Checking in for February 2006

[acushdogsmom]

We suspect that we have a good number of folks here who read the messages regularly but who don't post very often. Maybe that's because their dogs are doing well and they don't have any questions to ask, or maybe they don't feel very comfortable about posting answers to other members' questions.

It's perfectly understandable and acceptable for folks to only post here once in a while, but when we don't hear from people, many of us find ourselves wondering what those folks have been up to recently and how their dogs are doing.

"Checking in" is a topic that we start on the first of each month, where folks can post a reply to let everyone else know how they are doing. You may just want to say "Hi! We're still here and we're doing fine" or you may want to tell us more -- about a really good test result, or something funny that your dog did recently, or a camping trip that you went on ... that sort of thing.

We'd love to hear from you! :)

[Debbie]

Hi to all,
I'm a relatively new member who generally lurks and learns from the posts of others. Abbye is our 11 year old dachshund mix sweetie who was diagnosed with Cushings right around the first of the year. We've already "loaded" with Lysodren and are trying to get the maintenance dose just right. Abbye is doing pretty well. Her last ACTH results were 2.2 and 4, so we feel like we're headed in the right direction. She's never had the big appetite usually associated with Cushings, but she has been drinking a lot. That's finally subsiding a little. Last night was the first night in a long time that we were only up once - and that was close to time to get up anyway. There's hope for a night with no trips outside! We are also hoping that one of these months Abbye will start to grow some hair on her poor little bald tail and rear! She's always had such a lush coat...

I really appreciate the information presented on this board and all the compassionate, caring people that respond to questions and concerns. While I probably won't post a lot, I know where I can come for good advice.

Thanks for providing this forum. It has really made me feel a lot better about Abbye's treatment and her outlook for the future!
Best wishes to all,
Debbie and Abbye

[Mom2Misty]

Hi Debbie. :) I am so glad that you like it here and that we have been a help to you and Abbye. :) And she is beautiful!
It sure sounds like things are going well with the treatment, and actually those numbers are not that bad and I am sure you will be successful in finding just the right maintenance dose. Some of us have a bit more difficulty than others in getting the dose adjusted but it will happen eventually, so just hang in there. :) We are also hoping that one of these months Abbye will start to grow some hair on her poor little bald tail and rear! She's always had such a lush coat... That too will happen and if you look closely you might see some new (though minute) growth already! Just takes a little time.

Please (if you will) keep us updated in the questions section and give Abbye a big hug for me. ;)

Shelba and Misty

[Loraine]

I still come by and for some reason I get emails from people (who must have Googled) asking for my help with Cushpups. I always direct them here, it is the most helpful and friendly place. My thoughts are that even if they don't post or join, the can get a heap if information from the various areas here. I also feel a 'personal' connection to many of you, especially Cushy and Shelba, who gave me so much hope when I first arrived with Coco, Thanks! :)

Hugs
Loraine (Coco's Mum forever, Zedley's new Mum)

[MabelBudZoe]

Checking in - Unfortunately Buds 3 month ACTh did not register well and we had to dose him again, Acth him again and now back to maintainence - Just seems like he does well for like 60 days and then come the 90 and he is "out of sorts" again
I am thinking of taking him to a holistic vet one of my dog trainer friends uses just to get some other ideas - I just have to wait for some health issue of my own to be resolved
Anyways hope all is well with everyone else - we keep pluggin along :rolleyes:

[EllieEskies]

Hi! Just checking-in for February.
:) Snowdrop is still doing very well. No one would ever dream she has any medical problems. She walks a mile with me to work everyday, follows me around, and walks home again. After a short nap, she plays and has no problem emptying toyboxes, and rough-housing with my other dogs.
Next month we will be celebrating her 8th Birthday and I am thrilled because she was initially diagnosed at the age of 4 years. I was so frightened over that 2 year prognosis that is posted everywhere. Just goes to show that with excellent care and monitoring that a Cushing's dog can live out a normal and happy life. Even if it means changes in veterinarians, or specialists, and even medications to achieve this, because that is what happened in our case.
Our next appointment with her specialist is not until the end of May, or the beginning of June. Since we switched to Trilostane, a little over 2 years ago, her cortisol levels remain at a constant and excellent level, so there is no need to keep taking her every 2-3 months. Every 5-6 months works fine for us.
I'll keep you updated about Snowdrop.

Hugs!
Ellen & Snowdrop

[barb may]

February check in.
Sister is getting hair back on her previously cush-bald belly and her skin has returned to a good color and softness again. her paws are not split and cracked anymore and her cush-brittle coat is shedding and hopfully the new coat will be as nice as her original one was. this has been the slowest part of her recovery.
all the other symptoms are gone (RE: pot belly, polydypsia, hog dog eating,dry nose)
one thing I have noticed is that she needs more frequent bathing to sloff off the dead hair and skin..so she gets a non-soap bath Q 2 WEEKS with hydra drops.
We sure are glad we found this site and we hope everyone has been doing well.
love
barb and sister

[wwhall]

Coda is still doing pretty well. Over the past month, I noticed his eating habits changed--he would leave a portion of his breakfast to go outside, then finish when he came back in. His back legs also seem weaker. I had the vet do an ACTH, his numbers were lower than usual, about 1.4/1.5. Gave him a break from Lysodren for a bit and now we're back on schedule. We will alternate 2000 mg Lysodren per week with 2500 mg the next week and see how he does.

I'm still giving grapeseed extract daily. Not sure if it helps, but the pooping on the floor has been less frequent. (Hooray!) No nasal discharge lately, either.

I teach ballet to kids at my home studio, and they always remark on Coda when they see him in the yard. Yesterday I brought him out to meet everyone, they enjoyed seeing him up close. (He is taller than some of the little brothers who were there!) Roo and Lydia were quite upset that THEY did not get to go to the meet & greet--I promised them they would have another time.

Wendy & Coda

[Corgi-walker]

Well not much to report really ....which is good :)
Both Amber & Holly are due their tests again on the 6th of March....already booked in at my vets.
Both are doing well on Vetoryl........my father-in-law has always had Corgi's his "babie's" all gone over the bridge by the time they have reach 10 ......My two are nearly 12 :) Which in my eye's is very good .....as they are both "Cush" babie's :)

May your god go with you and with our babie's .....Sand, Amber & Holly xx

[ap424]

Cookie checking in for February

My little girl is hanging in there! She has had her ups and downs this month. Don't know if everybody knows but we had to stop treating her for her cushings. She is in chronic renal failure. We had to make some changes with her kidney meds. She also had another bout with pancreatitis. But we are hopeful with her new medicine. She has been on it for about week and half and so far so good. She has stopped the vomiting. She is still getting her SQ fluids which I feel has been helping her also. Only problem we have been having is getting to eat more. She is very stubborn about what she eats. We have been putting out a buffet table of different foods to try to get her to eat. She sniffs everything and then makes her choice. She is one spoiled little girl.

Hope all is well with everyone else :)