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

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Vicki,

Cush pups need low FATS and moderate proteins. The carbs are more important in the diabetes picture than Cushing's.

Personally, I don't care for Hill's Science Diet of any variety, prescription included. They are primarily corn and sodium. SD used to be an excellent feed when Dr. Morris was in control but when Nestle bought it out, they changed his formula and ruined a good feed to boost the profits by using cheaper ingredients, and LOTS of corn. However, diet is critical when dealing with diabetes, MUCH more so than with Cushing's so I will leave the recommendation to the folks at k9diabetes to direct you with Scoop's diet.

How is he doing today?

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[scoora]

Hi Leslie,
Thanks for that info. It's terrible to say but I think the vets push the Hill's products. I did notice the first ingredient is corn. I also saw recalls from the spring, not the W/D. Which really makes you wonder about them. I had watched a video on youtube with a Dr. Karen Becker(I think) and she has 3 parts about Cushing's and I thought she said it should be low carb, high protein. That's where I got that from. It makes me feel a little better that you think diet isn't as important for Cushing's as diabetes. I'm not crazy about the Hill's either. Tonight I will run it by the folks at the diabetes forum.

What food does your gang eat?

I wish I could say Scoop is doing good but I don't know if his eye sight is getting worse. He's had more problems with that today. He also is not very energic today or yesterday except when it's time to eat. Thanks for asking about him.

Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

[Squirt's Mom]

My gang? Weeellllll, they get white turkey, beef liver, sardines, cod, salmon, dark chicken, quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes, lentils, green beans, yogurt, eggs, butternut and acorn squash and coconut oil along with multiple individual vitamins, minerals, and supplements. Me? I get peanut butter, cracker and cheese.

I home cook for mine based on diets designed especially for each one according to their individual health needs - each diet is different. They also get kibble, dry feed - at the moment Natural Balance Duck and Sweet Potato or Fish and Sweet Potato. If I'm not on the computer, I'm in the kitchen...and seldom cooking for ME! But, they are worth every penny and every second and every twinge of pain all that standing causes, and I'll continue as long as I possibly can because I believe this is the best way to feed my babies.

Finding the best diet for our babies can be an interesting, confusing, conflicting, opinionated, enlightening journey. The one thing to keep in mind is this - each pup is a unique biological system so what works well for my Squirt could make Scoop sick as all get out. There is a great deal of trial and error in finding what works best, but the effort is worth it when we see our babies become stronger, look better, act younger, and have fewer vet visits for problems like digestion, among other things.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[scoora]

Leslie,
Thanks. Oh my! You have your hands full!
I enjoyed reading that. I wouldn't mind doing that for my guys knowing it would be healthier for them. You just don't know about some of this stuff you are buying. I cook a boneless, skinless chicken breast about every other day for my guys but that's nothing compared to what you do.
Thanks again. That was very interesting.

Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

[Skye]

i home cook as well! I make about 3 weeks at a time and freeze it. Always have some thawing so they dont need warmed up long. i place in crock pot boneless skinless chicken breast, I cook rice on stove top and use frozen green beans, and for snack she gets about 3 T pumpkin. I add in her omega fatty oils, an over all supplement called Balance it, and fortiflora probotic and actually the nutritionist has me add corn oil........weird i know. however some part of corn is good........not all parts are. It gives her the fat needed but not to much as she needs low fat, not high protein because her pancreas or kidneys could not handle that either. So the oil helps meet needs where other things cant be added. The only food of hills she did okay on was R/D. Vets will always push what they sell because they get kick backs on it. and say its all the best.....however most general practice vets have very little educational training in nutrition. They believe what the reps of dog food companies tell them. I love Dr. karen Becker..........I watch many of her videos and she has some great books out too. My little girl will probably be having eye surgery very soon.........indolent ulcer.........what is wrong with your babies eye?

[scoora]

Hi Stormee,
Sounds like a delicious meal your little girl gets. I find listening to Dr. Karen Becker very interesting. I'll have to check out her books.

My Scoop has catracts from his diabetes. His eyes are getting worse. I wish your little girl all the best with her eye surgery. Hope everything goes well.

Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

[scoora]

Scoop had his second ACTH test yesterday. I'm confused. Scoop's first test results-pre:6.2, there were two post draws. The first post was 13.5, the second was 16.7.
Yesterday's results -pre:7.4 One post this time:15.2
I said to the vet I didn't remember the numbers from the first one and she said the 13.5 post draw so that would mean the numbers have gone up. Scoop's Vetoryl had increased after the last test from 20mg to 30mg. I was going to ask if anyone knows what would cause that to happen. I just read that it looks like Boriss is having that problem too.

Can anyone explain what the pre draw number means. What causes that number to change and is there a number that is normal for the pre draw? The vet wants Scoop to go to 40mg but a split dose-20mg morning, 20mg evening. She asked me how many 30mg I have left so she said we can wait till those are all till we start the 40mg. Do you think that it is OK to wait? Sure wish the Vetoryl came in 20mg.

The last few days Scoop's been having problems. Scoop has cataracts and the vet thinks he can't see out of the right eye at all and thhe left is getting worse. The last few days he's been having a lot more trouble. He has a hard time finding me when I call him. He looks in the wrong direction. He walks in the wrong direction when we are outside and I say we are going to go in. He has arthritis in both front legs. Today he had some problems with that. Tonight after his supper he walked through the dining room like he was staggering. He walked up to the closet door and just stopped for a second then walked away. Very unsteady. He sleeps on the couch at night and always walks back and forth from one end to the other at least a few times each night, like he can't get comfortable. Tonight he moved one time, very unsteady. I say to myself, his eyesight is getting worse, his arthritis is acting up but he really has me scared tonight. Could things like this be signs of a macro? Boy, it's scary!
Thanks for any thoughts on this.
Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

[Harley PoMMom]

Scoop had his second ACTH test yesterday. I'm confused. Scoop's first test results-pre:6.2, there were two post draws. The first post was 13.5, the second was 16.7.
Yesterday's results -pre:7.4 One post this time:15.2
I said to the vet I didn't remember the numbers from the first one and she said the 13.5 post draw so that would mean the numbers have gone up. Scoop's Vetoryl had increased after the last test from 20mg to 30mg. I was going to ask if anyone knows what would cause that to happen. I just read that it looks like Boriss is having that problem too.

Sometimes it can take a bit of "tweaking" of the Vetoryl dose to arrive with in the therapeutic ranges. How are Scoop's symptoms, have any of them abated?

Can anyone explain what the pre draw number means. What causes that number to change and is there a number that is normal for the pre draw? The vet wants Scoop to go to 40mg but a split dose-20mg morning, 20mg evening. She asked me how many 30mg I have left so she said we can wait till those are all till we start the 40mg. Do you think that it is OK to wait? Sure wish the Vetoryl came in 20mg.

The pre blood draw is the resting cortisol reading. Any type of stress, anxiety, pain, etc. can cause the pre to be high. When treating with Vetoryl one always wants the pre number to be >/= to 1.45 ug/dl.

I think it is fine to wait until the 30mg capsules are used up, just a gentle reminder that an ACTH stimulation test should be done 10-14 days after any dosage change is done.

Love and hugs,
Lori

[Boriss McCall]

Morning Vicki,
It is such a bummer when it isn't working the right way.
The vet told me I could wait until Boriss finished out the 30 day supply of 30mgs before we upped the dose.
I am not sure. but, I think that is what most people do because things could change within the 2 week time frame with the 30mg.
I chose not to wait & to add another pill because I could tell Boriss was miserable.
So, currently he is taking a 30mg pill & a10mg pill in the morning only.
We might end up going to twice a day as well. We are trying to see if we can get it controlled with once a day dosing first. fingers crossed...

I don't think you have anything to worry about with Scoop. My vet explained that is just takes time & tweaking for some dogs until you find just the right dose. She wasn't worried at all. It just makes me upset to see Boriss miserable.

I hope we can both figure this out for our pups soon. I feel like I am on a roller coaster right now.

[Boriss McCall]

Also I saw you mentioned about finishing out your 17 days on the 30mgs & then switching to twice a day on the 20mgs.

I know it gets expensive & I am still new at this. But, I would think your vet would want to test again before you start the new dose.
But, it could be that Scoop is like Boriss. The numbers were so high that it is safe to go ahead without a test?

Anyone else have input on this with experience? I just might be an over worrier & do more test than necessary.