better with higher cortisol level in her system than those of recommended ranges which makes me think her cushings symptoms may be secondary to something else. Then what do I know about any of this? I just know when she feels better and when she does not.

[goldengirl88]

Kim, Song, Addy:
Thanks for reading my post. I have to say I was relieved to get the message from the IMS and she sent it to the vet also. Song when Ginger does this shaking at nite call her name loud enough just so she can hear you, and see if the shaking stops. If it is controllable that she can shut it off, then like Kim said I think it is not a pheo. I would seriously reconsider that test due to what I have been told. I don't know exactly what the IMS meant about the appearance of a pheo on an ultra sound, but I will surely ask her about it for you. The fact that Ginger did have a bad time with the anesthesia does follow with what my IMS said. It would probably involve the blood pressure going really high would be my guess?? This stuff all is enough to make me crazy, what a complicated disease this is. No one should have to go thru this. Blessings
Patti

[goldengirl88]

Hi Everyone:
Well the IMS sent the same letter to my vet yesterday and he already read it- miracles never cease! He said it eased his mind too. Tipper had good blood pressure, but she gained weight again. Can you believe this??? So I am really happy I got the meal recipe so I can get her started. I went over Tipper's dosage change with the vet and told him what Dechra said. We will probably got to a dosage of 8mg on the trilo then as I am inching my way up even though it is more expensive I must do it this way. I am not giving her one more mg of this stuff than is absolutely necessary. I told him about the change in diet and he totally agreed with it. He said you are the only client I have that would ever do this to help their dog, and I have confidence in you ,that you are determined enough with Tipper that this will in fact help her. Glad he is confident in me as I am shivering in my boots at the thought of all this food prep. and getting it right. I told him also about her congestive sounds again as she is uncontrolled. She got her Adequan and hopefully this and the new dosage will put her where she needs to be. I am giving her until the end of this week to see if this change in when she gets the dosage amount helps her. If not Monday morning I will call the vet to get the 8mg dosage form DiamondBack to add to the 20 mg Vetoryl I have. I had to call the place where I get her chicken and order dark meat also. She has to eat a combo of both and I was only feeding her the white before because of the fat, but I guess she needs this instead. This is costing a small fortune I do not have for 25 lbs of the chicken, all the supplements, minerals, fish oil and plus all the supplements I give her. I am gong to have a very tight month with funds due to all this. It needs to be so no more whining on that front. I got myself together yesterday after a few crying days and I am ready for battle again. I hope there mini novels I write help someone else from any mistakes, or help them to figure something out they have been wondering about. If so it is all worth it. Blessings
Patti

[frijole]

Hi Patti, do you know what your IMS meant when she said Pheo dogs do horribly under anesthesia? I'm asking because Ginger had a terrible reaction after she came out of her sedation for her ultrasound last week and I'm thinking of doing this urine test to further investigate if she has Pheo.
y to something else.

Song, pheos are basically tumors that emit adrenaline and cause high blood pressure. They are not always active. When they are active they emit the adrenaline. This is why using anesthesia is a risk with them. Prior to surgery they are given specific drugs to help with this.

That said my Annie had to have emergency dental work done because her vet refused to clean her teeth (and put her under) due to the pheo... but she had an infection so bad it ate through the side of her face! Yes a hole. Anyway they put her under to do that work and she did just fine.

So saying that they'll have a bad time with it is probably not quite right... it's more like "it is more challenging as problems can occur". There are different types of anesthesia so I would certainly tell your vet about it and suggest they try something different next time.

Kim

[Squirt's Mom]

Patti, be sure to check Song and Ginger's thread - she posted some good details on testing for Pheos we want to be sure you see.

[goldengirl88]

Kim:
I am glad you asked me if I saw your post re video of congestive noises. For some reason I missed it and just now read it. I am going to try it, the only problem is I will need to turn the TV down so her noises can be heard, and as soon as I do she wakes up. I have to have someone see this and hear it. Thank you for always helping when I need it. Blessings
Patti

[goldengirl88]

Hi Everyone:
Well Tipper was up and down last nite. She had a lot of tremors all through the nite. Usually it subsides when she is sleeping awhile which is making me question if this could be a something associated with REM sleep as during that time there is no inhibition of voluntary muscles. Could the Vetoryl be causing this during her REM sleep??? There are also things called myoclonic jerks. If you ever woke suddenly thought your arm or leg jerked, it is very common from what I understand. Could the Vetoryl make you predisposed to moer myoclonic jerks and this is what I am seeing. Tipper breathes different during this time also which the IMS and other Dr.'s at the hospital said this is part of her sleep pattern. I am going to try and capture it on my IPhone, but my greatest fear is that someone will tell me it is symptoms of a pheo. secreting adrenaline. I have not received the supplements for Tipper's new diet yet, but did get part of the food yesterday. I cannot find sweet potatoes, as the whole world thinks that yams are sweet potatoes as she cannot have yams it must be sweet potatoes because of the vitamins and yams are full of sugar. Finally I thought to call the store that orders the chicken in for Tipper. They said they would be more than glad to help and will order me 10lbs. I can have them tomorrow. Can you believe this that all the other big stores cannot get these?? Thank God because when the supplements come I will have everything to make her food. I am anxious to get her started as she gained weight again and I believe it has to be metabolic. I actually count her dog food nuggets so how can that be?? Tipper has already walked twice so we are in for the day as I see rain coming. I need to do paperwork and pay bills and catch up on office stuff so she will be bored. Blessings
Patti

[spdd]

Hi Patti... just catching up on things. Sure hope the diet works for Tipper.

Keesh and I are well, other then my back is killing me from lifting him. He's fine though.... the little so and so.