Squirt - my Queen has crossed The Bridge

[fivebichons]

Hi Sweet Pea!!!

Boy, have I been out of the loop!!! Hulls? I thought you guys were talking about Hockey and I'm in Alabama.

I am so glad to hear that Squirt is doing great! I love to read these types of threads! Keep up the great work! With this support behind you, you can't lose!

And if anyone comes up with perfect rice or noodles, please let me know! I can gormet anything else, but fall flat on something as simple as that!

Hugs to you!!!!

Heidi, Marco & Sophie
...and Friskie, Lucky, Cheri & and Snicky from Heaven...and our almost home "Bitty Bichon"

[corgipallie]

Ok I am caught up now. You're starting the hulls tomorrow? Did your vet say anything about them other than that we know Dr. O endorses them?

[Tamarah]

Leslie and Squirt -

Good morning! Just checking in to see how you were doing. Is Squirt still showing off her new pedicure? I'm glad to hear you got the flax hulls. The order, I found, comes pretty quickly and with no shipping fee either. Wow, I'm liking this company. Anyway, let us know how Squirt does with the hulls this morning. Crash takes his well with a bit of canned food. I take mine pretty good too on my cereal.

Have a great Tuesday!

Tammy, Crash, & Darby

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi ya'll,

Squirt didn't even notice the difference this morning with the hulls...not that I really thought she would. I think she would eat kitchen sink if I put it in her bowl! LOL

Heidi, Squirt's rice has to be overcooked to the point of mush. I tried a rice cooker a friend has and it was "cooked to perfection" - but not for her. It came out more like Minute Rice and not gooey at all. So I will continue burning pots of rice on occasion. Now, pasta? When it starts to look "loose", I pull a piece out and throw it on the fridge. If it falls to the floor, it's not ready; if it sticks, it is ready. I try not to let guests see me throwing pasta around the kitchen, tho. It might dampen the appetite!

Steph, Dr C learns from us about Atypical and the treatments. She is in full support of Dr O, tho. She spoke with him several times when Squirt was first diagnosed, and we bow to his expertise in all matters Atypical. Squirt's IMS also talked with Dr O when he got the results as he was unfamiliar with the hulls and he, too, is in full support of using them. So, I would think there would be no problem for Pallie to try them. And I will get started typing up that info from the booklet on the hulls and kidneys for you asap. QUACK QUACK

Tammy, after reading that booklet, I too am thinking of using them myself. I had no idea they had been studied that much or for so many different things! When I got them yesterday, I stuck my finger in and got a taste...not bad at all, very mild and not overly grainy feeling. I may wish I had gotten a larger container! Let me know if you notice any difference in yourself on them. As for Squirt's pedicure, it is embarrassing. I got very ill a few years back and couldn't do some things for a long time...one of them was her nails. Her vet would cut them for me when I could get out but that wasn't enough. They got really out of hand and are what the groomer calls "daggers" they are so long. We are trying to get the quicks to recede by working on them every 2 weeks now. I had been trying to keep up with them myself but she fights me too bad and I'm afraid of hurting her back legs (pins and screws from surgery) or quicking her. So off to PetCo we go!

I took Crys there this morning for the same thing and it was a real nightmare! I came home bleeding and she was puking from stress. That was her first time professionally and she was not happy. But with continued attention I hope she will get better. If not, I see sedation in her future!

Hugs,
Leslie and Squirt

[Carol G]

Two things.

One, a friend lowered her cholesterol by a number of points with ground flax seed.

Two, Winnie was terrible about nail trims when I first got her. She had to be sedated and then it still took three of us to hold her down. However, she got more and more used to it and started improving gradually. Eventually she got to the point that I could trim her nails at home. One tip, even if she isn't a biter, a muzzle helps calm them some.

Carol, Atty Cat and always Winnie & McGill

[Squirt's Mom]

Thanks, Carol!

I took Crys' muzzle just in case, tho she has never offered to bite anyone, but I never considered it might calm her. I will try that next time and see how it works for her.

Hugs,
Leslie

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi ya'll,

Well, I'm just a bit late in posting Squirt's UTK results from June.

Here are her first results for comparison:

Squirt’s UT Panel results – 8/27/08

Baselines and normal ranges**

Cortisol ng/ml 41.3 2.1-58.8
Androstenedione ng/ml 5.6 0.1-5.7
Estradiol pg/ml 80.4* 30.8-69.9
Progesterone ng/ml 0.58* 0.03-0.49
17 OH Prog ng/ml 0.33 0.08-0.77
Aldeosterone pg/ml*** <11.0 11-139.9


Post ACTH (30 min and 1 hr) and normal ranges**

Cortisol ng/ml 161.9 327.8* 65.0-174.6
Androstenedione ng/ml 34.0 30.6 2.7-39.7
Estradiol pg/ml 80.3* 89.6* 27.9-69.2
Progesterone ng/ml 2.74* 2.74* 0.10-1.50
17 OH Prog pg/ml 3.08* 3.18* 0.40-1.62
Aldosterone pg/ml*** QNS 399.1* 7.2-398.5

* Above or below reference range
** Mean normal range values for spayed female dogs (N=36). QNS = Insufficient sample.
*** Normal range values for male and female dogs (N = 72 baseline, N = 23 post ACTH)


Results from 6-18-09

Baseline and normal ranges**:

Cortisol ng/ml 78.6* 2.1-58.8
Androstenedione ng/ml 1.5* 0.05-0.57
Estradiol pg/ml 84.0* 30.8-69.9
Progesterone ng/ml 0.83* 0.03-0.49
17 OH Progesterone ng/ml 0.57 0.08-0.77
Aldosterone pg/ml*** QNS 11-139.9

Post ACTH:

Cortisol ng/ml 121.6 65.0-174.6 WOOHOO!!!
Androstenedione ng/ml 2.16 0.27-3.97
Estradiol pg/ml 78.1* 27.9-69.2
Progesterone ng/ml 1.95* 0.10-1.50
17 OH Progesterone ng/ml 2.66* 0.40-1.62
Aldosterone pg/ml*** QNS 72.9-398.5

*above or below reference range
**Mean normal range values for spayed female dogs (N=36). QNS=insufficient sample
***Normal range values for male and female dogs (N= 72 baseline, N=23 post-ACTH)

Comments: Values remain elevated. Consider switching to a flax hull product (item 4 on our treatment option sheet attached. Consider adding item 5 as well. (Item 5=maintenance dose of Lyso)


I just noticed the QNS on the aldosterone and would really like to know where that is now.

Squirt has been on the hulls for a little over a month now and I am seeing more signs than before so I am a bit concerned. Her breathing at nite has been very rapid and heavy at times, sounding almost as if there were some obstruction in her throat. Wheezy and rough sounding. At first I thought it was due to pain in her legs and gave her some Tramadol, but the panting continued even in her sleep. She is asking for water more often but not peeing more. Still sleeping more than I would like but I put that off to the melatonin. No pot belly still, and her long hairs continue to fall out but none of her other coats are. This, I think, is due to aging of the Cairn-type coat.

She got spirochetes again a few weeks ago and we go in tomorrow for a follow-up on that. I have also asked that her breathing, legs and thyroid be looked at. (Thank you, Lousie! )

If her thyroid is down in the 1.somethings again, I think I will ask to start her on meds for that. If it is ok now, then I am seriously considering starting a LOW maintenance dose of Lyso. OOORRR going back to the purified lignan capsules with a higher dosage given daily. Since all the discussion on the hulls, I am beginning to have some worries with them...naturally .

I think I need to run down to Tunica and try my luck on the slots or something! My luck...I'd just be that much shorter on what I'd need for Dr C and Tunica that much richer! Hopefully the plastic won't melt tomorrow.

Hugs,
Leslie and Squirt

PS. Lori, I promise I will get an update on my other girls in the next week or so!

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi ya Leslie,

I think Squirt's UTK panel results are really good...hey some of them numbers are pretty darn terrific. Her Estradiol is just so close to being in the normal range..ugh that darn Estradiol, and her Progesterone not that far behind from being normal either.

I agree with you about Squirt's Aldosterone, I'd want to see what that is too, in hind-sight I wished I'd got that done with Harley along with his estradiol.

I'm still on the fence with the hulls too, I mean I know they are working with Harley, the numbers prove that...but they aren't standardized...so I have no idea what I am going to do. but what else is new.

Let us know how you and Squirt make out with your appt. with the vet tomorrow and best of luck with that.

PS Cortisol ng/ml 121.6 65.0-174.6 WOOHOO!!! I agree....WOOHOO TOO!!!


Love and hugs.
Lori

[forscooter]

Leslie,

You are on it! You know what you are doing....as you always do! I don't have much to add but I do think before a switch to Lyso (and you know of all things I am not anti-Lyso!), I would think about the capsules again. I am just getting mixed feelings about the hulls now after some of the experiences. Of course, with the vet's say so.

You are such a great mom to your clan!!! You know how to read what is wanted and what to do that is the very best thing....I have faith in you, Leslie!!!!

Love ya! Beth, Bailey and always Scoobie

[Squirt's Mom]

Well, we're back and no results....too much fat in her blood!!! again...so she fasts the rest of the day and we go back tomorrow and try again.

I have not been able to cook for her the last week or so and she has been eating canned...EaglePack and CA Natural. They are higher in fat content than what I am cooking, but I didn't think it was that much higher! geez...I hope it's the food anyway. Hyperlipidemia is not something I want to add to the mix!

Her breathing was checked and Dr C said it sounds ok...no rasping, wheezing etc. She has gained a little over a pound since last visit...a little over a month ago....gulp!...so that could be making her breathing a bit more difficult. Also one of her back legs is really popping out and one of the screws may be working loose so there is a strong source of pain that could be causing the panting and harshness of it. Heart murmur a grade 2 up from grade 1 last year.

So, that's where we are today....hopefully I'll know more about the thyroid tomorrow.

Hugs,
Leslie and Squirt