Molly, 13 yr, shih tzu - lhasa aspo - Molly has passed

[molly muffin]

Thanks, looks like 8 hours fasting.

[Jenny & Judi in MN]

good luck to Molly tomorrow!

[lulusmom]

Hi Sharlene,

I just wanted to mention that unless you are forced by law to vaccinate annually, there is absolutely no reason to put a dog at risk, no matter how small the risk, by giving annual rabies. Vaccine guidelines were revised years ago to three years for most vaccines. I'm providing a url below so you can read up on the recommendations. I parted ways with my old vet for demanding that my dogs be vaccinated or risk their refusal to admit my dogs if an emergency arose. We had a knock down drag out in the waiting room when they told me this. A vet who insists on annual vaccines is well aware of the new guidelines but they ignore them to get the dogs into the office every year.

http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocumen...Guidelines.pdf

I also heartily recommend that you watch Dr. Karen Becker's four part video of discussions with Dr. Ronald Schultz, one of, if not the world's expert on immunology. It was Dr. Schultz who was the driving force behind these revised guidelines. He and Dr. Jean Dodds are in their fifth year of a seven year USDA sanctioned study to prove that rabies vaccines are good for at least seven years. Dr. Schultz already knows this but the government won't look at any supporting evidence that isn't part of a study that has been approved and conducted in strict compliance with USDA guidelines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC--bGthNN8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Zvg8tIxeY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc-6exZcbJ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdPhj8Vq9ck

Even if it had been three years since Molly has been immunized, I personally would not risk giving her a vaccine until you are sure she doesn't have cushing's (normal cortisol) or 2) if she is diagnosed with cushing's, she should be stabilized on treatment before vaccines are given.

[addy]

I'll chime in with an observation. I had to give Koko my non Cush pup his 3 year rabies shot and I titered him for the rest. He was low on distemper. I also started him on his heartworm meds.

Since giving him these 3 things- even though I spaced them apart 3 weeks, I noticed not too long after that, hair has been coming out of his tail , not a lot but strands here and there.

Maybe it is just a coincidence- but makes me nervous. Sharlene, sometimes your vet will give you a rabies waiver due to health reasons. Zoe does not get any vaccines any more.

You have to way the risks your dog may have regarding possible exposure to rabies.

I second Gylnda in thanking you for helping. It has been a difficult few months for a lot of us and we really appreciate your help.

[molly muffin]

Molly is at the vet. She is scheduled to get her rabies vaccine on Saturday after the LDDS testing today. Here we are required by law to get the rabies shots every 3 years.

I'm also having a full blood panel and the regular urinalysis done while she is there. I just want baselines on everything again since her last Full panel was in March. (I had the ALP and ALT redone in June) So far molly hasn't had any problems with any of her vaccines. No hair loss, upset stomach or anything. She has more issues when she takes pills with upset tummy issues. Which sort of worries me starting her on something that will be life long.

They are treating quite a few dogs there for cushings with success, which makes me feel better. Some have multiple problems, like diabetes and pancreatis. (This by the way was the lab tech I was talking to this morning)

I have an hour to get ready to head to the airport. I spent an hour at the vets before I would leave her this morning.

So for the morning molly funny. I have to walk molly around the corner at the vets, then sort of jump back around the corner out of sight or she tries to dig in and not move. Now she knows that I am going to disappear at that corner, so at the corner, she did a quick maneuver around my legs with her leash and stayed on the side that made it so I couldn't escape her without tripping over her. Even when I tried to dodge into an exam room, she moved into the room with me, keeping her effectively behind me instead of beside or in front. Everyone was laughing and saying she was smart and certainly knew how to keep me with her. She also went straight over to the scale to get weighed, since that too has to be done each trip. She walked onto the scale, sat down and waited for us to acknowledge that she had done and awesome thing on her own.

See you all when I get back. Vet knows to call me if anything comes up on the tests.

[Jenny & Judi in MN]

she is one smart pup! enjoy your weekend, sounds like Molly is in good hands

[Tina]

Hi Sharlene,

How did Molly do over the weekend while you were gone? I bet she is glad you are back. I hope you had a nice weekend!

I want to thank you for posting on my thread with your kind words and support. I really appreciate it, and so does Jasper. There are such good people on this site, it feels kind of like a lifeline when things are so scary and overwhelming.

Hugs to you and Molly,

Tina and Jasper

[molly muffin]

Hi Tina,

I got home too late to be able to pick molly up tonight from the vets where she boarded and had tons of tests.
I Hate the house without her in it. It feels so empty and quiet. I can't wait till I can pick her up at 11 tomorrow. It's a holiday so they are only open from 11 - 12 for pickups, etc.
You know I'll be waiting for them to open though.
We are all in the same scary boat that seems to rock constantly from the cushing waves. How is that for an analogy. I feel sea sick just thinking about it.

Hugs to you and Jasper too.

Sharlene and molly muffin

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Sharlene,

I just wanted to say that you are doing a fine job of navigating that ship of yours. You are a good Captain!

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[molly muffin]

Had this whole long thing typed out, somehow hit the "back" button on my mouse and lost it all, so here we go again.

LDDS Test results

Cor1 - Cortisol (base) 79 30 - 300 range nmol/L
Cor34 - Cortisol (DEXA) - 4 hrs <27.59
Cor38 - Cortisol (DEXA) - 8 hrs <27.59

Interpretation for low-dose DEXA:

Normal dogs: Serum cortisol suppresses to <40 nmol/L for the 8-h interval.
Adrenocortical hyperfunction: dogs with HAC do not suppress to <40nmol/L for the full 8 hours. In ~60% of dogs with pituitary tumores, there is suppression to <50% baseline values or <40 nmol/L at 3 or 4 hours.

converted to ug/dl division by 27.59

Cor1 - Cortisol (base) 1.051
Cor34 - Cortisol - 4hrs <1
Cor38 - 8hrs <1

Urine Gravity - 1.038
trace Protein
blood ca. 250 ery/ut
We're still waiting on sensitivity/culture to come back, I don't see anything on this that says cortisol/creatine

Abnormals on blood work as follows:

Albumin 46.8 26-44 range g/L
Protein 74 51-72 range g/L
ALP 1054 4-141 U/L
ALT 144 6-118 U/L

Thoughts anyone?

I'm going to type out her ultrasound results too:

Physical exam, Mild dental tarter. heart no murmur or arrhythmia. Lungs NAF. Abdomen mild distension, tense, no obvious pain. M/S good body condition.

Ultrasound:

Liver mildly enlarged, diffusely hyperechoic and the margins are rounded. The gall bladder has a moderate amount of echogenic debris present. Bile duct normal. Stomach wall measures from .25cm and there is moderate gas present. The spleen is normal. Left kidney measure 4.86cm, there is hyperchoic speckling in the cortex and there is a mild decrease in corticomedullary definition. Left adrenal gland measure .80cm and .68cm and is mildly enlarged with the caudal pole larger than the crnial pole. Urinary bladder wall is mildly thickened at the apex from .32cm to .43cm, although the lumen is not fully distended. Mucosa is mildly hyperechoic and irregular, and there are two small calculi presnet measuring .18cm and .24 cm. Colon is normal. right Kidney is similiar in appearance to left kidney. There is a small non-obstructive calculi present, measuring .28cm. Right adrenal gland measure .56cm and .74cm. and is the upper reference of size to mildly enlarged. Pancreas is normal. Small intestine is normal. Mesenteric lymph nodes are mildly enlarged with one measuring .33cm by 1.97cm. There is no free fluid present in the abdomen.

Thanks,
Sharlene