Gingival Hyperplasia and Cushing's Syndrome?

[Buffy & Trixie's Mom]

Greetings! My dogs are Buffy, by Brittany/Sheltie whom I have raised since 6 weeks and Trixie, my beautiful rescue Collie/Sheltie.

Yes, I am partial to Shelties!

Buffy is 10 and was diagnosed with Cushings by an internist in 2008, via ultrasound, and, I think the ACTH, but I don't really remember any longer. She has been on Lysodren since 2009 and has been doing well. Even her veterinarian says, "Buffy is an anamoly."

Another internist exactly a year ago this week, for unrelated issues, told me that B's liver enzymes were high and that her liver looked diseased. Recommendation a biopsy and a prescription for Denosyl if she didn't have cancer. I said, "Skip the biopsy, I'll take the Denosyl."

She has been on it ever since.

Right after Buffy went on Denosyl, I noticed her gums were "growing" over her teeth. I had brushed them every day since she was 1 year old. I had just had them cleaned. She was given a clean dental bill of health. And then this.....

They grew at an alarming rate.

She had her gingivectomy last month. $1200+. They only "did" the front and maybe one or two side teeth.

They warned us the gums might grow back. Unfortunately they did.

We can probably afford to have this operation repeated in a year.....not before. And we are through with specialists. Yeah, many are really super, but for just a short consult, they charge obscene prices and it is obvious that we love Buffy and sometimes I think vets and internists take advantage of this. I just think that, sorry.

I think I need a reality check -- I love Buffy. She is 10. She is worth treating, but the end result in a year or so will probably be that she will die of something. I think I am just tired. My husband also has mylodysplastric syndrome. This is a cancer diagnosis. Pretty soon, there will be only Trixer and me standing.....I am scared. Scared of many things and one of them is running out of money.

A dental tech told me that dogs don't really need their front teeth (I disagree...). I asked my veterinarian of 20 years and he said he didn't know. Why wouldn't he know that?

I wonder if, after all we have been through with Buffy, she will die from something realted to this gum disease. How sad.

Her meds:
Lysodren
Enelapril Maleate
Amlodipine
Benedryl equivalent (for allergies, she sometimes gets a bloody nose, but tests show this is not cancerous.)
Denosyl

And the gums grew back! We are back to scratch.

Oh, I have noticed that her appetite is OK for things she likes, but as far as the biscuits she used to like and the dry dog food - not any longer!

Do you think the gingival hyperplasia has much to do with the Cushing's or any of these meds? The vet doesn't know the answer there, either....well, he is a good vet.

[mytil]

Hi and welcome to our site. I am very sorry to hear of the situation you and your family are going through.

Firstly, I have never heard of the connection between gingival hyperplasia and Cushing's. With uncontrolled Cushing's I know dogs are prone to infections and am wondering if there is something else going --- it could possibly be induced by any medication she is taking other than the Lysodren (never heard of Lysodren causing this).

Also, what about any mineral deficiencies?

When you get the chance, let us know the results of the tests performed to diagnose Cushing's and also how much Lysodren you are giving.

I know how frustrating and expensive it can be. Have you seen a specialist? Some GPs just are not as familiar with some diseases and conditions.

Hang in there and keep us posted.
Terry

[lulusmom]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Your vet could have looked up Gingival Hyperplasia and quite readily discovered that it is the amlodipine that is causing the gum problems, not the cushing's. Talk to your vet and ask him if there is another drug that can be prescribed.

[labblab]

Great catch, Glynda, and here's a research summary that can be shown to the vet:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19175718

Buffy's mom, I am so sorry that this drug effect was not caught sooner, but it sounds as though the hyperplasia will end once the drug is discontinued. I'm also so very sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. My dad as well as a couple of other family members have suffered from related illnesses, and my heart goes out to you.

I am so glad you have found us, and we will remain with you to provide whatever info and support that we possibly can.

Marianne

[addy]

Hi and Welcome,

Once again our Glynda totally amazes and immediately comes to your rescue.

You have to love that girl:D:D:D;);)

Glad you found your way here. This just made my day and I hope it helps Bufffy.

Hugs,
Addy

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi and welcome to you and Buffy! :)

Trixie, too! :)

Bless your heart. You have every right to feel so tired and overwhelmed! I am so sorry about your husband. That alone is enough for a person to deal with and your plate is certainly overly full. :( But what all this tells me is this - you are a very strong, competent person. Otherwise you would not have been handed these burdens to carry. My dad told me years ago that only the strongest of us are asked to face such trials. We are never given more than we can handle; as the years have passed, I have learned that he was absolutely right.

But that doesn't mean you have to carry the load alone. You and yours have a family here now. One that will always be willing to listen, to hold your hand, to cry with you, to lift you back up. The knowledge and experience found here relating to Cushing's is amazing but the support among our family is beyond compare. Please know we are here any time you wish to talk about anything. We may not have an answer, but we always have time to listen and offer our shoulders for you to lay your head upon. You will always have a safe, soft spot to fall here. You will never stand alone.

I'm not sure where you are located, but all vets and IMSs are NOT created equal. ;) I had a very bad experience with an IMS who simply didn't feel it necessary to mention a tumor she found on my Squirt's spleen. It could have killed her. And when I was told about it, I could have killed that IMS! :mad::mad: Thank goodness the second IMS was one of compassion and integrity who took excellent care of Squirt for the remainder of our days there. In looking for a new vet when we moved, it became clear that most around here have little to no idea how to treat Cushing's so I chose a vet who told me point blank he knew nothing but was willing to learn. He was honest and didn't try to feed me a line of ignorant, dangerous crap. :rolleyes::p

Thanks to these wonderful folk, I know enough about Cushing's now that I know what my baby needs and doesn't need in her docs. I can talk half-way intelligently about the condition and it's treatments because they taught me. I don't consider Buffy to be an "anomoly" because we see pups here every day who are doing very well with treatment much longer than the "2 years" we have all heard about. With proper treatment, a pup can live out it's normal life span - and beyond because parents like us take such exceptional care of our babies. ;)

Let us know what your vet has to say about the Amlodipine. Surely there is an alternative! ;)

Keep your chin up!
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[Buffy & Trixie's Mom]

After shedding tears of excitement and joy, and rushing off to tell my husband, I phoned Buffy's vet....the staff there (they all know us, we are one of his highest high profile cases) was very happy for me. I next e-mailed the link to the article.

I just hope the vet can find a generic which will work. Buffy's BP was hard to control. We do need a generic because -- well, Cushing's can get costly, can't it? Get generics whenever you can, I always say.

I woke up this morning thinking this would never get better.

It did. Thanks to you guys.

Love, Buffy & Trixer's Mom

[Buffy & Trixie's Mom]

Just a follow up. Buffy's vet will have her take 1 mg twice a day of Prazosin.

I hope this works. Buffy's BP was hard to get under control, in part because we underdosed her on the BP meds at the beginning. Once we got the dosage down pat, it worked out well.

This new BP med does have a tendency to cause nasal congestion. Buffy does have allergies. I hope he looked into the matter.....she had nosebleeds from an infection (we had a CT in 2009 and a rhinoscopy in July 2010 -- both revealed no cancer...) BUT in the summer, that is a big complaint of Buffy's -- allergies!

She has an appt for an ACTH Stim on 7/12 so he will check her BP then.

Thank you all.

I surely do hope he took all of Buffy's problems into consideration.

As a writer, I once worked on an article for Dogfancy (they never got back to me) about being your dog's patient advocate. I have lots of practice!

Thank you.

You all made my day.

Sincerely

Buffy's Mom

[Buffy & Trixie's Mom]

Just a follow up on the results from your help in finding the probable cause of Buffy's gingival hyperplasia.

Buffy's vet has taken her off the the amlodipine -- and will have her take 1 mg twice a day of Prazosin instead.

It met my request for a generic BP med. I checked and it was not the same type of BP med -- a calcium channel blocker -- however, after letting him call it in to my pharmacy, I revisited the medication synopsis online and unfortunately learned that it does have a tendency to cause nasal congestion.

Buffy does have allergies. I hope he looked into the matter.....she had nosebleeds from an infection (we had a CT in 2009 and a rhinoscopy in July 2010 -- both revealed no cancer...) BUT in the summer one of Buffy's biggest problems seems to be allergies! This year, however, maybe because I give her two instead of just one, generic benedryl pills, we have not yet had a bout of nosebleeds. I have a round of Clavamox standing by just in case.

She has an appt for an ACTH Stim on 7/12 so he will check her BP then. We will certainly have a discussion about the suitability of this new BP med for Buffy, then, too.

However, this year as I said in an earlier post has brought out a side of me that I don't particularly like.....because of my constant questions (and yeah, OK --challenges) to my husband's oncologist's nurse practitioner (and the oncologist, too) I almost got him fired from her practice. We went to her with the same complaints for weeks, then months. And we went from doctor to doctor. Same complaints. No diagnosis until finally I "think" I asked a question which rattled her cage and further testing revealed the awful truth. But maybe it wasn't my question. Maybe I had nothing to do with it. Maybe only my persistance.

What makes me think I am an expert in oncology and now in veterinary science? Why do I feel I have to micromanage? I really don't want to be all over the map, ever vigiliant. I want to trust. Maybe I am getting old.

I surely do hope he took all of Buffy's problems into consideration.

As a writer, I once worked on an article for Dogfancy (they never got back to me) about being your dog's patient advocate. I have lots of practice!

So, I will endeavor to handle this with tact on 7/12. After all, he is a good vet. No one is perfect. He gives his all and has been there for me for 20 years.....seen me through the lives and deaths of three previous dogs.

Thank you all for today. Another victory in the life of Buffy.

We will sleep better tonight because of all of you.


Sincerely

Buffy's Mom

[Buffy & Trixie's Mom]

Thank you all for your help in determining that Buffy's Amlodipine was possibly the cause of her gingival hyperplasia. Looks like you were right.

Buffy has been off this med for about two weeks now and I can see teeth poking through her gums! We will see one of the techs for a BP check next week.

While my husband and I do wish they would have checked to see if there was a logical reason for the hyperplasia before we paid for the $1200 gingivectomy in early June.....we are just going to go forward and not complain about this. This is a new side of me -- but I will toss in here that because of my usual assertiveness (not aggressiveness, but assertiveness) I almost got my husband fired from his oncologist this spring. Deep down inside, I feel I did save his life with my questions and because I constantly rattled her cage. I feel I saved his leg, too by forcing someone to DEAL with the infection. They were all focused on the cancer. These professionals (I am learning) do not want to be challenged.

This is hard for me to take because as a writer, I ask lots of questions to "get it." We paid the dental vet $70 for two consultations over the past year. If I asked him what caused the gum disease once, I must have asked ten times! I blamed the Denosyl. I blamed the Lysodren. I blamed the Cushing's. Wouldn't you think someone might have picked up the Merks and starated looking into her meds?

Yes, I did. I looked at them all, but missed what was said about the Amlodipine. I just didn't see it. In fairness to me, I am not a veterinary professional.

There were signs that this was an odd sequence of events. Her teeth were cleaned in 2010....her dental disease was still listed as mild. I kept saying, "This seems to be proliferating." They took pictures.

Gosh darn it. I AM mad. My husband wants me to be quiet, tho. I caused enough problems this year, he says! So I will.

It is hard to swallow, but Buffy is doing well and I need her vet (and my husband his oncologist) more than they need us! So it is time for me to sit down and shut up.

But thanks to the help I got here -- Buffy's teeth are coming through!

Because Buffy's BP was hard to control until she started taking Amlodipine, I expect we will have to have it checked a few times and tweak the med (presently she is on propanolol -- 1/4 of a 10 mg pill three times a day. I tried a knife and a pill cutter and still managed to shatter pills!

This is why I am taking her in early for the BP check. The doses are probably a tad inconsistent and I am hoping to have it increased to maybe 1/2 of a pill -- I think 10 mg is the smallest dosage for this med. The pills are fragile.

Sincerely,

Buffy's very happy Mom

[labblab]

I am so glad to hear that Buffy is showing improvement!! However, I surely understand why you are steamed that none of your vets recognized the cause of the problem. It would be very hard for me to remain quiet about this, too. And in honesty, I think you are entitled to at least a partial credit or refund of the money that you have spent unnecessarily. However, I also realize that there are other issues involved, and you feel as though you must weigh the various consequences.

In moving on, I surely do hope that Buffy's blood pressure will respond nicely to the new med. The pill splitting sounds very difficult, though. Please continue to keep us updated as to what develops.

Sending a special hug along for Buffy,
Marianne

[lulusmom]

Yay for Buffy and boo for the people who should have known better. You are much like me and don't hold back when it comes to my furkids and husband. Fortunately, our vets and doctors appreciate my proactive stance or at least they appear to. Who knows, they may grit their teeth, call me horrible names behind my back and put up with me for the sake of their patient(s). Either way, I get my answers. :D

How are things on the cushing's front?

[Buffy & Trixie's Mom]

Thank you for asking about Buffy's Cushing's.

Buffy responded very well to the "loading" process back in 2009. She had perhaps one or two tweaks in her meds over the years (I give her 1/2 of a 500 mg lysodren in the PM and again in the AM -- in a hot dog fragment because I heard they absorb it best with a scosh of fat-- Sun, Tues, Fri).The Cushing's that I so much feared in 2008 at diagnosis (an ultrasound) has become just a tiny blip on our radar screen. I thought it was a death sentence, but I was wrong.

She had an ACTH Stim test last week -- all is well. (I no longer want the numbers.) Yes! I acknowledge that I have my head in the sand. But Buffy eats normally, isn't panting any more than I am in the broiling midwest this July -- she isn't drinking any more than usual -- and the doc said her numbers are great.

Buffy has not lost that much fur over the years, but perhaps a little....of course she is older, so it might not be related to Cushing's after all. Whereas some doggies gain weight, Buffy has trouble keeping on the pounds. She has appetite for what she wants, which is not necessarily what I want her to have.

I am embarrassed to say that feeding Buffy has evolved into meal preparation for her. That is my only complaint. She would eat the heck out of any people food -- meat or no meat -- but she won't eat dry food at all any more (does not seem hyperplasia-related, but rather boredom) but she scarfs down the 1/2 can I just relented to let her have in the morning now as well as in the afternoon. You know -- if it makes her happy -- why not? We don't know what Cushing's "feels" like....and in people years (if you believe in this myth (-: she is now older than her mom. She's 70, I'm 64.....

Her Meds and their cost.....

We pay pennies under $75 for her 15 500-mg Lysodren at Sam's. I am calling Wal-Mart tomorrow to see if this is their price since one store owns the other. Is this what others are paying?

Her enalapril maleate (5 mg) is $20 for 180 at Kroger's.

Her propanalol was $4 for 60 (10 mg) also at Kroger's.

Her Denosyl is just under $48 for a package of 225 mg (I don't recall how many in a box.....the standard box.)

She takes two Benedryl (Kroger equivalent) twice a day.

Buffy's and her mom.....thank you!

[Buffy & Trixie's Mom]

I posted last month about my dog Buffy's gingival hyperplasia and amlodipine connection.

She has had Cushings since September 2009 (treated with 1/2 500 mg lysodren twice a day, three times a week); high BP (propolanol 1/3 of 10 mg tab twice a day) plus enelapril maleate, 1 5 mg tab twice a day and 2 benedryl equivalent pills (antihistime, vet approved, per day) plus 1- 250 mg denosyl per day for high liver enzymes).

Buffy (part Sheltie) has, over the past nine months, become a picky eater. At first, she refused even doctored- up (with gravy) dry dog food, so we switched her to all canned food, twice a day. (her adopted brother is given what Buffy used to be given -- half a can at night and a half cup of dry (no gravy) in the morning.)
It is NOT her teeth. They are coming back like gangbusters.

Her vet said at our last visit that Buffy was a tad thin. Not too thin, but he might like to see her put on a pound. He suggested canned veggies (rinse the salt off, tho) or frozen french fries. In her prime, Buffy weighed 32-33 lbs, now she weighs 29-30.

Buffy no longer eats biscuits. She will eat pieces of wieners for treats. Her vet allows me to use tiny marshmallows as pill pockets. She will die for these!

Buffy no longer eats flavored yogurt. She used to love it.

Buffy no longer eats lowfat ice cream. She used to love it.

Yogurt and fat free ice cream were my aces-in-the-hole when Buffy needed metamucil-like products. (vet approved of these-- the products and the vehicle for giving them (-:) Now, I am left with nothing to put the metamucil in and I can't take her to the vet every time she gets constipated - about twice a month.

Whenever a bag rattled in the kitchen, Buffy was there in a heartbeat. Now, she sits out our supper some of the time.

Is this what it is like at the end, when they stop eating? They stop a little bit at a time and then, eat nothing at all? This is my fear.

I will say that we just paid $1200 for an unnecessary dental surgery for her and also had $600 in justified vet costs on top of this recently. Husband is doing fine, but will always be on chemo. The out-of-pocket for him is more than we ever anticipated, despite good insurance. I love my dog, but Buffy uses up more money than I can sock away for her, and believe me, I save $100 a month for her medical expenses from my pension. My husband matches this. I dip into my savings.....I rob every fund we have, to put into Buffy's fund. That is why the $1200 unnecessary surgery hurt so much. We are solidly middle class.....not poor.....we have been doing this for well over a year.

You know, the vet's CEO (his relative) got really snarky a few years back and just dumped me from the "shot-reminders list" when I became upset knowing they were still giving Buffy Lepto shots after I asked that they not do this, as one time, (his advice) she had an anaphilactic reaction. I had just lost B's sister and just told the CEO that I needed a short break.....that I would return....just needed a short period of time away.) I am afraid to tangle with her again.

I have lost respect for myself by smiling and acting as if all is OK at the unnecessary surgery.

Buffy has energy -- she is barking as passers-by as I write this.

I know my dog better than anyone and I feel that if we mixed up a nice plain batch of hamburger and rice, she would go for it. But after awhile, that would get old, too.

She will eat her half can twice a day -- but rejects the veggies and the fries, which she used to gobble up.

I am lost.

[frijole]

Hello! The first thing I would do is an acth test to see if her cortisol is low. When it is they lose interest in food. It is possible for a dog to require a lower dose of cushing's med after years... happens often. So please do that asap.

If that isn't the case then I would have a blood panel done to see if something else might be bothering her. Does her stomach growl? Are her bowel movements normal or hard or loose? Kim

[Squirt's Mom]

Mornin'!

I have merged your latest post with Buffy's original thread. We like to keep all the info about each pup in one place. That makes it easier to look back through the history if needed.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi again,

Kim is on the mark about low cortisol. Are you seeing any other signs like lethargy, nausea, loose stools?

I am appalled that your vet would tell you to give her canned green beans and frozen french fries! :eek: That is extremely risky for her. Canned items contain way too much sodium and rinsing will do very little to reduce that amount. In addition, they often contain other seasonings like onion powder that can be fatal to dogs. Frozen fries are the very same way....as well as having little nutritional value. One of our members gave her pup canned chicken broth and he developed a very serious hemolytic condition as a result of the onion powder in it. :(

I'm not sure where you are, but if you are in an area where it is as hot and dry as it is in ARK then weight loss is to be expected to some degree. Most dogs lose a bit of weight during the hottest part of the year and just don't have as much interest in food period. However, if she hasn't been tested for diabetes recently, I would do that. Diabetes can pop up seemingly over nite. ;)

If no physical reason for her weight loss is found via testing, then use carbohydrates and fats to add weight on - fresh foods, not canned or frozen. White potatoes are good unless she has arthritic issues. She can have these raw or cooked. Sweet potatoes are very good and have no adverse effect on arthritis. Boil a turkey or chicken and give her the juice with fat over her kibble. Dark turkey or chicken meat contains more fats than the white meat. If she like bananas, those are good, too. Green tripe is good for them as well. I will be happy to come up with a list of foods you can use if you would like. But, please, no more canned or frozen items. ;) Dogs can eat and do very well on most human foods, in spite of what our vets tell us :rolleyes:, but they cannot tolerate many of the spices and seasonings we use...especially those in preserved and processed foods. ;)

You might try mixing the Metamucil with peanut butter or cream cheese and giving it as a treat. You could also use the potatoes to mix it in or stir it into the broth to pour over the kibble.

Hope this helps!
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[Harley PoMMom]

The blood pressure meds, especially the enapril, can cause inappetance in dogs. I would definitely mention this to your vet.

Love and hugs,
Lori

[Buffy & Trixie's Mom]

Hi Squirt's Mom! Hi to all who answered, thank you!

You've got it! No more fries. No more canned veggies. I will cook for her if it helps and so will her father.

Pumpkin (a cousin so sweet potatoes -- are we talking canned sweet potatoes now or fresh?) helps with constipation.

What is kibble?

I will study your list of foods which can be used and YES! He did say frozen french fries! I don't recall if he said canned veggies or if he just OK'd my request to be allowed to do them. I know I never feed her anything without running it by him.

She is allergid to strawberries, severly so. If you have a strawberry allergy, are there others in that family that should be avoided?

The tests recommended are logical. I can do this, but my "gut" is that she is bored and spoiled. But the tests are worth it. She did jhust have an acth stim and he said it was dead on. I no longer ask the results. It is seldom happy news with Buffy, so I just don't ask and he doesn't tell. Just thumbs up, thumbs down.

Buffy is not lethargis and she is constipated right now.

Thank you.

Buffy's mom

[zoesmom]

The tests recommended are logical. I can do this, but my "gut" is that she is bored and spoiled. But the tests are worth it. Buffy is not lethargis and she is constipated right now.

Thank you.

Buffy's mom

Hi Buffy's Mom -

I have a 14-yr. old foster dog (supposedly foster, but I'm sure she'll live out her life here). Friskee has bad gingival hyperplasia and I, too, was blaming her poor eating habits on that. Whether that's the case or not with Friskee, I'm glad to hear that Buffy's hyperplasia is improving on the new drug.

Friskee , a lab mix, is 48 lbs of skin and bones, so she truly can't afford to be picky about food. But she is, in the worst way. I do think her mouth may bother her when she eats the dry food plus she has a tumor under her upper lip in addition to the hyperplasia - so it may bother her to eat. I moisten the dry food and add other yummy things but doesn't make much difference to her. So I end up having to hand-feed her to get her going. I call it 'priming her'. . . . Once she seems interested, then I can usually transition to just holding her bowl for her, and if I'm lucky, I can eventually set the bowl on the floor for her to finish. I've learned to sit down for this slow process. So is she bored and spoiled?? Probably, but as an old dog, I guess she's entitled.

She still loves human food but I resist her begging - for the most part. And for treats, she's crazy about those little tiny carrots that come in a bag. I have yet to meet a dog that doesn't like those so that might help with constipation. I always throw a couple into both dogs' bowls. (And yes, the canned green beans, sometimes, too. Note: Del Monte's smallest cans of green beans do come unsalted and I use those, mainly because my other dog, Cooky, needed a low-calorie treat. She has the opposite problem and will eat everything imaginable). So those veggies won't put on weight but may help with the constipation. Have you tried the pumpkin (canned solid pack)? That will help with both diarrhea or constipation. Just a Tbsp or so needed.

For Friskee's pills, I use what I used for my cush dog. A tiny piece of soft bagel smeared with a teeny bit of warmed up american cheese (softened in the micro for 7 seconds) - insert pill and pinch closed. Friskee gobbles her pills up, as long as I give her a dummy (same but with no pill) immediately after. So for two pills, I make four pieces. Otherwise, she chews and finds the pill. While this isn't nutritious, per se, it's probably better than a marshmallow. Also, I wonder if Buffy would like avocado - it's high in fat and no doubt fiber and obviously a healthy choice. Just some ideas to try. Sue

PS - Our grocery store sells something called Dogsters in the freezer section, next to the Bil-Jac. A little cup of ice-cream-like stuff, but not. I've been giving it to both Cooky and Friskee on really hot nights as a special treat. Ingredients: water, cheese, sweet whey powder, whey protein concentrate, peanut butter, caramel color, guar gum, carageenan - those 'extras' are not the worst of things you could give a dog. I'm just always glad to find something that Friskee is eager to get - and Dogsters is one of those things.

[Squirt's Mom]

Fresh sweet potatoes, altho you can sometimes find canned that are only sweet potatoes with nothing else added. This is also the kind of pumpkin to use - plain, not for pies - if you don't use fresh.

Avocado can be toxic to dogs. This is what the ASPCA had to say about avocados:


Avocado leaves, fruit, seeds and bark contain a toxic principle known as Persin. The Guatemalan variety, a common one found in stores, appears to be the most problematic. Other strains of avocado can have different degrees of toxic potential. (sorry, Sue....:o )

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pag…

Kibble is dry dog food. For the longest time I thought there was dry, canned and kibble....so I looked and looked for "kibble" then finally asked someone. :rolleyes: That was my learning experience for THAT day! :p

This is what I have been able to find on strawberry alleriges -

http://strawberryplants.org/2011/03/strawberry-allergy/

What Causes Strawberry Allergies

Strawberry allergies are not fully understood. However, some research indicates that one of the primary players in strawberry allergy is linked to a protein involved with the ripening of the strawberries. This protein was named Fragaria allergen 1, or Fra a1 for short. This protein is responsible for the characteristic reddening of the strawberries as they ripen.

I looked for other foods with this same protein but didn't find any others. I did read that this allergy could lead to others such as kiwi so I would use fruits with caution unless you know she can tolerate them.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[zoesmom]

Avocado not good??? I never checked on that because don't they use it in the dog food brand, Avoderm? For skin issues? I've given it to my dogs before (just the edible flesh, of course!) but not in any great quantity. Thanks for that head's up, Leslie.

[zoesmom]

Ah, here we go - hijacking an innocent dog's thread. Sorry Buffy :o I just had to know about that Avoderm formula so I went to their site and found this, Leslie:

"Concern has been expressed by the ASPCA about the consumption of the leaves, fruit, bark, and stems from the avocado tree, with the exception of the avocado fruit which is used for the oil and meal; none of these parts are factors in any of the AvoDerm® pet products formulations and we have no indication that avocado oil and meal as used in AvoDerm® are toxic, poisonous, harmful or bad for your dogs or cats diet.

Dr. Art Craigmill, UC Davis, Professor and Extension Specialist in Environmental Toxicology has said that his studies and other research in the United States and Australia have shown that the problem of toxicity is in the leaves and the pit of the Guatemalan variety; the avocado meat of the fruit and oils have not been shown to be toxic. AvoDerm pet products do not utilize any Guatemalan variety avocados, nor do we use any leaves or pits of any variety of avocados for our avocado meal and oil.

The avocado meal and oil used in the AvoDerm pet products comes from the meat of the fruit and does not contain leaves, bark, skin or pit of the fruit. The oil is extracted from ripened fruit in which the meat pulp has been separated from the skin and the pit. Through a mechanical separation process the oil is extracted and filtered and placed into sealed containers. The pulp of the fruit is dried, ground, and screened before being placed into its final packaging and than shipped to our facility.

Dr. Guy Whitney, Director of Industry Affairs and Research of the California Avocado Commission, has stated: “...in California there are around 7,000 family farmers who grow avocados and almost every one has dogs that actively seek out fruit that has fallen from the trees to snack on. The happy, well-filled out and shiny-coated orchard dog is a familiar sight to anyone in this industry and we have NEVER had a report of a family orchard dog getting sick from eating avocados. Also, the US Forest Service and UC Santa Barbara are about to publish a paper on the importance of avocado orchards in California to sustaining carnivore populations (bears, coyotes, mountain lions, foxes and small cats) during drought conditions. All of these animals are known to eat the protein and nutrient rich fruit that has fallen from the trees. Now birds are a different creature and it IS known that avocados are toxic to birds. Avocado leaves are known to be toxic to horses. Avocado seeds (pits) are NOT edible and are toxic to animals.”

So stick to CA avocados is the rule, I guess. Interesting to know this. I buy CA avocados and in the winter months, I always check produce and do NOT buy anything imported from central or South America. But it's true, I have seen avocadoes from Guatemala in the stores. Sue

[Buffy & Trixie's Mom]

Thank you all for your generous responses to Buffy's picky eating problem. I certainly learned a lot -- about the possible "bleed over" of her strawberry allergies into other fruits (which I suspected all along); about the avocado toxins, which I will add to my "no list" for dogs:
1. strawberries (Buffy's allergy)
2. onions (and many products, of course, using them clandestinely
3.chocolate
4. raisins (and I imagine the whole dried fruit gamut to include prunes -- and what are those common dried orange fruits that come in a bag? Can't think of it.

It is always good to recite the list, you never know who will see it for the first time.

Anyway -- my husband said that maybe we would feed Buffy her canned food MINUS the canned veggies and french fries. We did. Now Buffy is inhaling her canned food again.

See, the old adage is true. Dogs are smarter than people. Buffy's Mom thought she would put a pound or two on Buffy's lean frame with the french fries. Her vet said their nutritional needs were like our own, so canned veggies were OK (he might have actually suggested them, I don't remember). But Buffy knew they were bad for her and so backed off of them.

Smart Buffy!

Anyway, she is eating, but because of my post, I have learned a lot about dog's eats and treats -- and let's face it -- food is something they just love!

I will never give Buffy anything like the fries or canned veggies again.

Thanks to you, I will probably be blessed with a few more years with "the white puppy."

I will now endeavor to get her picture on my posts. She is beautiful, so you guys put on your sunglasses, now (-:. Mom is not tech savvy, but Dad is......maybe I can.....

Love, Buffy's Mom!

[Sugar]

(Right after Buffy went on Denosyl, I noticed her gums were "growing" over her teeth. I had brushed them every day since she was 1 year old. I had just had them cleaned. She was given a clean dental bill of health. And then this.....)

My dog Sugar had gingival hyperplasia, she wasn't on denosyl but later developed Cushings Disease. Maybe it is an early warning sign that the body is not fighting off bacteria/diseases and perhaps should be considered by vets when it is first noticed to do a test for pre- Cushings. She also developed infections in her eyes.

[Buffy & Trixie's Mom]

It has been over two years since I last posted -- but I remain grateful that alert participants of this forum made the connection between Buffy's gingival hyperplasia and the amlodipine that she was taking for her blood pressure.

Both my husband and I watched with joy as her teeth reappeared after I requested her vet substitute another medicine for the amlodipine.

This was particularly significant because -- what I didn't know on the date the forum says I last posted -- August 14, 2011 -- my husband only had about six weeks to live. I think it was in mid-to-late July that we first noticed Buffy's mouth was returning to normal. I know that he was greatly relieved to see the
improvement in Buffy -- she had always been such a beautiful dog -- the hyperplasia really caused her to look terrible.

Joe died September 24, 2011. From complications of Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Five months later, Buffy died from complications of Cushings Syndrome. She stopped eating and had a few other problems which her vet tried to correct but couldn't. I let her go.

Buffy's adopted sibling, Trixer, a rescue Collie, and I are very happy together -- because he is the only dog now, I find that I participate in a lot of activities with him. I walk him every day in good weather and started taking him to a dog park -- but it was kind of unfriendly. Trixer is a beta male.

Participate in this forum with great confidence. Had I not been a truly desperate Cushings mom back in 2011 -- I was desperate because my dog's gums grew back after a $1500 surgery to reduce them -- I never would have found the real solution to the problem -- the removal of the amlodipine.

At the end of her life, I did politely confront her vet on the real cause of the gingival hyperplasia, the expensive surgery, etc.

At the time, I felt empowered, but retrospectively, I think my husband was right. He was against confrontation.

Given the same set of circumstances, I don't think I would have confronted him. He was not a specialist and could have insisted I take my dog to one far away. He knew that at the time, we had a very expensive doggie on our hands and I was a nervous driver! So instead he loaded her and did a fine job. He kept her alive for -- two to three years after she had to go on Lysodren. He saw her through nosebleeds, Horner's syndrome, and a host of other maladies a Cushing's dog can encounter.

Thank you one and all.

[addy]

I am so sorry about your husband and your pup. That is very, very hard. I am grateful your other pup is able to take over with some quality time. That is an awesome thing.:):)

I would not even look back about confronting your vet. Just let it go, completely. There is no point in rethinking it.

I hope the New Year brings you peace and joy and happiness. Thanks for coming back and letting us know what happened.

[lulusmom]

Hi and welcome back.

I've merged your latest thread with your original so that folks to go back and read Buffy's story. I'm so terribly sorry to hear that you lost both your husband and Buffy but so very happy that you came back to let us know how you are doing. I can only imagine how difficult it has been for you and I'm glad you and Trixer have each other.

We would love to honor Buffy in our In Loving Memory sub-forum. I noticed you don't have any pictures in your album but if you'd like email a picture of Buffy to k9cushings@gmail.com, we will make sure it is uploaded for you. Please don't be a stranger and check in once in a while to let us know how you are doing.

(((Huge Hugs)))
Glynda

[molly muffin]

I am very sorry to hear of the passing of your husband and Buffy. I am very glad though that his last time spent with Buffy was one of improvement.
I agree with Addy, don't look back on the vet issue of confrontation.
I hope that you and Trixier have a good 2014.
It's wonderful of you to stop in and say hello and give us an update.
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin