Kelly_Louise

Thyroid/cushings? Does make weight hard to control.

I think first step is to determine what the real cause of the arthritis is. If it means getting a referral to a specialist - then so be it, but if you feel something is not right then keep being persistant. My experience taught me that if joint problems aren't caught fast, they deteriorate very, very quickly.

Highly recommend Animal Referral Hospital in Strathfield too if you are coming this way. Seen Chloe through 2 orthapedic surgeries, and now take care of her cushings disease!! They've been lifesavers for my old girl.

No sorry I don't - but there are some great ones in Sydney Perhaps ask your normal vet for a referral?

Amen to that!!!

Thank you Charles, as always very interesting. Yes I do agree with your comments on aftercare etc. It does make a difference, as does finding a surgeon you are comfortable with I think. I was very lucky and had very few issues, and would trust our specialist and the nurses and staff there with Chloe's life. To me, he is a saviour because everyone else (mind you we were very panicked)... but all the follow ups were good and very informative. The aftercare was precarious, and sometimes draining, but the few weeks of immense effort were more than worth the fabulous results we got and the way my girl can run freely again. I know not everyone is a fan of surgery... I know my mum wasn't either. She thought it very cruel to put an older dog through 2 surgeries and have her confined for so long. But the alternative was bleak and I wasn't prepared to watch her suffer everyday, so we gave it a shot and if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change a thing.

Glad to hear that Fraser is on the mend... fingers crossed it stays that way. Charles, I am interested in the difference between a TPLO and a TWO. Are they similar as they appear to be similar in some aspects? The specialist surgeon that operated on Chloe did not offer us TPLO as an option, just the tibial wedge osteotomy which to me was the closest to a TPLO. Also, we were given the option of a new surgery at the time (2 years ago) that was still in testing stage where they inserted some sort of rod/plate that had a spring in it or similar. I have no idea what it was called, or exactly how it worked... just wondering if you had heard of that and if there had been any results of longer term testing? I haven't heard of anyone's dogs having such a surgery so it doesn't seem to have taken off (thank goodness I said no). Thanks!

Yep Sasha's Blend has some sort of cartilage I think, and green lipped mussells etc. I also bought some Osteocare biscuits that have cartilage in it as well. Not sure about these or how effective they are, but my girls love them. Very good for joints, or so it has been for Chloe - and none of her legs are much chop... so it gets her though. I found that the best thing is Cartrophen injections, usually once a week for four weeks will get her through literally months of freer movement. The reason I ask about toileting is that my girl also out of nowhere starting drinking ALOT, urinating excessively, and showed signs of incontinence that she'd NEVER done before, and her belly bloated. Her coat went downhill and her skin starting drying and pigmenting to a blackish colour. She was later diagnosed with Cushings... I think when they get to this age, there symptoms should be looked at as a whole, instead of random 'age related' problems. Only a vet would probably be able to tell you for sure. I hope she feels better soon. She's so lovely.

Bambi is the most adorable little thing. I do hope that her health issues get sorted quickly. Regarding the vomitting/hair and coat issues.... have you noticed anything different with her eating/drinking/urination patterns? It could be any number of things from a UTI to something more sinister.... which we all hope it is not. I use Sasha's Blend for relief of arthritis (along with Cartrophen injections) and they have kept Chloe's complaints under control for the last few years. Sasha's Blend/Joint Guard or some other joint supplement should not hurt your girl, and you may hopefully see a slight improvement. Hopefully a few tests will indicate all her problems and you can get her on the mend. She's a lovely little girl, I can see how she stole your heart. Take care.

My old girl has a combination of Cartophen injections (that work wonders) periodically throughout the year, I give her Sasha's Blend for a supplement (along with some joint care biscuits - Osteocare or something), and she has Previcox tablets for really bad days when she's way over done it, they work quickly and don't have much side effects. It's seen her through many years of arthritis, unconfirmed mild elbow dysplasia since puppyhood, and 2 cruciate ligament surgeries. Her joints are shot, but you'd barely notice. She does not do high impact exercise (she's quite lazy now anyway) and hasn't for many years - which is tough for a ball loving ACD, but we substitute for anything that won't hurt her joints and she got used to it. Even if that means long lazy walks in the grass/sand/soft surface rather than quick walks on cement paths. She gets rest breaks during her walk as well. Swimming is good too. I also bought her a Pet Step for stairs, but she doesn't use it and doesn't really need to. She takes a run up and zips up them. But it is good to have for places we can't get her up to or can't lift her.

Only different because I think she has found a permanent place she fits into, somewhere to call home and has let down her guard, let go of her fears. She still loves her cuddles and kisses (yes will attempt to sit in my LAP) and will lean on you for hours if you let her. But she still has that devilish streak, I know you know that look that I mean. You can reliably predict when she is about to be naughty. No poker face there. Bitty I did notice that a few days ago on their website regarding the pink mats. I think you just have to follow a certain extra procedure and they will function normally with no dye problems? Thanks for the advice for my old arthritic girl... will check them out!!

Thanks for the suggestions/recommendations guys, I'm googling them all to see what might suit Sashy better!! Hi Bartok, Yep she certainly does have her own shell pool... but for some reason she won't go in it. Might dip her feet in now and then, but has to be really revved up to actually get in it. I've been filling it up for her regardless, but she only seems to think it's a big water bowl to drink from. I've also been filling her up buckets of water for her to dunk her whole snout into, you know how she loves doing the whole submarine thing and blowing snot in it. And I put in a sandy part in the cool shade against the house and I wet that down for her on hot days. Plus she loves lying on the tiles in the air con, but she gets uncomfy and goes back outside anyway. I guess there's not alot more I can do, but I just thought maybe a cooling mat might help to take the edge off. Not sure if she'd even like it, but it's just another thing I could try. But she's doing so well, no one can believe the difference in her. She's growing in confidence and getting really cheeky - and is always tagging along behind one of us wherever we go. We've been working on training and she's learning really fast. She's made escape attempts a couple of times when Michael has opened the garage roller door, and she thinks it's a lovely game of chasing. Although she knows it's naughty and comes home with her head down, thoroughly ashamed of herself. She loves the lake and the ducks, although not the swans who hiss at her menacingly. She's just a really fantastic dog and we are loving having her as part of the family. Everyone who visits is instantly in love. She is great with my 17 month old nephew - about the same height as him and follows him around fascinated and is so patient, even when he's pegging her toys at her. She trips up the nieces/nephews with her long gangly legs sometimes, but is always there to offer a kiss and to help clean up any food they drop!! Anyway, just thought you might like an update on how she's going. Can't imagine how we survived without her now!!!

I remember reading when you lost your avatar girl... it was very sad. It's hard because no one else in my family understands the disease, and if I explain it fully, they would only panic - they worry about her terribly. They know she has to have her medication, and follow it religiously. They know she must have testing - but don't really understand why it all happens - and why she isn't perfectly healthy now that she has her meds, and the specialist keeps telling us all her levels are exactly where they should be and appear to be stable. If only it was that easy...

Well then, looks like Dr Jean Dodds is the way to go. I have actually sent them an email this morning so hopefully will have things moving soon after I've discussed a few things with Chloe's specialist. I realise that Cushings is a volatile disease, and we'll always be fighting it. But I just want to know for SURE, that nothing else is going on. I just feel that there is something, nothing disasterous as she is really well in herself, but just not right. What I actually dream for though, is a quick fix that will make her 100% well again and not have these setbacks and annoying symptoms.... I know it's not possible, but I just wish for her sake that there was. She's been through enough in the past 3 years. You can't believe how much more grey she is everyday, her face is almost completely white now. Breaks my heart.

Thanks Erny. Also, thank you for that information - people would have no idea that Australia does not have the lab facilities to give the same accuracy/details of results. Learn something new everyday... in fact, probably not many people would know that at all. Will keep you all updated. In the meantime, my old girl marches on stoically.

Me too... when Sasha's bones resurface I usually have to take them away cause I can't stand the smell. But she will happily munch them - she won't touch them when they are fresh. Same with Chloe. She undug one the other day in the heat and left it in the sun, when I picked it up with a wretching stomach after work, it had maggots on the underside, but she still wanted it and gave me the sad eyes for taking it away. Goodness knows how much she had eaten before I got home. She scoffed rotten chicken one day at the park on our walk before I could get to her.... No big dramas, no rush to the vet required. I don't think I would feed her REALLY off meat, only at worst if it's slightly iffy/borderline. But she'd eat it regardless.

Thank you for the advice guys! Much appreciated. I think I will investigate Dr Jean Dodds further, but of course I want to keep Chloe's specialist in the loop. Cushings is such an expensive disease... so sometimes you want to be sure that something is wrong or possible before dragging her through all the tests again. Seems to be a very common torture routine for her these days. Poor bugger. Her skin is pigmenting though... so it's either her cushings playing up, or what I suspect to be thyroid issues. She is not unwell as such, but I just know that something is not 100% right. And no one knows your dog like you. Cushings is exhausting... so unpredictable etc. I just want her to be well so she can at least live out the last few years of her life in relative peace and happiness.

Hi everyone, Just wanting to know if it is common for thyroid function to be affected with Cushinoids? Perhaps leading to hypothyroidism? I have been doing some research as we are having alot of trouble keeping weight off Chloe (and have for some time). She just seems to balloon and having her Cushings under control nicely I would have thought we would have seen the effects of the weight gain. Also the skin around her groin area was pigmented a few days ago (kind of like it was when she first had cushings where the skin blackened) - but her levels from her last test are perfect. Seeing she has pituitary dependant cushings, I was thinking it's a possibility that she may also be suffering from thyroid issues? Does anyone know if they check thyroid function when do the test for Cushings? I will definitely be speaking to her specialist about this as well, but just wanted to know if anyone had more info before I go off rambling LOL. Thank you!

I have recently discovered that Sasha prefers her chicken necks frozen, entirely by mistake (I had a few that were still frozen, and thinking that as usual she wouldn't eat them straight away anyway and give them time to thaw, of course she ate them immediately and has ever since). Fortunately there don't seem to have been any ill side effects at this point, and it certainly got her eating on our hot hot days.

Yes that's what I'm afraid of, that it would aggrevate my old girls arthritis which is why I've never bought one for her. For Sasha though who is young and arthritis free (I hope), sounds like the CoolChamps one would be better for her... less for her to complain about. She may never use it but at least I"ve tried LOL. Thank you!

Yes that's what I'm afraid of, that she'll hate it, but I have to do something so I'lm prepared to give it a shot at this stage. The CoolChamp one says it doesn't use gels etc so maybe that would be more comfortable?

Sashy is not dealing well with the heat, so I want to buy her a cooling mat. I was looking at the CoolChampions K9 Cooling Mat (expensive but looks good), does anyone have any opinions or suggestions on the most effective cooling mat available? Possibly one that is ok for arthritis suffering dogs as well please? There is one on Ebay that claims to be the best and orthopaedic but I just want one that works the best to help my girls get through summer a bit easier. They all claim to be the best. Thank you!

Lucky you!!! Perhaps I'll borrow one of the dogs next door, she might let one of them clean them out

Yes I have thought that maybe she's sensed it. When I 'imitate' and play with her ears we are both usually relaxed etc. So, you're probably spot on Luke. I have thought that maybe she is fine to continue how she is, but they are just getting grubby and I don't want any infections. I've not had a dog with folded down ears before (only ACD's who rarely needed ear cleaning and never seemed to get grotty ears). I just assumed I SHOULD be doing it. But I will persist with all the ideas given. thank you I think if I follow the treats, application technique and perhaps a relaxed atmosphere maybe just play with her ears first instead of trying to jump right in. Oh, and perhaps having OH on hand, a two person job should get us somewhere LOL.

Wow, that's dedication to hide for 3 hours LOL. Sasha just runs and runs. When I do manage to get her to stop, she will keep pushing my hands away and pull her head and shake it, generally throw a tanty. I buy the best of food, almost sends me broke... which she will turn her nose up at usually, but will happily scoff poo from any other animal, or any scraps/rubbish etc that we come across on our walks - if I'm not fast enough to spot and avoid (SOMETIMES if she knows she's in trouble she will drop it). Totally embarassing people must think I don't feed her and she's a garbage dog!!!