Hair loss, excessive thirst...? - Page 2

Barkley · #13 16th February 2012, 09:32 PM

OMG...and, Elaine! I am so sorry to hear your girl has cancer! Geez! I got so wrapped up in my own worries for a minute there that I ignored yours, which are worse!! How old is she? I hope you are able to keep her comfy and happy until she is ready for her next journey. I know with an 8 and 9 year old that we will be dealing with this kind of thing soon enough, but I have to say...I am just not ready. These are my babies, who have been with us almost our entire marriage, two Stateside moves, and two international ones. Since we have been overseas, they are my constant companions, since I am not working. I hope you get good quality time with your girl!

Thanks again for you help and kindness!
Best,
Jenn

EAO76 · #14 17th February 2012, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkley

OMG...and, Elaine! I am so sorry to hear your girl has cancer! Geez! I got so wrapped up in my own worries for a minute there that I ignored yours, which are worse!! How old is she? I hope you are able to keep her comfy and happy until she is ready for her next journey. I know with an 8 and 9 year old that we will be dealing with this kind of thing soon enough, but I have to say...I am just not ready. These are my babies, who have been with us almost our entire marriage, two Stateside moves, and two international ones. Since we have been overseas, they are my constant companions, since I am not working. I hope you get good quality time with your girl!

Thanks again for you help and kindness!
Best,
Jenn

Thanks & no worries. She is actually doing really well right now so I almost forget she is sick. I hope it continues. Keep us posted on your boy!

Barkley · #15 17th February 2012, 01:24 PM

Well. Somewhat comforting vet visit this afternoon. First, cytology came back all clear, which is of course a HUGE relief. Past that, I think the vet thinks I'm nuts, with the degree of my worry. We decided to start conservatively, with a urine test and blood test, to rule out Cushing's (or not, in which case we move forward with other tests) and to check his kidney function. Doc said he is most concerned about kidney function at this point, as has had other Boxers in the past who have had adverse reactions to anesthetic that caused major kidney problems. One, in particular, who had kidney failure. He was not worried about that degree of problem with Jordan, because aside from the water consumption he's doing fine....eating, playful, etc. So, we get those test results back midday tomorrow and will go from there. For now, I am, to a degree, mollified by the thorough exam and reassurance from the vet. Again...thanks to all, and I will continue to keep you posted.

Jenn

Gatorblu · #16 17th February 2012, 04:10 PM

So glad the cytology came back clear! I am sure your vet doesn't think you're nuts. It sounds like he is handling your concern properly. He is running the test and not dismissing you. Sending lots of posititve ((((vibes)))) and I hope you get some answers soon.

Barkley · #17 18th February 2012, 05:10 AM

Hey, All...

Just got off the phone with the vet, who said that he still thinks the excessive water consumption is due to the anesthesia and that we should wait this out a few days. He was actually able to rule out Cushing's, though, as his cortisol levels were normal. Red/white cells were normal, sugars were normal, proteins normal. There were two somewhat elevated kidney tests. Urea is supposed to be between 9-29 and was 33.6, creatinine (sp?) is supposed to be no higher than 1.4 and his was 1.8. He said this isn't cause for alarm, is consistent with his idea that it's due to the anesthesia from his surgery, and that it's safe to wait it out a few days and see if the drinking subsides. It's too early just yet to call my (wicked smart, nurse) Mom back home, but I am inclined at this point to trust the vet's judgment, pending approval from her, since she was the one who first suggested to me that the anesthetic could be the culprit.

If that's the case, then I guess we are back to his appetite issues and hair loss being unexplained phenomena for now. This vet is new to us, and I know that he is looking at Jordan through the lens of the physical exams he's done, his recovery so far from the surgery, and all of the tests, and he is thinking this is a perfectly healthy dog with a somewhat paranoid Mom. I, on the other hand, know that his coat used to be much thicker and am left wondering if I am, in fact, overreacting or if I should press the issue. The appetite issue, viewed separately from everything else, doesn't bother me as much, because he has always been a bit of a trash-can. Viewed together with the drinking and hair loss, it was more significant. Soooo....your thoughts, anyone? If the excess drinking tapers and we're back to a thinner (but still healthy) coat and a pup with a taste for horse biscuits and Kleenex....do I just drop it? His behavior is fine...as soon as we got back from the vet last night, which I assume had to have been stressful for him, he called his Daddy out for their nightly wrestling match just like he always does.

Sorry this is so long. I'd love to hear your thoughts. For now, I am cautiously optimistic.

Best,
Jenn

Barkley · #18 6th March 2012, 05:20 AM

Soooo...fast forward a couple of weeks...

Jordan has healed up nicely from his nip/tuck surgery, but I have still had a nagging feeling about the hair loss and ridiculous appetite/tissue eating, etc., as well as those bumps in his neck. We have a new-ish vet here in town and I stopped by on a whim just now, to see if she speaks English. She does, and after listening patiently to our recent history and my list of concerns, she asked me to run home and get him. Two hours later, lo and behold, he has a thyroid problem that explains the thirst/hunger and hair loss issues, and she also did a needle aspiration of those bumps in his neck, too, which revealed that they are fat (possibly because of the thyroid problem), not the horrible things I've been imagining. That's the first experience I've had with a vet who has a lab right there in her office, btw...how awesome was that, not to have to wait for any test results?! I also noticed an ultrasound machine sitting in a corner....this lady seems pretty squared away!

So now, we have medication to fix the problem, I am no longer making up nightmare scenarios in my head about those neck bumps, AND we have a brand new vet that I actually like AND can communicate with!! Today, my friends, has been a very good day. I got out to the car and broke down sobbing, such was the relief. I just KNEW something wasn't right!!

Thanks again for all of the support and advice...it's proven invaluable!! Cami - you were spot on about the full thyroid panel!! I'm so glad I listened to my instinct and went for a second opinion!!

Barkley · #19 5th April 2012, 09:38 AM

Aaaaannnnddd...here I am again. Turns out, new vet did NOT do a full thyroid panel. She just found that his total thyroxin was .8, which is under the normal 1-4 range, and put him on medication. Fast forward a month, and we have had an inconclusive ACTH test for Cushing's, as well as an ultrasound that shows a slightly enlarged adrenal gland. She has diagnosed Cushing's, but it is clear to me that she is not confident and is going 100% textbook. He had a urine test a month before this that test conclusively NOT Cushing's, and a month ago his thryoxin tested at 1.6, so within normal.

Vet wants to put him on Cushing's meds, which are very serious and not to be trifled with, so I am awaiting a phone consult with our old vet in SC tomorrow sometime, to get his opinion and to ask some questions where there is no language barrier. If not for the slightly enlarged adrenal gland, I would be thinking thyroid tumor or something of the like, with his level dropping so much in just one month.

I'm at a loss here, and my boy feels like he is starving to death ALL OF THE TIME. Can anyone offer some advice or suggestions?

Thanks,
Jenn

EAO76 · #20 5th April 2012, 11:02 AM

Its not that unusual to diagnose thyroid without doing the full panel. My last foster had all the symptoms of low thyroid (hair loss, skin problems, etc) and her t4 came back at the low end of normal so we started her on a low dose of soloxine and it made a world of difference. So some of vets DO diagnose without the full panel. As far as cushings goes its common to get inconclusive results. My vet explained to me that its a pretty difficult disease to diagnose and can often take multiple tests. But your dogs symptoms do seem to lean towards a cushings diagnose. I think your smart to speak to your vet in the states but it doesn't sound like your current vet is doing anything wrong.

Barkley · #21 5th April 2012, 11:26 AM

No, I understand she is following normal protocol. It is just frustrating that due to language barrier, I thought she had done something more than she did. My main question right now is...how alarmed should I be at the t4 dropping from 1.6 to .8 inside of four weeks? Has anyone here seen that before with Cushing's or anything else? Thanks!

EAO76 · #22 5th April 2012, 02:09 PM

Its dropping even though he is on meds? What dose is he getting and what brand?

Barkley · #23 5th April 2012, 11:16 PM

Sorry. I wasn't very clear. It hasn't been tested yet since he's been on the meds - we're planning to do that next week. When he was originally tested, on 2 February, it was 1.6, then on 6 March it was down to .8 and he was put on soloxine.

I'm going to speak with our Stateside vet today and get some advice. Hopefully he'll be able to help clear this up.

Thanks for the input...I will report back.

Best,
Jenn