Bagel - Beagle/Bassett - Lysodren

[Bagel's Mom]

WOW am glad to find you guys...


Bagel just finished 4 weeks of Lysodren maintenance and had her stim test SAT...

Got the results and of course I left them at school today becasue it was a rush to get out..

Anyway Doc says they are a little high..maybe 7 or 8 I just can't remember today- and to increase the weekly dose by 1/4 of a 500 mg pill..meaning 2 500 mg pills each Thursday.. (40 pound beagle basset)

She seems to be doing well..Had one diarreah accident last Thursday
( dosing day and I give her 1 500 mg in the Am) but he says that wasn't from the pill ????

Anyway..water consumption picked up Fri and Sat but seems to be back down maybe today...
Do NOT want to LOAD again so am hoping the 1/4 more will help.
Now she is fussing to go out and that is always good so we will talk to you soon... Sande

[mytil]

Hi Sande,

I sure am glad you found your way here too.

Just an FYI - Many actually split the maintenance dose over several days - for example, meaning in your case 500mgs on Tues and 500mgs on Thurs.

I am wondering outloud why your vet wanted to go to maintenance when the post ACTH stim number was a bit high. There are some doggies that do okay with the numbers slightly above 5 and this could be the case with Bagel. You may want to ask your vet for further explanation.

The diarrhea episode could be attributed to an upset tummy maybe from the Lysodren. Did it settle pretty well with her during the loading period?

Continue to keep us posted on your sweetie pie
Terry

[Sabre's Mum]

Hi Sande

Glad we BOTH found canine cushings here.

I really can't remember all of Bagel's details ... eg weight. What does this now work out mg/kg?

I know your vet really only wants to dose once a week BUT one of the reasons for splitting into doses over the week is to keep on top of the adrenals regenerating. See how you go but you may want to TRY and convince your vet the Dr Feldman suggests this is the best way to go.

I recall that your post ACTH after loading was either just below 5 or just above 5 ... Sometimes you are able to reduce the post cortisol number by increasing the maintenance but I'm sorry to say you may be in for a reload ... here's hoping that won't be the case.

Just keep a tabs on the diarrhea ... whether it happens just on Lysodren days. This may also be a good case for splitting the dose.

Take care
Angela

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Sande,

How is Bagel today? Something you might discuss with your vet is giving him a Pepcid AC when he has the Lyso if that seems to be what is upsetting his tummy. But talk to the doc first and if you get the OK then be sure you get the AC not the Complete or any of the other varieties. The generic is called Famodidine (sp) and wally world has their own brand as do several stores, but again not the extended, etc.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls

[Bagel's Mom]

Hey Guys,.,
Finally realized these posts go backwards from the ones at the old site...

OK let's see...

Bagel loaded in 6 days altho the vet thinks I may have ended it too soon...
Her pre was 4.2 and post 5.9 then....

She weighs 40 so her weekly maintenance has been 1 and 3/4 pills on Thursdays. Took forever to get him to let me do it in two doses on Thursdays....

She had no diarreah during loading nor the other three weeks..Just once BAD episode when I got home last Thursday after having 500 mg that morning. I gave her pepto bismol and then her 3/4 that evening as the vet instructed ..She was fine..

She sure has more energy....but today she was peeing every second so I caught a tiny specimen and took it and sure enough another UTI. ( she had two bad ones last August before being diagnosed with Cushings...)
anywayyyyyyy I am now the proud owner of 14 days worth of meds for that as well..

Her 1 month maintenance stim was SAT and he said a little high at 8.9
So that's when he increased her Thursday dose by 1/4 which makes it a total of 1000 mg that day. He said no tests for 3 months unless she goes back to the water and food like before and we might have to load again..I said NO that was to hard on ME!! ;)
If she has any probs tomorrow with one pill in the Am and one in the PM I may just do the Tues and Thurs on my own next week...I tried asking about it before and he said he had never heard of that...and he IS tops in the area and beyond, and I know they get so many "internet" diagnosing from patients' parents...so I may just have to do it on my own....

I give her a regular pepcid every day since she wants to eat grass so much.
Doc said 10 mg of Famotidine per day. I HAD used the AC but it was 20 mg and he said that was a people dose not a dog dose..So I cut back to the 10 mg and she seems pretty good about not eating grass in the afternoons.
I also give her SAM-e daily...
WOW...and try to work fulltime with 10 year olds..
SO I am very tired today and since tomrorow Am is dosing day I will sign off..
I Do so appreciate all the help and advice here and at least YOU don't think all the money we spend on these babies is foolish!! Thanks for all..
Sande

[Sabre's Mum]

Hi Sande

Mmmmmm ....

Ok, this is my opinion and others may chime in ....

I believe with the post of 8.9 you are going to do very little with bringing those numbers down. Your vet has changed the dose from 48mg/kg to 55mg/kg. Generally you should retest a month after a dosing change, others may want to comment on this ... maybe your vet is wanting to get an erosion effect and believes that it will take a number of months ... not one month to see this. Sorry to say but IMHO, I believe you are in for a reload.

I know you already do ... but keep an eye on Bagel's eating and water intake and take her in earlier for an ACTH. I have done this a couple of times when our vet has kept Sabre's dose the same and I believed it should have been increased.

Oh yes ... what we do for our beloved pets ... just spent $360 there today and looks like surgery on the cards to remove a lump next week ... OUCH!

Take care
Angela and Sabre

[Bagel's Mom]

thanks Angela.....

I can't remember exactly what he said when he called me- I was not in a quiet place And I was trying to write fast... but I think he was saying the high number was still ok and that it wasn't bad unless it got near 25????
Does that make sense?? maybe I didn;t hear that correctly...

I do know that at the end of the week- (last Friday) a day after dosing, I noticed her water intake was doubled- and then she was acting very hungry over the weekend. It was a busy weekend and my son was home- and she seemed to be begging for everything we ate moreso than usual but I also attributed it to his eating all the time too!

Just gave to 500 mg pill, the UTI amoxi pill, the pepsid, and now my turn to get ready for work! I mixed turkey babyfood, green beans and rice and she really likes that- hopefully it will make it easier on her tummy today!
Sande

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Sande,

Could you please verify those numbers for us on the ACTH and what your vet said was getting high enough to be "bad"?

Hope you have a great day!
Hugs,
Leslie and the girls

[Bagel's Mom]

Hey Leslie,

Her pre (after 4 weeks maintenance) was 7 her post was 8.8

he said between 1 and 5 was perfect

I swear I thought he said it wasn't really bad til 25?

Could I be nuts?

[Squirt's Mom]

Could I be nuts?

Yeah, but you're in good company! :D:p

[stardeb55]

I'm afraid I have to agree with Angela on where you stand with Bagel. A post number of close to 9 is not going to come down much at all with a simple increase in the maintenance dose. I speak from experience with Harley as I have had to reload him 3x since his diagnosis a year ago. One of his stims prior to a reload showed a post of between 9-10, if memory serves, I had an IMS who insisted that this was ok as long as he was symptom free. Within a week or less, Harley started peeing all over the house, drinking tons of water, etc. I made several phone calls to the IMS over a period of 3 weeks insisting that something was wrong, & he needed to be seen. After 3 weeks, when they finally agreed that I needed to bring him in, his ACTH showed a post of >20. I, immediately, opted to reload at a higher dose.

It sounds like Bagel is already becoming symptomatic, so I am afraid you have a reload in your immediate future.

Debbie

[frijole]

Hey Leslie,

Her pre (after 4 weeks maintenance) was 7 her post was 8.8

he said between 1 and 5 was perfect

I swear I thought he said it wasn't really bad til 25?

Could I be nuts?


Hi! A possibility is that they were confused and not you! A normal dog's cortisol isn't considered high until 22. Once dx-ed with cushings the whole scale changes. That is because the levels have to be reduced and maintained at those levels (due to overproduction). Thats where the 1 to 5 level comes in. So probably they were thinking of normal level and not a cush dog's level.

My dog's levels went to 13 or so after a few weeks on maintenance and I remember the disappointment. Some dogs just take higher doses and longer to fully load and maintain. Its OK - you just do another load (same routine) and retest. We ended up increasing the dosage in order to accomplish that and to maintain it.

What is your vet suggesting?

[Bagel's Mom]

AT this point, he said increase the Lyso by 1/4 pill..
Which I did yesterday. No adverse effects at all this time and she even was playing with a toy which she hasn't done in many months.

I am wondering....The STIM test was Saturday and Weds she was dragging herself on the floor(wasn't the glands) and trying to pee on every blade of grass, so I took a small specimen in ...and she had a UTI.
I read that the Cort. levels can be high due to several things, one being a bacterial infection. So I am wondering if THAT could have made her test results high?

[Bagel's Mom]

OH..Yes he DID say to monitor her behaviors ( food and water intake) for a possible reload...

I HATE that since they wanted to do 8 days of loading and I KNOW she loaded at 6...
and they let me stop...but even her loading dose was high- (pre 4.2 and post 5.9)

oh well...we DO learn a LOT huh?
I am working on diet now...
I am feeding her canned chicken/rice/green beans and a sprinkle of holistic kibble...seems to agree well...
of to the showers. thanks everyone!!

[Lulusmom]

Hi Sande,

What dose did you load with? I know you posted that information on cc.net but too bad I don't have a photographic memory. :D

Finding the right maintenance dose isn't always easy and hindsight is 20/20 and makes you go DOH! I believe part of the problem may be the once a week maintenance dosing. You are giving Bagel a huge dose in one day and that makes absolutely no sense to me. My dog's IM says no less than twice a week maintenance. We have split both Lulu's and Jojo's maintenance into thirds and dose on Mon, Wed & Fri.

I have an audio of a lecture given by Dr. Edward Feldman and he stresses to his students to never give once a week maintenance dose but rather split it up into as many days as you can. For instance, he would probably have you give Bagel 1/2 pill on Mon, Tue, Thur & Fri. It's rather odd that you had to beg your vet to split Bagel's maintenance dose. :( Has he had much experience in treating cushdogs?

Glynda

[stardeb55]

Sande, when you indicated that your vet was pretty set about only once a week maintenance dosing, I thought to myself that this was going to be an problem, but I realize you have to follow your vet's instructions. When Harley was first diagnosed, the IMS wanted him on twice weekly maintenance dosing. When I moved his Cushing's care back to my GP, the GP was pretty adamant that he wanted 3 times a week maintenance dosing. The GP felt that the more frequent dosing kept the blood levels of the lyso more uniform, & wouldn't allow the adrenals time to regenerate.

Debbie

[Bagel's Mom]

Trying to remember everything in the last two posts...

She loaded at 1 and 3/4 per day...I think that is 875 mg? I am bad at metrics since I teach elementary school!..

He told me out of 90 Cush dogs treated, only 2 didn't make it ..

There are three vets there and they all follow what has proven best in their experiences I guess? The yare always gone to lectures and conventions to learn new stuff...

But when I asked about splitting the dose over several days he said he had never heard of that and "no"....

Being only a little over a month on here, I know you all continue to refer to Dr. Feldman. Is he a local person, or where do you get his name and his info? I did download his lecture on Cushings, but don't know who he is.

She is now taking 2 500 mg pills on Thursdays( 1000 mg) ...and the last stim was SAT when she got those numbers. BUT she did have a UTI a couple of days later which she could have had then when she was tested,,I am hoping that is why the numbers were up?

IF I decide to split her dosing...how would 1000 mg best be done....?
Just curious..
She IS feeling better and I can tell a difference in her in just a little over a month...
thanks!!
Sande

[Bagel's Mom]

Bagel 1/2 pill on Mon, Tue, Thur & Fri.


Hmmmmm......Would that be morning or afternoon or would it matter?
AM THINKING......

She dosed on Thursday...

Sun Tues Thurs ???

[stardeb55]

1/2 pill, 4x per week sounds like a good plan. Time of day that you dose doesn't matter, you just need to give with food which you already know. Dr. Edward Feldman is one of the foremost authorities on canine cushing's disease in the world. This link gives you just a little more info about Dr. Feldman. You could probably find more detailed information about him on the UC-Davis vet school website.

http://www.wvc.org/content/?c=42&id=19&dc=n

Debbie

[Lulusmom]

I dose my dogs in the morning because it's convenient.

Dr. Feldman is a professor at UC Davis. He is extremely well published, well known and lectures on cushing's and other endocrine disorders all over the world. If your vets go to conferences, seminars and lectures to keep current on cushing's, I would suggest that they attend one of Dr. Feldman's lectures. The audio I listened to was a 2007 lecture in Seattle. He has been treating dogs with Lysodren for over 36 years and knows it like the back of his hand. He was adamant and used the words "never, ever" give a dog once weekly dose unless you absolutely have to. The example he used was a dog getting 500 mg maintenance which should be spread out as 1/4 pill on Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri. In addition the reasons that Debbie has given you for spreading over the week, it also makes it a lot easier to adjust a dose whether it be an increase of decrease. In Bagel's case, it would be 1/2 pill on Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri.

Glynda

[Wylie's Mom]

Hi Sande,

About re-load vs. upping the maintenance dose: Late fall/early winter, my IMS wanted to do a maintenance dose and then kept raising the dose, while the people here suggested I do a mini-load. I did what the IMS vet said, it seemed to work for a while, but then his cortisol levels kept creeping up. When he posted at 9.2 last March, she wanted to double his maintenance dose - the people here warned me again - I spoke with my GP vet instead & decided to try a mini-load (2 weeks ago). The mini-load went well.

What Debbie & the others say about splitting the dose throughout the week makes complete sense to me. Also, I found for my, now 79lb pup, 500mg is just too much for him with one meal. During the recent mini-load, I tried 500mg twice daily, and it seemed that my Wylie couldn't handle 500mg with one small meal (he handled 500mg fine when he was getting 2 larger meals per day, but now he gets 3-4 small meals per day). He doesn't eat grass that often, but he did nibble a little of it when I gave him 500mg. During the loading, I started with the 500mg BID(twice daily), but then lowered it to 250mg BID. For his maintenance dose, I am currently going to do 250mg BID on Sun & Thurs and 250mg once on Tues. I'm sure I read that a maintenance dose should be minimally split over at least two days a week. If you do decide to split the dose, instead of the Tues & Thursday, you should try to have two days in between to even it out more - or split it out more as Debbie & Glynda said.

I really think your vet is not reading the protocol instructions carefully (or not at all:confused:).

-Susy
(In the time it took me to write this post, 4 new posts were made to this thread - I'm a turtle writer)

[Bagel's Mom]

WOW you guys are great...
I did go research Dr. Feldman and I really see his words repeating a LOT about splitting the doses..
I think I am just going to do it. She has very loose stools today- the day after the 1000 mg and bad diarreah last Thursday after the morning pill.

My vet goes to conferences all the time.... I wonder if maybe they think they have this Cushings down pat so they go for other stuff?

ANYWAY....

I need for her last dose NOT to be on a Friday since the next STIM test would need to be 48 hours after the last Lyso dose and that would be on Sunday...right?? Does it need to be exactly 48 hours after the last dose or at LEAST 48 hours?

[maggiebeagle]

Just checking in and wanted to send happy wishes your way for you and Bagel. Maggie was a trilo girl (when she was being medicated) so I don't have any advice about the lysodren. You are doing great!
Virginia and Maggie

[stardeb55]

The stim should be about 48 hours after the last dose. You don't have to be exactly perfect on the timing. For instance, Harley is on a M, W, F, schedule, I try to have his stims done Friday mornings which would actually be about 36 hours since the last dose, since I dose in the evenings. If I happen to get the stim done on Thurs., both the vet & I take in to account that the numbers woul probably be a tad lower than what was reported because of the lyso being long-acting.

Debbie

[forscooter]

I have nothing to add but did want to let you know I am trying to catch up...reading reading reading...I remember you loading Bagel, then I got lost, and now here I am...I think you are doing just great and I will be hoping things settle into a routine for you soon!!!
Hugs, Beth, Bailey and always Scoobie

[Bagel's Mom]

thank you ALL....

I have some thinking to do here and I really like the idea of splitting these doses! She is such a special girl and I know you ALL understand THAT!
HAPPY FRIDAY!:D

Sande

[Sabre's Mum]

Hi Sande

I just wanted to say hi ... I have been catching up on you. It looks as tho you have been in good hands. I haven't had a chance to look at Glynda's link about Dr Feldman ... but he co-authored a textbook with Dr Nelson which is considered to be the "bible" on cushings. If you search his name on the internet he has done so much research and lectures on cushings. We are about to restart on Lysodren on the same dose as Bagel - 4 x weekly dosing, 1/2 tab.

Now with the ACTH ... this is how I have done it if I do 4 x weekly dosing. If you wanted to continue with Saturday testing ... you could do Tues, Thur, Sat, Sun.

I know it is difficult with your vet being "fixed" in their way of doing things. Maybe when they have confidence in your expanding knowledge they may take a "team" approach which I believe is absolutely necessary in the case of cushings. you are the one that sees your dog everyday and can monitor their well-being. Your vet only sees them every once in a while. My vet used to be very fixed and adamant in the way I was to medicate Sabre. She now knows that I am constantly reading and keeping in touch with this forum that we now have "discussions" about our dosing changes and we come to an agreement of where to go next. Sabre has yet to actually stabilise on any maintenance dose ... unfortunately ... so sometimes we are playing a guessing game!

I hope that you are able to sort everything out for Bagel.

Take care
Angela and Sabre

[Bagel's Mom]

Hi Angela!

Early Saturday morning and a great quiet time for thinking.
I totally adore and respect my vets- we have been together 10 years since they opened- they have the rep for being the best and are involved or in charge of so many local animal care venues along with their practices- so I feel that they have our best interests and are doing what they know best-

I did read a lot about Dr. Feldman and I am convinced that it's kinda like the old days of the pediatrician's advice....sometimes you have to do what you have to do.........and I am a researcher!

I am not locked in to SAT testing- in fact, they don't even do that on SAT but he does it for me because the last loading day was a Thursday- so that is when he wanted her maintenance dosing day to be-

When she loaded and I was sure she was- due to the appetite and water decrease- I talked them into testing her even though it was day 6 and he wanted her to do 8 days. Her post was 5.9 and I am wondering if we started maintenance when it was too high and I missed the signals?

ANYWAY....
five weeks into maintenance- she does have more energy- appetite is always good but not voracious- stools are very soft the next days after that huge one day dose...and then the UTI this week...

The bad day she had diarreah (week 4)- when I came home it was dinner plate size on the carpet which she had never done.I was so worried this week when I dosed her that I would come home and find it again- I didn't thankfully. But for the last two days after the 1000 mg day it is very loose.
So gut feeling- I want to spread these doses out.

He said unless symptoms or behaviors changed, we wouldn't test again for three months. By then nobody will remember what day(s) she doses..:rolleyes: by that time I will be out of school for summer break and any day will work for us...

So bottom line, if I go from 1000mgs on one day to 250 over 4 days, there will be less shock to her system and more continuity to the medication working?
I will continue to research and read this forum- it just makes so much sense to hear over and over how people spread the dosing out!
Sorry for the book here- I am more productive in the early hours! HA
Sande

[ChristyA]

We spread our dosing out also. It worked very well. Dexter didn't get the blahs when we spread it out that he would get if given a big dose on one day.
Christy

[Bagel's Mom]

Hey All,
Well. my brother says I am obsessing..and of course I am over this dosing thing.( His cat is 20 1/2 years old so HE would know HA)

I have read over and over the articles where Dr. Feldman has said 4 X a week when possible. ( what would "possible" mean?) Would impossible reflect on an owner's being ABLE to keep that schedule or what?

If the Lyso is a slow moving drug and stays in their system 48 hours, then
a schedule of 1/2 pill Tues Weds Fri Sat would keep her medicated all week long consistently and then be ok for a STIM on Monday mornings...which, unless she starts showing symptoms, won't be til July.

I guess if she gets symptomatic I would have to get her tested and have to confess not following his directions. BUT
a chance I will have to take? It just makes so much sense and the fact that Dr. Feldman has concentrated his studies to treating this disease for sooo many years...

Ok how does that sound for dosing, all ye who have this down so well?

Sande

[Lulusmom]

Hi Sande,

I think your schedule sounds great. I am pretty sure that "if possible" is a reference to a pet owner's ability and committment to administering the dose four times a week. I'll pass on responding to your brother's comment as I admit to being totally obsessed with Cushing's. It's a serious disease that's difficult to understand....the nuances are many and unfortunately are conflicting at times. You are doing exactly as you should...reading and researching so that you can make informed decisions about Bagel's medical management and can explain your rationale to your vet. Good job!!

Glynda

[Bagel's Mom]

:):D Thanks! Am feeling peace already!!

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Sande,

Just want to say you are doing a great job with Bagel! All your research will help Bagel and may help your vet to learn a bit more about Cushing's so he can help others on down the road. It's kinda funny how many of us have been able to teach our vets a thing or two about all this. When the pup shows improvements that the docs can see, they really have to listen then and rethink some things. I just love Dr C and she has been excited to learn new things from Squirt and I which makes her TOPS in my book! :D The whole clinic works with us as if we were "members" of a club and it is absolutely wonderful! I hope you find the same to be true with your vet.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls

[Wylie's Mom]

Hi Sande,

I think splitting the doses is a great decision and hopefully this will help with the diarrhea:D:rolleyes::D.

As for the cortisol levels, please confirm these are the results of the last stim:
Her pre (after 4 weeks maintenance) was 7 her post was 8.8

From what I have been told, & so far from my experience, the dose splitting may not help with the cortisol levels. If the cortisol levels haven't improved by the next stim, you might want to do a reload.

One thing I'm curious about, and maybe someone can please clarify this for me, is the pre of 7. I'm not sure if the high pre means anything. Does it matter that the pre-7 is only 1.8 lower than the post-8.8??:confused:

-Susy

[Lulusmom]

One thing I'm curious about, and maybe someone can please clarify this for me, is the pre of 7. I'm not sure if the high pre means anything. Does it matter that the pre-7 is only 1.8 lower than the post-8.8??:confused:

When interpreting an acth stimulation test for purposes of monitoring cushing's treatment, the pre or basal number is of little value. The normal basal range (most labs) is 1 - 6 so 7 is a bit high and is probably due to the stress of being at the vet's office. I hope this helps.

Glynda

[Bagel's Mom]

WOW thanks to all of you for the support!! I started 1/2 pill this Am...will repeat tomorrow (Weds) and Fri and Sat...

I am still wondering if her ACTH test might have been high due to INFECTION since she was diagnosed two days later with a UTI and is now on AMOX for that....

She does seem to be drinking a little more and I will measure- My vet did say that if I saw signs of that appetite and water consumption we would have to retest before the planned 3 months...

She does seem more energetic now...a neighbor said she looked smaller...Little pot bellied beagle/basset has carried 40 pounds for a long time but she did take on a lot of the basset features..

Will keep ya posted this week...I am very excited about splitting the doses!!
Sande

[Bagel's Mom]

Checking in...
SAT evening.....This week with the four dosings, Bagel has had an easy time...NO diarreah and NO probs...

The weather got really HOT all of a sudden but I am keeping it cool inside for her...

What a difference with the dosing...I am just thankful for an UNEVENTFUL week!!

S

[Lulusmom]

Hi Sande,

I am so glad to hear that Bagel is doing much better on the split doses. The number one Lysodren side effect is GI upset and she was getting a whole lot of Lysodren at one time. We'll be keeping fingers and paws crossed that the additional 1/4 pill will get Bagel's next post stim number where it needs to be.

Glynda

[Sabre's Mum]

Hi Sande

Fantastic to hear that Bagel is doing well with splitting the Lysodren over the week.

Angela and Sabre

[Bagel's Mom]

second week of splitting doses...NO PROBLEMS..
One of the other vets told me SHE split the doses..and that everyone did things differently...
I got some educating to do....
Appetite is NOT extreme and water is normal....
Happy Friday

[Roxee'sDad]

Hi Sande,
Glad to hear Bagel is doing better. Hope Bagel continues to improve.:)
John (Roxee's Dad)

[Rusty's Mom]

I'm so happy for the two of you! May Bagel have clear sailing for a while!

MJ

[Bagel's Mom]

thank you ALL!!! and the same to all of YOU and YOURS

[Wylie's Mom]

So glad that Bagel is doing so well with the split doses:D:D:D!

The weather got really HOT all of a sudden but I am keeping it cool inside for her...

I do the same thing for Wylie...people say, "Geez, it's like Alaska in here!!";)

-Susy

[maggiebeagle]

Don't be surprised if Bagel develops an interesting coat in the next few months. When Maggies fur came back in, it was a very fuzzy puppy-like coat. It's not quite so fuzzy now, but is still mush more lush than the usual beagle/basset coat. Several othe people have reported the same thing.
Glad to hear things are going well :D.
Virginia and Maggie

[Kwiggles]

Hi Sande,

So glad to hear Bagel is doing well on her new regimen!

I wanted to tell you about something I discovered for keeping my dog cool which you might want to try with Bagel- just a couple of days ago a friend lent me a pad called a "Canine Cooler" which she uses for her dog on long car trips when he gets overheated and uncomfortable. Its a pad made of heavy gauge vinyl filled with a kind of gel which absorbs the dog's body heat as they lay on it and keeps them cool. You can cover with a sheet or just use it uncovered.

I put it on the bed for my dog Joe and he flopped right down and zonked out- it was the most restful night of sleep he's had for a long time (me too!) I'm going to look around for it in local pet shops but I'm sure you can get it online. I can vouch for it- it really works (and no, I don't work for the company! :D)

Best wishes to you & Bagel & and keep cool :cool:,
Karen & Joe

[Bagel's Mom]

Okay that sounds wonderful!! Thanks Karen and I will be loking for that.

We live in the South and it gets really humid in the summer- We will take our best walks in early Am and later evening.

Took the specimen in from her 2 weeks ago UTI and all is clear!! We did the Happydog dance for THAT!

Even though she is only a month into the meds I can already see a change in her belly shape, skin color, and energy levels...The hair is not coming out so much, and it never did get too thin- but I will watch for a fuzzy beagle! Bet that is cute!

Sande

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Sande,

So glad to know Bagel is loaded and doing so well. :) I know you are relieved that part is over! :D Hope things go very smooth from now on!

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls

[Bagel's Mom]

Thanks Leslie...

It's just a one day at a time thing isn't it?

I thought one of her eyes looked red last night...and she has always had an allergy time in MAY to the grass and other pollens...

question:
Now that she is on maintenance dosing, I understand that her stress levels are affected...
I will have some surgery in June.Just one overnight in the hospital...
I have a fabulously caring kennel where she has stayed in the past..PRE Cushings...and they are so fond of her....

My son will come home to take me and stay- can't decide if I should put her in the kennel for a little over 24 hours ( I hate the nights when she is there without people to fawn over her) but they are more used to meds than my son is...
OR let him wing it and assume she is more peaceful at home even with Mom gone for two days and one overnight?

Sande

[stardeb55]

Sande, even though you really like your kennel & trust them, it's still not home. If I were in your position, I would let son take care of her at home because it will minimize the change in routine, & thus, minimize the stress. I would leave clear written instructions, including a med schedule with dosages. I think both of them will be fine. I assume your son is pretty dependable overall.

Debbie

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Sande,

If Bagel is like Squirt, she is gonna know something is up, no matter where she stays, and get anxious. I know Squirt would be more at ease in her own environment even with me gone than she would anywhere else, even my brother's, whom she loves to death. Because I know how Squirt would react, I would opt to keep her at home if at all possible. That way I would know she had familiar things around her and a well known safe place to be while mom was gone.

You know Bagel best. You know your son best. You know the kennel under consideration best. I know you will make the right decision for Bagel. You have worked so hard on her behalf all this time, I just can't see you doing any less for her in this circumstance.

I hope this surgery you are facing isn't anything major and that you will recover rapidly and fully. If you need us, we are here for you.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls

[Bagel's Mom]

Thanks..I kinda was leaning on leaving her here at home and and the neighbors and my son will all be good for her- Just ONE overnight and she loves him! He may have a hard time getting up at her time ..HA We get up at 5:30 most days!
Thanks for your concern....A stubborn polyp that has to be removed surgically but I am very blessed that it isn't cancerous..
Will save the kennel for another time. Have any of you boarded your Cushy dogs? Our kennel is very attentive to all the doggies and have always spoiled her- and have offered me a job when I retire!! But I wondered if boarding her a few days sometime would be really hard on her?
Sande

[Roxee'sDad]

Hi Sande,
There are also a number of pet sitting services that offer a variety of services, may want to check into that for next time. I know a few out here that provide excellent service. Especially good for special needs dogs. They usually are licensed, bonded and insured.

Not bad mouthing all kennels, I know there are many good ones out there. I did a short internship at one as part of my grooming training. It was not one of the good ones,:( they, we said all the right things to the customers but the bottom line was no matter what, the pups were only fed in the morning, water was taken away at 5:00pm and they were let out for potty at 6:00pm for the last time. If they didn't eat in the morning, they went hungry. Owner didn't want to wake up to kennels full of poop and pee in the morning. The kennel went unsupervised from 6:00pm till 8:00 am in the morning. Many medication times were delayed or missed entirely. Owner would toss the pill if it was forgotten and time for the next one because the pet owner would know how many pills were left.

So make sure your favorite kennel is all it's advertised to be. There are many good ones but there are some bad ones too.

John (Roxee's Dad)

[jrepac]

I always ask to take a tour of the kennel....some vets do a respectable job of boarding pups as well. The place I have been using recently is a "pet resort" (LOL!) where they all get to frolick during the day...and they have little doggie huts to sleep in...no "big dogs" are allowed tho'...the good thing is that there is an attendant there 24/7. The dogs are never left alone, which makes me feel better.

Jeff

[stardeb55]

Sande, I boarded Barkley & Harley together at my vet's, any time I would leave town, over a period of several years. The last time I did this, after B's Cush diagnosis, B got so stressed out, that he ended up with a case of ulcerative gastritis, on multiple meds to get this healed up. What really ticked me off is that I had been calling to check on them every few days, the vet techs did tell me that B had a few problems which the vets felt were stress related, but everything was under control. I asked them more than once, do I need to come home. The answer was always no. When I picked them up, found all of this out, & got sent home with a bag of pills for B, that was the last time any of my dogs have boarded. I found a pet sitter, so they can stay at home since all of this happened.

Debbie

[Bagel's Mom]

Thank you all for your candid accounts...HOW AWFUL, John!!

Bagel and my other beagle who lived to be 18 were boarded together at this place I use. They always came home happy and well rested.
When Bagel was 4, three disks blew in her back for no reason..and she had back surgery and I slept on the couch above her crate for 30 days!!

A month later, my son and I were fortunate enough to join my NAVY brother in Germany for 10 days at Christmas. We already had the tickets so I boarded her there at this kennel again and they spoiled her so much.

They have three play yards, baby listener devices and their house is through the woods from the kennel. They have cameras all day that project all kennels and the dogs can have 24 hour access to outside if they like. The doggies get office time daily with the owners and they have a vet on call 24/7.
She loves them and I know they aren't Mommy, but they are really good to her. The owner is my age and has offered me a job there when I retire from teaching!
I just wondered if the stress of being away from me would be bad for her now... I don't go away much- just to visit my brother in TN about twice a year for 4 or 5 days- but this time I am very hesitant.
Some things to think about for sure.
Sande

[Bagel's Mom]

PS our vet is inside a little village township and they don't allow boarding there b/c it is too close to homes. However..I might find one of the techs we love who would pet sit !!

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi Sande,

The owner is my age and has offered me a job there when I retire from teaching!


If you do decide to take a job there, then is the oppoturnity to take Bagel with you on the job feasible? It would give Bagel a chance to really become familiar with the kennel and all it's going ons. Bagel might consider the kennel a second home? Just a thought on my part.

Harley and Lori

[Roxee'sDad]

Hi Sande,
Your kennels sounds like one of the good ones and run by compasionate dog lovers. It really makes a difference.
John (Roxee's Dad)

[Bagel's Mom]

Unfortunately I can't retire and go work there for another two years...but Bagel does love them there at the kennel and I do trust them...but staying at home in your own place is always better I know!!