Checking in for January 2007

[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! :)

[we3dogs]

Happy New Year to us all!!
Everything is well here in Massachusetts, except it is too warm, we've had no snow (one dusting) and it will be in the 50s this weekend! :mad:
Zee! (non cushings) just turned 12 and is finally doing well on a raw diet. Some of his trunk fur is finally growing back. Pebbles continues to be healthy. She was scheduled for a LDDST test tomorrow but I am postponing it. She does not show any symptoms but the vet is concerned with her conflicting test results. I still think her obesity (65 lbs when found in July 05)was a factor in the positive result, then her 25 lb weight loss showed a true negative for cushings. I will have her tested in a month or two.
Angel (everyone's foster dog here at the forum! :p ) is so precious! Right now she is lying at my feet on a comfy floor level ottoman under the dining room table. Oh, that face! She still has a pot-belly but seems to be doing well on the 1x day 60mg of trilostane. She just started the meds that I got from Phoenix (vet recommended and uses this pharmacy) so I'll see if not getting it directly from Master's Marketing is a viable option. Angel goes for a teeth cleaning tomorrow. I think she may have to have a tooth removed! We'll see!
I hope everyone has a healthy happy new year, and that we all remember that just by being here at this forum and educating ourselves we are doing good things for our beloved dogs! :) Take care - Joyce

[bgdavis]

Hi all,

Crissy had an ACTH stim test done last Friday and I got the results today. Her numbers remain in the 'ideal' range...Pre - 2.4 and Post - 4.8. Her thyroid panel showed both T4 and T3 in the normal range...So no changes in those meds. We had to change her insulin to another type since Lente manufacturing stopped a year ago and it's not possible to find more of it. We will have to 'tweak' her dosage for a while.

The bad news is that she tore her left rear caudal ligament on Christmas day getting into the car to go to my son's house. She was given an Adequan shot in the joint and the swelling is down. She's not limping as badly and we're hoping that it's a partial tear and will mend without surgery.

Happy New Year's to all.

Bonnie and Crissy

[Loraine]

I'm still hanging around here :) Missing my Coco, but enjoying the company of Houdini aka Zedley :) I am looking forward to finally (after 12 months of notice) retiring from work on 10 January :D I keep all of you in my prayers and thoughts and try to help as much as I am able.

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

[KarenTascha]

Hello all,
I hope we all will have a lucky, healthy and great dogy new year!
Tascha is doing fine, she will go in for her second check-up next week.

Best wishes,

Karen & Tascha

[mymollygirl]

Molly is still doing well. She is still fighting a UTI and a fungal infection on her skin, but otherwise pretty good. She is almost off her potassium and calcium supplements and is slowly coming off her desmopressin (yippee – that is some pricey stuff!!). She’s still taking 60 mg of Trilostane twice daily and seems to be doing great on it. She has started showing some confusion. The vet at A&M said that is not abnormal after brain radiation. He is not concerned about it since she is still functioning very well (not having trouble walking, eating, etc.). He has put her on a course of prednisone to try and help the healthy brain cells stick around. He says they normally “grow out of this”. Of course the pred will make all her other problems worse because of the immune system suppression, but we can take care of those things.

Molly is getting stronger every day and has more energy every day. I never thought she would be doing this well so quickly. Maybe her young age is a benefit since she’s been able to bounce back so quickly!

Hope all your puppies are doing well. Happy New Year!!! :D

- Brandi & Molly

[SusanBee]

Hello everyone. This is my first post.

My 11 year old mix-breed Max is being tested for Cushing's on Friday.

I will continue to check back every day.

Thanks for the informative posts.

Susan & Max

[BestBuddy]

Hi all,
Buddy is just over the latest UTI and BG back into the right range. Three more weeks and we have another ACTH to see if the cushings is still in remission and we will get the thyroid checked as well. We have started giving Buddy cranberry to hopefully keep those UTI's away. Other than that all is well and I hop we all have a good start to the year and onward.
Jenny & Buddy

[ventilate]

Jenny:
I hope the cranberrys work better for you than for Nike. actually, I should not say that. WHo knows how many she would have had if I had not been giving it to her.. It seems like one of our friends consistantely has a uti, I guess Nike got rid of hers cause she passed it on to Buddy, Oh Oh you say Buddys is better, WHO is next???
glad Buddy is doing well, hope the ACTH test goes well.
Hugs to you and yours from me and mine
Sharon, Nike and Kenai

[Niwibamom]

Hi all. It's been a long time! I'm just checking in. Can't come close to catching up on everyone, but wanted to let you know that I did not fall off the face of the earth! After Nikki passed in August, I just couldn't bear to be here. Sorry. Anyway, I'm coping with not having her around. My other two dogs, Willie and Bailey, are finally adjusting, I think. Nikki was the alpha and so they were lost for a few months, but they are hanging in there. It was a rough holiday, but we made it through. It was strange only stuffing 2 stockings.

I'm thankful for the memory post you have made in the loving memories area. It was nice to see Nikki being remembered by other than myself! It was a nice, tearful suprise.

I wish a good and uneventful new year for all of you. I loved being a part of this group and will plan to check in on you all from time to time!

~Melanie (forever Nikki's mom, Willie and Bailey's mom)

[Debbie]

Hello,
I haven't posted in quite a while as Abbye has been doing quite well. January, 2007 marks her one year Cushings anniversary - she was diagnosed January, 2006 and we started her on Lysodren then. She has done remarkably well even though last February she was also diagnosed with diabetes and lost her sight. She looks so good these days; goes on two walks of about a mile each every day and has just really bounced back. Her last ACTH results were right on the mark, but we have continued to up her insulin over the year.

I guess my next dilemma is trying to decide what to do when we go on vacation. February is the only time of year we travel without Abbye and I'm trying to decide what to do. In the past, she's only been left with family but we haven't left her since she's gone on insulin and we can't really ask our family to give her injections while we're gone. We're considering boarding her at the vet's where she is known and loved, but it just isn't home. Well, we are lucky if that's our worst problem, right?

I do appreciate the forum although I don't post much. Happy New Year to all from:
Debbie and Abbye (12 yrs; Daschund cross)

[MabelBudZoe]

Hi all- been awhile since we have checked in .Buddy is doing very well - its me the mom that has had some health problems but on the road to better.
Hope the holidays were good for everyone!
Good thoughts to all - Meg and Buddy