My Pug Scoop (Precious Scoop has passed... )

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Vicki,

I should have known Scoop was already diabetic. I wonder about my mind these days!

10 days, huh? Then Scoop will be having an ACTH sometime in the next four days, or should be anyway, so let us know how that goes and what the results are when you get them.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[Squirt's Mom]

Happy 10th Birthday, Scoop!!

[Boriss McCall]

Happy Late Birthday to Scoop!

[scoora]

Leslie and Amy-Thank you for the birthday wishes for Scoop!
Leslie-Scoop had his ACTH test today. Will find out results tomorrow. The amount of water he has been drinking has gotten a little better lately but not where it should be but when he comes home after a stay at the vet's he just drinks and drinks. He seems to have finally settled down.
I asked at the vet's today for a copy of my other dog, Raleigh, bloodwork results from March. With all this going on with Scoop I want to keep an eye on Raleigh's levels. What a difference between his and Scoop's.
Vicki

[scoora]

I just heard from the vet. Scoop's dose of Vetoryl must go up to 30 mg a day. His first ACTH test results are:

Pre-6.2
13.5-1 hour
16.7- 2 hour
The vet said normally they only do one post draw but the lab she talked to suggested she do a 1 hour and a 2 hour.

I had a situation over the weekend about the fasting or not before his ACTH on Monday and I couldn't talk to his vet till Monday morning after he would have eaten. I read the advise on the board and also checked Dechra's website. They have under either Q&A of FAQ, don't remember which, that the morning of the test a small amount of food should be given. I also sent an email to Dechra but because it was Saturday I figured I wouldn't hear from them. So Monday morning I gave Scoop about half of his food and half his amount of insulin. The vet called me at 8:30 and I explained everything to her. She said she did not want me to fast him so she thought what I did was OK. She called the lab they deal with and they said that was fine what I gave him. At 9:30 that morning I got a call from a registered vet tech from Dechra and said she wanted to get a hold of me seeing he was scheduled for his test that morning. She said what they suggest is to give about 1/4 amount of normal food but she said what I did was fine. So Dechra, the vet and the lab all agreed what I gave him was OK. The vet said the lab told her they should be coming out with some paper or something for the vets about the non-fasting thing. The lady at Dechra was so nice and took time to talk to me. Scoop now has a case number in case I have to get in touch with them again.

Scoop has done a lot of trembling today so far. Does anyone have any experience with their babies trembling? The vet also thinks Scoop is starting with that skin problem that's associated with Cushing's. I've heard about it but not sure of the name. I will be looking it up later. Anyone with experience with that? Have to get ready for work this afternoon. I hate to leave Scoop but have to. At least the day he will get his increased dose I will be home. So nervous about the increase but his numbers aren't good so hope it helps. I'm just so afraid with his diabetes and Cushing's. The vet did a BG spot check to make sure it wasn't low because of the Vetoryl. It was pretty high but there were a lot of things going on that could have contributed to it. I'm so scared my Scoop has too many problems working against him. He is such a good boy and doesn't deseve this.
Love my Scoop and my Raleigh!
Sorry this is so long. Gotta go.
Thanks for any help, input, suggestions from anyone.
Vicki

[scoora]

Hi-hope everyone had a good day.
ACTH:
Pre:6.2
Post 1 hour: 13.5
Post 2 hour: 16.7
Scoop's vet said they like to see the numbers below 9. I'm assuming she was referring to the post results. Is that the number that all vets go by? Don't know too much about the Acth test and the results. Also, does anyone know what the high end dose for Vetoryl is for 18 lbs? One more thing. Scoop's water consumption has gone down a little recently but today it was down to 21oz. Maybe just one good day? The vet told me if he drinks more than 28oz that's too much. So it's good it is lower but something just bugs me. Could it mean that his cortisol level could have dropped since he had his ACTH done on Monday? If so, could there be a problem with increasing his Vetoryl from 20mg to 30mg. The increase will be taking place on Friday.
Thanks for any info anyone can give me. Every change I see just makes me think and worry! Now with the possibility of the calcinosis cutis, something else to worry about. I've read some posts on here about it. Sounds like it isn't easily taken care of but I guess that figures because Cushing's isn't easy.
Thanks again for any help or info anyone gave give me.
Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

[goldengirl88]

Vicki:
Hello to you, and hope Scoop does well on the new dose. I am new on here too , but can tell you Tipper weighs a little shy of 17 lbs and she takes 10mg of Vetoryl in the morning, and 10mg at night. Dechra told me this was the correct dose for her. We started her out at only 10mg a day, as I wanted to go slowly because Tipper can have bad reactions to things. The split dose has definetly helped curtail her symptoms that would return in the evening. My vet is waiting for the vet from Dechra to call back about the tremors, and twitching she is doing at night. He went straight to the vet as the people answering the calls there seem to be putting out conflicting information about this. This disease is awful, and we need to get together to get some funding and research done on it, as it is affecting many animals. I would never have thought this many animals could be suffering from this disease. I wish you and Scoop the best.

[scoora]

Hi Tipper's Mom,
Thanks. I'm so nervous about the increase. I agree with you. This disease is awful. I would have never thought so many pups would be so sick from it. It's so heartbreaking. I'm crying now while typing. My Scoop is laying here by me and is trembling. Sometimes he trembles so much sometimes and sometimes it's just a little. His is mostly during the day. I don't see much of it in the evening or at night. His is on a morning only dose. The vet and I talked about splitting his dose because I read diabetic dogs are better with a split dose but we haven't done it yet. Now I have 30mg pills and you can't split them. I would be VERY interested in hearing what your vet finds out from the Dechra vet about the trembling. Please let us know when you hear anything. My vet thinks Scoop might have something else going on besides Cushing's and diabetes so maybe that could be contributing to the trembling. She told me trembling is not a side affect. Sure wish I had some answers. It is so hard to not know what is going on. I spoke to a registered vet tech from Dechra and mentioned the trembling. She told me they don't know for sure if the trembling is related to Vetoryl but they do mention it as a possible side affect. I think that's how she put. No definite answer. So please let us know what you find out.
Thanks for the well wishes. I wish the same for you and Tipper, all the best. The idea about funding for research is a great idea. I hope someday it can be cured and all the pups and parents don't have to deal with it.
Love and hugs to you and everyone out there.
Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

[lulusmom]

Hi Vicki,

I believe we had another member recently who spoke to a rep at Dechra who told her that muscle tic are not a side effect of Vetoryl. It most certainly is. See my reponse below:

I'm very surprised that the rep you spoke with at Dechra said it isn't the drug. Muscle tremors are absolutely a side effect of Vetoryl so the rep is either ignorant of the drug he's supposed know about or he is splitting hairs and defining muscle tics and tremors as two different involuntary muscle movement. We have had many members report that their dogs have muscle tremors/tics, primarily when they are at rest.

[scoora]

Thanks lulusmom.
It's so hard to watch them tremble like that. I put my hand on him and just feel his body shaking. It's terrible.
Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom