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Originally Posted by momofreese  I am on Long Island about thirty minutes outside of Manhattan. I see a couple of the specialists you have recommended who I am going to call tomorrow. I was just reading a ton of information on the "starter kit" of the yahoo group. Already it has calmed me down, or at least confirms that the behaviors that I have been noticing of Reese is part of the cushings. Everyone and I mean everyone, who I had asked about her recent fears of going from my bedroom to the kitchen, which isn't too far. At each passed room she will literally look up at the lightswitch to remind me to put it on, regardless of whether or not it is pitch black, semi dark or completely bright. As I said she is now completely scared of eating out of her bowl, that is at least five years old. She jumps backwards and will leave her room to get me to either hand feed, place on floor or put on a dish of her liking 1, 2 or 3. My vet laughed, although I do not find this the slightest humorous. She seems to fear everything. Now she is bending down to urinate but will run around on the pad slapping her ears around. Yesterday I thought she had an ear infection again, and it was a little red, but now I believe it is red from wrestling her head back and forth on the wood floor or pad. She seems so depressed and all she wants to do is sleep. Again, she was never too fond of any "hobbies" i.e. knitting, just kidding, but she never wanted to do much other than go out for a car ride and a trip to Home goods, marhsalls or tj maxx, which have wagons where people can come over to make a fuss over her, is the BEST! But now she has no interest in anything and it is making me so depressed and anxious as well.
I am afraid to start her on the royal canine (sp) hypo hydrolized protein food until I see a specialist as well as the anti anxiety pill doxepin. I was even afraid to add both new items together and called my vet back to confirm that was okay. I am sure he LOVED hearing me second guess him, once again.
I thank you for all of your research for me, you are like the cliff notes of the yahoo group which is much appreciated. There is so much information that I am trying to take too much in at once.
By the way I was also told by two vets that she does not have cataracts, thankfully, which I thought was the original reason why she was fearing the breakfast and dinner walk, as well as her fear of the bowl of food. They did confirm that she had the "normal" deterioation of 10 year old eyes, but she followed them, as well as passed my cotton ball test!
I will contact one of those drs you had listed and keep you updated. Thank you soooo much.
Randy |
You are so welcome, Randy
. Believe me, I understand exactly what you're feeling - Cushings is so overwhelming. Just know that you *will* get her to the right place, you really will. It can take a lot of time though, that's the hard part. I think it took us a good year (after diagnosis) to get Wylie's meds titrated correctly for the AC, and that's normal bc you have keep retesting (ACTH) to see where the cortisol is at.
Just a thought...is her hearing okay? Could that be why she's scared? Does she still like to play at all, or has that too taken a back seat?
Maybe she really could benefit from the Doxepin...but maybe the Internist will have some add'l ideas too, and they may want use something else for anxiety depending on which med you go with for the AC. Have you tried a DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) collar at all? They prob don't work for all dogs, but for some they work very well. Poor girl, I feel bad for her...and I feel frustrated for you bc you're feeling helpless
.
As far as the info on the yahoo group - there is a TON as you're prob finding out
. It won't all sink in at once...just take it as it comes, and eventually it all comes together later. One area that was really helpful for me was that folder that is *just* for AtypCush info - that's where I learned the most.
Hang in there
!