Yesterday, July 16, 2019, after cutting some grass – I came into the porch area to put my grass blower and weed wacker away. It was about 7:27p. A storm was coming in… literally and figuratively. Walked up the little ramp that I had built for Shadow and Lukas was looking at me at the top of the ramp… his head was cocked and he was holding his left leg out (as to “give me 5”). I thought this might be the beginning of a seizure… so I tried to get him into the house/on the balcony… but he wouldn’t move – so we just sat down. I held him.

He shook/trembled some… he seemed awake and aware – but his muscles seemed “locked.” I looked at the time and it was 7:32p. His shaking stopped some 2 mins (actually about 1.5 minutes) but we stayed down until 7:35p. He eventually got up and moved as if nothing had happened.

In the house – I noticed that he had thrown up in the living room (I thought he had been eating “poop” while I was cutting the grass)… it was dark and liquidy. After he entered the house from the seizure he went to the dog dish and drank. He drank – not a ton of water though. He threw up two additional times in the next hour. Always the vomit was dark and watery. I chose not to feed him his dinner as I wanted his stomach to settled.

I thought to myself… is there anything that is “different” that would have brought this on? The only thing I thought of… I had placed a Glade “Plug In” in the dining room. It was giving off a pretty strong smell. Could this have triggered it? I don’t know but I took it down so not to have it going. In addition, I have decided to start the herb that he was on from Dr. Carlson. I have an appointment in a few weeks… and will ask him about it.

Oh Lukey…

Lukas was diagnosed with Atypical Cushings in late March, 2018, when his adrenal test – which was sent to the University of Tennessee – came back positive.  His symptoms started in November… went to the vet for his heavy panting while running in the weave poles (something that had never happened before); in January… for his excessive drinking of water; in March for his loss of hair on both sides of his shoulders.

I started him on melatonin initially – no lignans (as I didn’t realize I needed to start both).  Got a call from the vet regarding where I was getting my lignans (for another client)…  told them I hadn’t started that yet.  Read again – found out I should have been.  Thank God for the call – my guardian angel strikes again!!  On April 6, 2018 – he started on both Melatonin and Lignans (plus supplements… vitamins, omega 3, etc.).

We were on everything for two months before “Nationals” in June.  His drinking had lesson some.  His hair was thin…  but regrowing.  His skin is still thin.  His panting had not improved at all and his muscle mass… seemed a lot.

At Nationals – although it may have been due to heat – he was slow and lethargic through most the trail.  We did not q on a standard due to time faults.   This had never happened before.  Was it his Cushings or was it the heat?

Made an appointment at the vet for Tueday, June 12, 2018.  Shared the information.  Although the melatonin and lignans seemed to be making a dent… he still wasn’t “right.”  We decided to add Lysodren – 250 mg – every three or four days.  I went with every four days.  His first dose he received on June 13, 2018.  His second on June 17th.  His panting was still extreme.  Panted all night… all the time.  His third dose came on June 21.  I began to see changes.  His panting slowed and all but disappeared (panting at “appropriate” times).  At the trial June 23-24, he ran much better – more with energy.   Not like his old self… but with more energy (maybe it was me who was also running with energy).  He got home from the trial and actually started playing with Kaiden.  He hadn’t done that in a while.  He wanted to “wrestle” with me.  His look is different… more attentive.  Maybe the old Lukie was returning!!  I could only hope and pray!

Two people asked me – as I was stating my concern at the trial on June 23-24, 2018 – have you ever thought of retiring him or taking some time off.  I talked of his C-ATCH runs… I talked about how he loves running with me.

I wasn’t completely truthful.  Bottom line… it is me who loves running for the C-ATCH record and most important – it is that I love running with him.  I love knowing he almost can read my mind when we are on the course together.  I loves that connection!  It seems ever so selfish…  but I love being with him.

I will continue to monitor his progress.  Hopefully we are on the right track!!  Lukie I love ya…

Update:  Gave the fourth (4th) dose the evening (7:30p) of June 25, 2018.  His panting seemed to have reoccurred… at least for the moment.  He has slowed now (9:00p).

Lukas hasn’t been feeling well now for about four months… took him in November 6, 2017 since he had been panting heavily while in the weave poles.  Dr. examined him and couldn’t find any issue with his lungs but prescribed enrofloxacin (Baytril) in case he had an infection.  It didn’t seem to make a difference…

I took him in again in January 17, 2018 because he was drinking a great deal of water now for some time.  The vet had me bring in a urine specimen.  Nothing really there.  He suggested that I take a day and collect urine throughout the day.  He would only charge me for one urinalysis even though there were going to be multiple.  The problem would be to be home an entire day to do that…  even now – March 14, 2018 – there hasn’t been a day that I was home all day.  UGH!

He also in trials and in playing with Kaiden seems to run out of energy/steam in the middle of the fun.  He was running slower at trials.  Is it his age?  or something else?  What is wrong with my little baby???

Then most recently – I noticed he is losing his hair on both sides of his shoulders.  You can see his skin.  I contacted MedVet to schedule an appointment with his skin doctor – Dr. Gordan.  Then Sunday, I thought to take him back to Cheshire and get the doctor’s opinion after speaking with Dr. Gordon.

After reading… I thought his symptoms could be either a Thyroid problem or Cushings – an adrenal problem.

What Is Cushing’s Disease in Dogs?

The endocrine system is the collective system of glands that produce and secrete hormones in the body, one of which is the hormone cortisol. At normal levels, cortisol performs many useful functions including helping individuals respond to stress and modulating the immune system, but too much cortisol in the body can do a lot of damage.  The condition associated with an excess of cortisol is medically referred to as hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing’s disease, and it is one of the most common endocrine disorders that affects dogs.  Cushing’s disease can develop when a dog’s own body overproduces cortisol or when a dog is given corticosteroid medications (prednisone, dexamethasone, triamcinolone, etc.) at high doses and/or over a long period of time. Hyperadrenocorticism generally affects middle-aged to older animals

Made an appointment with Dr. Ballard at Cheshire on March 13, 2018.  They could fit me in.  He believes that it is Cushings.  He suggested doing a test (costing over $400) through the University of Tennessee.  It would give us more conclusive results.  I agreed.  He said it would take up to 10 days.  I dropped Lukas off the next day at Cheshire for the blood test.  He would have to fast (when I picked him up at the end of the day Wednesday I was a little upset.  I had left food for him to eat since he had to fast.  They did not give him the food.  He also was hoarse.  I suspect he had been barking a great deal of the day.).

We got the results back on March 23, 2018 (getting a copy on March 24, 2018)…  they are below.  It showed that he may have what they call “Atypical Cushings” – to where the sex hormones are increased.  The Cortisol is increased “post ACTH” a tad… but the Androstenedione is increase both baseline and post ACTH.  Post ACTH – the progesterone and 17 OH Progesterone are elevated.  Dr. Ballard over the phone suggested I start on Melatonin (6mg) and Legnin (10-40mg) as suggested in the report below.  Started him immediately on the Melatonin as it was readily available… the Legnins I didn’t find until Sunday (April 2, 2018).

Went to Dr. Gordon – Lukas’ “skin doctor” to get his opinion (See report below).

Well… I also went to Dr. Carlson (and sent him the information above).  He is my holistic veterinarian (and a parent from St. Michael days).  I wanted something that might be able to “beef up” his condition and his health.  I was given the following to begin administration starting on March 28, 2018.  He stated also that the Meletonin won’t do anything negative…

• Standard Process Canine Whole Body Support (100g)
• Omega Benefits, Canine, Caps 120 count
• Kan Essentials – Four Marvels
• Reduce the Tian Ma Plus to one scoop 2x a day (oppose to two scoops) for his seizures

On April 3, 2018 – while at class with Kaiden – either Jake or Lukas got the bottle and ate/or disposed of over 100 capsules.  I found out it was Lukas as he vomited fishy fluid three different times that evening (I thought it was Jake… WRONG!!  If it was – he didn’t get sick).  Contacted the vet and the technicians at the company – nothing bad outside of vomiting and potentially diarrhea.  Ordered additional bottles…  have enough to get him through the week (placed a week’s worth in the med case).

I also did a change of his food…  went initially with “Honest Kitchen” as Dr. Spracklin said it was good for Micah.  After investigating – it has 40% carbs.  I read that carbs are not good and lower carbs are better.  I am still using a 1/2 cup split between all three dogs… but mostly for Lukas to be able to mix his meds in.  I ground them up and place them in the mixture and use it as a topper.  Then… for his regular food I am changing over (both Kaiden and Lukas) to Merrick’s Grain Free Real Texas Beef and Sweet Potato.  The protein level is 38% and 32% carbs.  (or 33%).  Will see how it goes…  more protein for his muscle loss.

On Tuesday, April 4, 2018, I went back to Cheshire to review Dr. Gordon’s report.  Dr. Gordon suggested/diagnosed four things:  (1) Atypical Adrenal Disease; (2) UDS; (3) Muscle atrophy; and (4) Early laryngeal paralysis.  See info below.  Dr. Ballard did not think testing for Thyroid would be a good use of my money.  He also talked about the laryngeal paralysis.  He also did not see this as an issue.  In regard to the muscle atrophy…  if we got the Cushings under control – the muscle would improve.  I asked him about the diet comment – he said that Dr. Gordon is a skin doctor and this is something they key into all the time.  He did not think food was causing this… nor that a food change was necessary.

So here we are…  the lignan’s came today in the mail so he will start the lignans this evening.  I am more aware of Lukas’ back legs slipping.  I believe I will drop out of agility class with him – we’ll see.

Please dear God… help my little boy!