Checking in for February 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! :)

[BestBuddy]

Hi all,
Just thought we would be the first to check in for Feb. Buddy is nearing six months in remission from cushings :D UTI's still hanging on.....just, another week of antibiotics and another test and hopefully all will be clear. We have had a few hiccups with the diabetes but are back on track I hope. I had been injecting in the neck area for four and a half years and I think it was a problem with insulin absobtion. He is now getting a jab in the rear end and his BG levels are falling back into line. Weather here in Oz getting a lot hotter the last few weeks, everything is very dry (drought) and bushfires out of control in some areas. We would love some rain. Other than that not much more to say.
Jenny & Buddy

[Corgi-walker]

Hi every one,

Well my two have just had their SIMM test done this is the first time they have gone six months in between tests. Both test have come back with the numbers being just the same as last time so next test is to be in July.

Both are feeling their age walks are slower and we don't go as far now..... or is it just me getting slower lol. My vets not too worried about this as Amber and Holly are nearly 13 which is a good age for Corgi's. Other then that they are doing fine.

So on wards and for wards big hug to Cush pup's and mums every where

Sand, Amber & Holly xx

[Loraine]

Hi to all. I still come here (I'm an addict :D ) even tho it is 2 years since my Cushpup, Coco, went to the Bridge. I enjoy reading your stories and your battles - the ups and downs of this horrible disease. I cheer for all who are stable and cry for those that are struggling.

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

[pbarnes]

Hello all:
My whizzy has felt fine since loading, even though she has only gotten down to the levels one time. That one time she felt lousy and I thought she was going to die. Since then, she has been on maintenance and has seemingly been symptom free. Her hair grew back in, and she has been doing well. The last time we had her DM suppression test done, her values were not as low as recommended, but the vet said that since she was feeling so good, we would leave them there. So, I'm happy. Hope all of the rest of you are doing so well with this disease. Whizzy is a 12 year old toy fox terrier and has been diagnosed for about a year now. Lol.
Pam

[yohbubba]

I haven't been on this site, probably since prior to Christmas. Snookie Dog has had to have her medication dose upped. She has gone from 120mg to 150. Won't know for 4 weeks if this is going to be the answer. We pretty much know that we have been, and are really lucky to have had so many quality years lately. She still is developing lumps that turn out to be cancerous and we just don't understand. Oh how she knows we love her, and I will show her more each day, that she is the greatest addition and focal point for all of us. I started trying to catch up tonight on the posting and for the most part fell apart. I know our Vet is concerned as she calls us every evening. Snookie Dog in the Vets office is always a sight. She always goes in with a lease and depending on the waiting room, they open the back path to the front office and she's on her own waiting for Doctor Karen or Doctor Rob. She's never scared. They get down on the floor and spend more time just talking to her than I have ever experienced. God Bless them. They are truly animal lovers. Snookie will be turning 13 soon and August is her 4th year with a Cushings Diagnosis. I am sad, but she brings me right back every time I look at her. Thank you God for bringing us together and thank you all for always being there. I will get better, and so will Snookie. I could tell this was coming, I expected, just didn't want it.

I'll get back into the posting, I hope you and your friends are doing well.

Snookie's Mom and Dad

[Wally P's Mom]

Hello.

I think everything is fine with Wally, but with all of the struggles that I have read about I begin to wonder if Wally is a cushdog. He has a huge appetite (and has had one allof his life) and the water bowl goes down. I see some belly bloating, but his blood work does not indicate cushings. His bile acids are allevated, but everything else is in range. Wally is taking denosyl now and will be retested on Monday for his bile acids. I worry about him.

Marge

[Harley's Mom]

Seems I've been out of the loop for a while, last on the Forum in Sept., but just wanted to let you wonderful and supportive people know that Harley, our Corgi, is doing very well. He was diagnosed with Cushings in October 2005 and we just had a blood panel and ACTH stim test done this January, (about his third or fourth test) and everything looked good. His test results were Pre: 2.2 and Post: 4.0, so we'll have another one done in six months or sooner if we notice anything. He also had his teeth cleaned and that sort of knocked him out for a couple of days, but he is fine now. He is a happy little 10 year old and we love him very much! Best wishes to all of you.

[zeke]

well zeke is still hanging on in there.
she is still having her collapsing trachea but at the moment not that often .
she is eating and drinking and going out for walks.
driving my husband mad when she wipes her face along the sofa and treding on his feet and just getting in his way.i think she knows it anoys him and does it even more.
i have a thing that i say to her each night in case i don't get the chance again.
and in the morning see if her fur is going up and down.
i just pray that i have the strength for her when i have to make the call.
but when i come down in the morning and look at her all peacefull some times i hope that her fur is not moving because she looks so peacefull and painfree.
i know it is a cop out for me but at least she would have gone in her sleep.
she is or seems to be cushing free at the moment.
if it came back i don't know what i would do.it is getting to the point where she has had enough of being jabbed and spiked.
there are not many dogs born in 1990 that are still about.
i am truley blessed to have her.
i know that when it is my turn that she will be waiting for me at the bridge with those eager eyes and wagging tail.
so for now is ok but tomorrow is another day.
take care all
xx

[marygiles]

My Chihuahua Boycie is still doing well. He had Cushings diagnosed at the begining of last year. He is taking Vetoryl .Boycie has a lovely long coat and although sleeps a lot because of his age has many mad moments too. He has recently celebrated his 16 th birthday. Boycie is a sun lover and cannot wait to get back outside into the garden again soon. Mary

[SnowdropMom]

Hi Everyone, Just stopping by to say Hello.
Hard to believe that Snowdrop has been gone for 2 months now.
I miss her so much. She was a very special little dog who gave us a lot of joy and taught us so much. She will always have a special place in my heart.
My new little Candy is an absolute doll. She is so affectionate, sweet, and very energetic. LOL....Snowdrop taught my other doggies many of her ways. New little Candy barks at me when I carry laundry through the house...just like Snowdrop...and even growls at Frosty for doing the same annoying stuff...same reaction. Of course, she has her own little ways and actions that I just love. Happy that I gave her a home when I did.
Everyone still dealing with Cushing's ...just hang in there and enjoy every minute you have with your Special dog. You are all in my prayers and thoughts.

Ellen & (Snowdrop at the Bridge)

[barb may]

I haven't posted for a year!!! I was surprised at the amount of time passed but it means one thing...Sister has been doing well on trilostane.
At 65 lbs. her dose is low (40 mg a day). Her fur is no longer slick and silky smooth but is coarse and wirey. Her appretite is furocious and I think she drinks more water than our other dogs...but she is sloppy and much of it ends up on the floor.
Time to retest.
She seems happy, is very playful and robustly bullyish.
We are lucky.
We think of all of you who are struggling and continually watch for signs of failure...
So far just lucky. (I think)
For her coat and DRY skin we have tried lanolin, Nova pearls, bag balm...Avon skin so soft, mists, ...the list goes on...her diet is fish (salmon) based so she gets the A and D but it seems to be a side effect of trilostane and we just moisturize and then again.
We hope you are all well and waggin' and we are grateful for this forum.
sincerely,
Barb and Sister

[barb may]

A 17 YO and a 16 YO!!!
I think Zeke and Boycie are AMAZING!
(Maybe it's something about the UK!)
Barb (in the US)