I have just posted on my regular blog, Musings of a Montana Mountain Woman, an article which is as much about Cushing's as it is about my life and times in Montana.
Please go to EXERCISE, ELIXIR OF LIFE
to read the article.
Kinsey Barnard
Friday, September 21, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
SUPRAGLAN DISSAPOINTS PETCO DOESN'T
We have have been using the Supraglan now for seven weeks and I have to say I'm not impressed with the results thus far.
Most of the reviews that I have read on the Supraglan and other products talk about how their pets energy has returned. Koty's has never left. The trouble is he is still thirsty, still voraciously hungry, and still losing his hair. His belly is still distended and hard as a rock. It's the belly that troubles me because I believe this is a sure sign there is a problem with liver function.
Two weeks ago I added milk thistle to the regimen so far there hasn't been much in the way of improvement accept that it seems his belly is tighter on some days than others.
Yesterday we traveled down to the Flathead for supplies. We stopped in at Petco. Koty just loves going in there. When I tell him we're going to Petco where the pets go Koty goes wild. I was there to see if they had any products with SAMe and to check for his oatmeal cookies. Those cookies smell so good I'm tempted to eat them myself.
Before entering the store I took Koty for a walk. Yet, no sooner did we get in the front door than he let loose a torrent. He just stood there with a blank look and it just drained out of him. How he still had that much water still inside him I cannot imagine. I have to hand it to the Petco crew they were extremely nice about it. I was able to get the cookies but no luck on the SAMe. I had to go on line to find what is available for dogs.
I have now ordered something called Denestra. Denestra has SAMe in it. SAMe is supposed to support liver function. Many people have apparently had good results with it for their pets. I'm not as optimistic as I was when I started with the Supraglan. I was so sure Supraglan would fix everything. I guess I just wanted so badly for it to be true.
Will post again after I have given the Denestra for at least a couple of weeks. Unless there is something important to say.
©Kinsey Barnard
Most of the reviews that I have read on the Supraglan and other products talk about how their pets energy has returned. Koty's has never left. The trouble is he is still thirsty, still voraciously hungry, and still losing his hair. His belly is still distended and hard as a rock. It's the belly that troubles me because I believe this is a sure sign there is a problem with liver function.
Two weeks ago I added milk thistle to the regimen so far there hasn't been much in the way of improvement accept that it seems his belly is tighter on some days than others.
Yesterday we traveled down to the Flathead for supplies. We stopped in at Petco. Koty just loves going in there. When I tell him we're going to Petco where the pets go Koty goes wild. I was there to see if they had any products with SAMe and to check for his oatmeal cookies. Those cookies smell so good I'm tempted to eat them myself.
Before entering the store I took Koty for a walk. Yet, no sooner did we get in the front door than he let loose a torrent. He just stood there with a blank look and it just drained out of him. How he still had that much water still inside him I cannot imagine. I have to hand it to the Petco crew they were extremely nice about it. I was able to get the cookies but no luck on the SAMe. I had to go on line to find what is available for dogs.
I have now ordered something called Denestra. Denestra has SAMe in it. SAMe is supposed to support liver function. Many people have apparently had good results with it for their pets. I'm not as optimistic as I was when I started with the Supraglan. I was so sure Supraglan would fix everything. I guess I just wanted so badly for it to be true.
Will post again after I have given the Denestra for at least a couple of weeks. Unless there is something important to say.
©Kinsey Barnard
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
CUSHINGS UPDATE 12/22/11
Things are looking a lot better than they were just a week ago.
Last week I was pretty down in the dumps about the progress my dog was making. Two to four weeks is the normal time dogs start to respond to the Supraglan and my dog was showing nothing. Not one to fiddle whilst Rome burns I got back on the internet and started doing more research on what else might be out there for my dog.
One thing I noticed on the Supraglan ingredients, there was no milk thistle listed. I do know milk thistle supports liver function and my dog's abdomen has been bloated as hard as a rock which I took to mean liver troubles. I also learned that Omega 3's are helpful in preventing diabetes and also is good for healthy skin and hair. The Cushing's has caused my dog's coat to become dull and he has lost a good deal of hair altogether. He almost has no undercoat whatsoever. Cushing's also has been known to be a contributing cause of diabetes.
Last week, I started giving my dog milk thistle tincture in his water and ground flaxseed in his meals. Of course, I have know way of knowing if what I have added to his regimen is the reason but finally my dog is showing signs of improvement. What I have noted thus far is that his belly is not has hard or bloated, his thirst has lessened by about a cup of water per day. As one would expect his need to go out has lessened. More importantly he is going all night without having to be let out. His appetite seems slightly less. He cleans his bowl but doesn't do it all at once. Koty has never lost his energy or joi de vivre and that remains strong.
This week I am very encouraged. I feel we are finally on the right track and making progress. It's going to be a much merrier Christmas than I thought it was going to be last week.
©Kinsey Barnard
Last week I was pretty down in the dumps about the progress my dog was making. Two to four weeks is the normal time dogs start to respond to the Supraglan and my dog was showing nothing. Not one to fiddle whilst Rome burns I got back on the internet and started doing more research on what else might be out there for my dog.
One thing I noticed on the Supraglan ingredients, there was no milk thistle listed. I do know milk thistle supports liver function and my dog's abdomen has been bloated as hard as a rock which I took to mean liver troubles. I also learned that Omega 3's are helpful in preventing diabetes and also is good for healthy skin and hair. The Cushing's has caused my dog's coat to become dull and he has lost a good deal of hair altogether. He almost has no undercoat whatsoever. Cushing's also has been known to be a contributing cause of diabetes.
Last week, I started giving my dog milk thistle tincture in his water and ground flaxseed in his meals. Of course, I have know way of knowing if what I have added to his regimen is the reason but finally my dog is showing signs of improvement. What I have noted thus far is that his belly is not has hard or bloated, his thirst has lessened by about a cup of water per day. As one would expect his need to go out has lessened. More importantly he is going all night without having to be let out. His appetite seems slightly less. He cleans his bowl but doesn't do it all at once. Koty has never lost his energy or joi de vivre and that remains strong.
This week I am very encouraged. I feel we are finally on the right track and making progress. It's going to be a much merrier Christmas than I thought it was going to be last week.
©Kinsey Barnard
Friday, December 16, 2011
CUSHINGS UPDATE 12/15/11
The news is not good. It has now been four weeks since we began the Supraglan regimen and Koty is still not responding. If anything he he gone backwards as he has not made it through the night once in the past week without having to be let out.
I spoke with the folks at Pet Well being and they confirmed most dogs respond within two to four weeks. They offered to refund my money. I prefer to continue a little longer whilst I try and see if there is anything else we can try. One commenter said they had had luck with milk thistle and Sam-e. I wish there was a way to reach that person to find out more about it.
What's so strange is that Koty did seem to be making progress about two weeks out and then suddenly the progress stopped and reversed.
Koty, as ever, seems none the worse for the wear. He is still full of enthusiasm and pep.
©Kinsey Barnard
I spoke with the folks at Pet Well being and they confirmed most dogs respond within two to four weeks. They offered to refund my money. I prefer to continue a little longer whilst I try and see if there is anything else we can try. One commenter said they had had luck with milk thistle and Sam-e. I wish there was a way to reach that person to find out more about it.
What's so strange is that Koty did seem to be making progress about two weeks out and then suddenly the progress stopped and reversed.
Koty, as ever, seems none the worse for the wear. He is still full of enthusiasm and pep.
©Kinsey Barnard
Thursday, December 8, 2011
CUSHING'S UPDATE 12/08/11
It has now been three weeks since we began the Supraglan treatment. I'm disappointed to have to report I haven't been able to observe any changes in Koty. He's still thirsty, still piddles commensurate with thirst. His appetite has not diminished and his hair is still falling out.
On a positive note he still appears to be happy healthy and full of energy. This is good because cushingoid dogs are prone to various infections. They are also predisposed to developing hypothyroidism, pancreatitis, diabetes, seizures, hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots (thromboembolism), and liver and kidney failure.
As long as Koty is happy and energetic logic tells me those things that the Cushing's may cause are being held in abeyance for the time being.
©Kinsey Barnard
On a positive note he still appears to be happy healthy and full of energy. This is good because cushingoid dogs are prone to various infections. They are also predisposed to developing hypothyroidism, pancreatitis, diabetes, seizures, hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots (thromboembolism), and liver and kidney failure.
As long as Koty is happy and energetic logic tells me those things that the Cushing's may cause are being held in abeyance for the time being.
©Kinsey Barnard
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
CUSHING'S UPDATE 11/30/11
It has been exactly two weeks since I started giving Koty the Supraglan. There have been some slight signs of improvement.
He is drinking a little less water, maybe a cup less. As one would expect he doesn’t have to go out to piddle quite as often. I also notice that his sense of urgency for both has moderated quite a bit. His urine now contains a little color whereas before the water was running in and out so fast it was completely clear. This I find most encouraging.
His appetite has moderated just a bit. I have continued to give him his normal portions which he has been gobbling up in one sitting. Now he is back to leaving some for later which is more normal. Not every time but every now and again.
His abdomen which has been distended and hard as a rock seems to have softened just a little.
Sadly, he continues to lose his beautiful coat. He hardly has any undercoat left at all. The undercoat is what makes these dogs so resistant to cold.
The best thing I can say about Koty’s brand of Cushing’s is he hasn’t a clue there is a thing in the world wrong with him. He is happy as a clam and full of get up and go as always. For us it is all about quality of life not quantity. Right now our quality is great. We are hiking every day come snow or come sun. Living each day to the fullest. Now that hunting season has concluded the hiking is a lot more pleasant for both of us. I worry about one of us getting shot by an eager beaver with buck fever. Koty is gun shy and wants to head for the barn at the first crack of a rifle.
For anyone leaving a comment I would ask that you sign up to be informed of additional comments. That way if I or anyone else has a question about your comment we can get word to you and vice versa.
©Kinsey Barnard
He is drinking a little less water, maybe a cup less. As one would expect he doesn’t have to go out to piddle quite as often. I also notice that his sense of urgency for both has moderated quite a bit. His urine now contains a little color whereas before the water was running in and out so fast it was completely clear. This I find most encouraging.
His appetite has moderated just a bit. I have continued to give him his normal portions which he has been gobbling up in one sitting. Now he is back to leaving some for later which is more normal. Not every time but every now and again.
His abdomen which has been distended and hard as a rock seems to have softened just a little.
Sadly, he continues to lose his beautiful coat. He hardly has any undercoat left at all. The undercoat is what makes these dogs so resistant to cold.
The best thing I can say about Koty’s brand of Cushing’s is he hasn’t a clue there is a thing in the world wrong with him. He is happy as a clam and full of get up and go as always. For us it is all about quality of life not quantity. Right now our quality is great. We are hiking every day come snow or come sun. Living each day to the fullest. Now that hunting season has concluded the hiking is a lot more pleasant for both of us. I worry about one of us getting shot by an eager beaver with buck fever. Koty is gun shy and wants to head for the barn at the first crack of a rifle.
For anyone leaving a comment I would ask that you sign up to be informed of additional comments. That way if I or anyone else has a question about your comment we can get word to you and vice versa.
©Kinsey Barnard
Sunday, November 20, 2011
MANAGING IN HOME ACCIDENTS
As mentioned in Where We Are and How We Got Here, one of the symptoms of Cushing’s is a dog suddenly urinating in the house when that not its usual style. This problem can be a symptom of other diseases besides Cushing’s. This website lists a number of medical situations where this might occur. Koty has already tested positive for Cushing’s so we know the source of our problem.
It was so strange when it started and so out of character. Koty never had to be house trained he knew the right thing to do even as a puppy. Before getting Cushing’s I never paid much attention to this area of his life because he always notified me if he needed assistance from me to tend to personal duties. He is so fastidious that when we are out hiking he always leaves the trail to poop. Koty would no more poop on a trail or a sidewalk than fly to the moon. So fastidious is he, when we are in civilization, it is almost impossible for me to pick up after him because he is so careful to deposit his waste in a shrub or tall grass.
The vet I was originally using (see Where We Are and How We Got Here) just said this new piddling in the house behavior was probably dementia, that I should get him some diapers and take away his water at night. Dementia? My eye. Diapers? Maybe if all else fails. Withhold water at night? Yeah, right. Koty would twirl, bark and pound on my sleepy head all night long to have his thirst quenched.
The thing I didn’t get was he would ask very enthusiastically for water if his pan were dry but suddenly stopped asking to go outside to piddle. Instead he would just let it fly wherever he stood. I watched him on a couple of occasions simply look right at me whilst a veritable flood poured from his body. His expression, faraway and woeful.
My friend Holly Bailey suggested that I not give Koty all the water he wanted fearing that he would wear out his kidneys. I have since been advised by my new, and trusted vet, that you shouldn’t withhold water. So, I don’t withhold water per se. What I started doing was to mete the water out one cup at a time. Koty always gets water when the pan is empty and he asks for it but just one cup. He seems satisfied with that for about an hour or two.
Not long after I started measuring out the water he began asking to go out again. I also take him out before we go to bed whether he asks or not. Now he wakes me up if he needs to go out. Kind of a pain in the patookie but it beats wading through a puddle of piddle in the kitchen on the way to the coffee pot in the morning. One of the things I will be monitoring since we started the Supraglan is how much water he drinks and how often he has to go out. I’m looking for both to slow down.
I think this cup at a time works because Koty will drink up most of what I put in front of him right away. If I put down a full pan he’ll drink most of it. More than he really needs. I think the diseases makes him so thirsty he is a little crazed to get it. If I put down only a cup he will drink it all up and walk away. I think drinking too much at once puts too much pressure on the dog’s bladder it simply can’t handle it and the floodgates open. The poor pooch just can’t hold it or help it.
As a result of my one cup at a time system Koty has had only two accidents in the past two months. Both times it was because the regimen was broken. It may not work for all dogs and many owners won’t be able to do what I do because they can’t be with their pet twenty-four seven like I can with Koty.
If you can, I recommend you try it. How much water you give at a time will depend on the size of your dog. Koty weighs 65 pounds and a cup works for him. Each owner needs to find the measure that works best for their dog. The trick is to dole the water out instead of leaving a full pan.
This little trick, if it works for you, won’t help you or your dog with curing the disease but I learned as a caregiver to my mother, who had Alzheimer’s, anything you can do to relieve stress will benefit all concerned. A dog urinating all over the house is stressful no matter how much you love them.
One of the improvements I am looking for with the Supraglan is a lessening in the amount of water he drinks and hence a lessening in the need to go out. Koty only started the Supraglan four days ago so it may be coincidental, nevertheless he has gone through the night three nights in a row now without asking to be let out.
©Kinsey Barnard
It was so strange when it started and so out of character. Koty never had to be house trained he knew the right thing to do even as a puppy. Before getting Cushing’s I never paid much attention to this area of his life because he always notified me if he needed assistance from me to tend to personal duties. He is so fastidious that when we are out hiking he always leaves the trail to poop. Koty would no more poop on a trail or a sidewalk than fly to the moon. So fastidious is he, when we are in civilization, it is almost impossible for me to pick up after him because he is so careful to deposit his waste in a shrub or tall grass.
The vet I was originally using (see Where We Are and How We Got Here) just said this new piddling in the house behavior was probably dementia, that I should get him some diapers and take away his water at night. Dementia? My eye. Diapers? Maybe if all else fails. Withhold water at night? Yeah, right. Koty would twirl, bark and pound on my sleepy head all night long to have his thirst quenched.
The thing I didn’t get was he would ask very enthusiastically for water if his pan were dry but suddenly stopped asking to go outside to piddle. Instead he would just let it fly wherever he stood. I watched him on a couple of occasions simply look right at me whilst a veritable flood poured from his body. His expression, faraway and woeful.
My friend Holly Bailey suggested that I not give Koty all the water he wanted fearing that he would wear out his kidneys. I have since been advised by my new, and trusted vet, that you shouldn’t withhold water. So, I don’t withhold water per se. What I started doing was to mete the water out one cup at a time. Koty always gets water when the pan is empty and he asks for it but just one cup. He seems satisfied with that for about an hour or two.
Not long after I started measuring out the water he began asking to go out again. I also take him out before we go to bed whether he asks or not. Now he wakes me up if he needs to go out. Kind of a pain in the patookie but it beats wading through a puddle of piddle in the kitchen on the way to the coffee pot in the morning. One of the things I will be monitoring since we started the Supraglan is how much water he drinks and how often he has to go out. I’m looking for both to slow down.
I think this cup at a time works because Koty will drink up most of what I put in front of him right away. If I put down a full pan he’ll drink most of it. More than he really needs. I think the diseases makes him so thirsty he is a little crazed to get it. If I put down only a cup he will drink it all up and walk away. I think drinking too much at once puts too much pressure on the dog’s bladder it simply can’t handle it and the floodgates open. The poor pooch just can’t hold it or help it.
As a result of my one cup at a time system Koty has had only two accidents in the past two months. Both times it was because the regimen was broken. It may not work for all dogs and many owners won’t be able to do what I do because they can’t be with their pet twenty-four seven like I can with Koty.
If you can, I recommend you try it. How much water you give at a time will depend on the size of your dog. Koty weighs 65 pounds and a cup works for him. Each owner needs to find the measure that works best for their dog. The trick is to dole the water out instead of leaving a full pan.
This little trick, if it works for you, won’t help you or your dog with curing the disease but I learned as a caregiver to my mother, who had Alzheimer’s, anything you can do to relieve stress will benefit all concerned. A dog urinating all over the house is stressful no matter how much you love them.
One of the improvements I am looking for with the Supraglan is a lessening in the amount of water he drinks and hence a lessening in the need to go out. Koty only started the Supraglan four days ago so it may be coincidental, nevertheless he has gone through the night three nights in a row now without asking to be let out.
©Kinsey Barnard
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