Flynn 11 y/o Foxie Cross - Right adrenalectomy- Good Bye Flynny We will miss you

[Trish]

Thanks for the dietary advice Glynda. I will cut out the Hills, when I'm at the specialists vets next I am going to try and see a nutritionist as there are so many things I need to take into account with his food, like the cancer, hypertension and liver problems so hopefully with their advice I can work out a healthy food plan for him.

I spoke to the local vet today, he had spoken to the specialist vet and said the scan did not sound as bad as we had interpreted it as! Also the surgeon who did his liver resection last year had been consulted and shown the ultrasound and in his opinion it is resectable. Yay good news! They wanted the LDDS as both his adrenals are enlarged and they would have expected only one side if it was just an adrenal based problem, so they have done it to rule out the very unlikely case of him also have a pituary based problem. He said so far Flynny has been a very unusual case. He has had the LDDS done today. Specialist vet also said that depending on result of LDDS they would swap his benzapril to phenyoxybenzamine or at least cut the dose. He has been pretty good yesterday and today, but first thing this morning when he got up he looked very green and I thought he was going to vomit, but he came right in a few minutes so I think when he got up his BP dropped. They were going to check it today but I do not know result, as my parents picked him up as I was at work.

So plan now is to get result of LDDS tomorrow, then book for CT and further consultation at specialist vet eg they need to rule out spread to lungs etc before planning for surgery. Fingers crossed that is clear.

Trish and Flynn
xx

[molly muffin]

Hoping for good results from the LDDS. Flynn certainly doesn't need anything more on top of what he already has going on!! Flynn manages to give us all the 'wide eyed blinking' look. LOLOL

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Trish]

Hi all

Good news from me! He suppressed nicely on his LDDS test, the numbers I scribbled down when the vet rang me are:
Pre 184
I think 4 hrs post - 9
8hrs post - 5
So they doubt pituitary involvement. I hope I got those results right.

He is starting phenoxybenzamine today, they want him on it for 2 - 3 weeks to stablise his BP then he goes back to specialist vet for CT. Hopefully nothing nasty shows up on that and they will do surgery a day or two after that.

GO FLYNNY!!
Trish xx

[Trish]

Quick question! Flynn's phenoxybenzamine comes in a 10mg capsule. His dose is a third of each capsule twice a day. I work in a hospital so rang our pharmacist and he said there are pharmacies that will split it up for you but it costs a fortune, he suggested I mix the powder from the capsule into some chicken meat until it turns into a paste. Then split it into thirds. I have just done this and gave him his first drugged chicken dose and he gobbled it down quite happily I was a little nervous I might get a clumped bit and he would get more in one dose and less in another.

The local vet just said to tip out the powder onto paper and split it into thirds with a razor blade and tip it into his food? Imagine if someone saw me doing that... they would think I was doing cocaine I was also worried about spillage and losing some of each dose.

I thought I would ask all your knowledgeable people if there is a better way to do it?

Thanks

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Trish,

Making a paste is how I've always divided capsules that needed to be given in portions. If I can get meds into food, I know it will all be taken without a battle. And you can mix up the paste from time to time - use chicken, fish, liver, green tripe, even some veggies like sweet potatoes - which all my dearly love. Mine think they are getting a treat this way.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[labblab]

Quick question! Flynn's phenoxybenzamine comes in a 10mg capsule. His dose is a third of each capsule twice a day. I work in a hospital so rang our pharmacist and he said there are pharmacies that will split it up for you but it costs a fortune, he suggested I mix the powder from the capsule into some chicken meat until it turns into a paste. Then split it into thirds. I have just done this and gave him his first drugged chicken dose and he gobbled it down quite happily I was a little nervous I might get a clumped bit and he would get more in one dose and less in another.

The local vet just said to tip out the powder onto paper and split it into thirds with a razor blade and tip it into his food? Imagine if someone saw me doing that... they would think I was doing cocaine I was also worried about spillage and losing some of each dose.

I thought I would ask all your knowledgeable people if there is a better way to do it?

Thanks

If both the hospital pharmacist and your vet told you that it's OK to open the capsules and split the powder, then it sounds as if this particular drug may not be one that is affected adversely by altering the form in which it's given. But generally, I just want to warn folks that altering the form of a capsule in this way may also alter its effectiveness and safety (for both the animal and also the human who is exposing him/herself to the contents). So I wouldn't personally tamper with a drug unless a pharmacist gave me the go-ahead. For instance, the absorption of some drugs ought not to begin until they've safely made it into the stomach. Mixing the contents with a moist paste beforehand may totally alter the effective action of the drug. For capsules containing time-released drugs, altering the contents can also totally alter the effectiveness. And in the case of the trilostane capsules that many of our dogs take, the manufacturer of brandname Vetoryl publishes a specific warning against opening capsules and dividing contents.

What the hospital pharmicist is talking about is a "compounding pharmacy" -- a drugstore where the pharmacist is able to repackage or manipulate existing medications into a form or a dose that is workable for an individual patient. If affordable, I would think this would definitely be a preferable alternative. It will indeed cost money, but perhaps not as much as you think. So if were me, I'd Google "compounding pharmacies" in your area and give them a call to see what they may be able to do for you. A number of our members here use Diamondback Drugs, an internet compounding pharmacy located in AZ that ships drugs throughout the country. You could always give them a call to see what their recommendation would be regarding phenoxybenzamine.

Marianne

[molly muffin]

Very glad to hear that the LDDS had good results and they don't think it's pituitary.
Any good news is a happy day.

hugs,
Sharlene

[Trish]

HI all - thanks for the tips on the capsules. Very good point to check it out with pharmacist first Marianne. All appears to be going well for my boy, he is very perky tonight so I am happy Thanks again for the pointers and support, just what we needed... I feel much calmer now and I'm catching up on some sleep
Trish and Flynn xx

[molly muffin]

Hope you're getting lots of sleep and rest! Both of you.

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Trish]

HI Sharlene
You are such a sweetie thinking of us all Flynn is doing pretty good, one worry is he seems to have one kinda formed but soft with a bit of mucous poop (TMI?!?) each night, normal and formed in the morning. His breath stinks. Energy goes up and down a bit, but still think he is getting used to his phenoxybenzamine. He has been on it 3 1/2 days now. But otherwise he is good, we are both sleeping.. him more than me

Hope all good with you too!
Trish