Sugar - 16yrs American Eskimo - Sugar has crossed The Bridge

[Sugarmomma]

I just wanted to give a big thank you for all of you on this forum. I have been dealing with my baby’s diagnosis for about 5 months now and have been reading all of the posts to understand what was going on and the course of action I wanted to take. I have been taking Sugar ( a 16 yr, 32 lb American Eskimo) to a specialty hospital with an internal medicine doctor and have been pleased with the results so far. A little about my baby...she had been hit by a car before I rescued her 14 years ago and had a broken pelvis which never healed correctly. She has always walked funny..kinda like her back legs were walking on a tight rope. It was never really an issue until we started the trilostane and the cushings became controllable. By the way..they believe she has a tumor on both her pituitary gland and her adrenal gland. About one week after starting the meds she quit walking completely. I had to hold her back end up while she did her business outside. I was so upset thinking that the time had come to put her out of her misery but after taking her back to the vet and tweaking her trilostane to a little lower dose and then using tramadol, and a really small dose of prednisone (I know what you are thinking..that defeats the purpose right?) and also a valium at night, she is happier than I've seen her in two years. She gets up on her own and wanders around, her hair has grown back and beautiful again, she eats and drinks normally, her bladder is mostly under control (she is 16 and female if you know what I mean). Anyway...I couldn't have gone through all the ups and downs without you guys telling your stories and helping me not to give up. Currently she is on 7 mg of trilo twice a day, 2 mg prednisone twice a day, 50 mg tramadol twice a day, and 5 mg valium only at night. Lots of medication but she is doing wonderful! Thanks again for just being there for me even if you didn't know it!:)

[labblab]

Welcome to you and Sugar, and I'm so pleased to know that your baby is stable now and doing well! Thank you so much for your kind words about our forum. That's what we live for -- hoping that the combined knowledge and support of our family is a comfort to all those parents who are struggling to help their pups. :o :)

You are right that not so long ago, I would have scratched my head and thought "HUH????" regarding the combination of trilostane and prednisone. It still remains a rather unorthodox treatment combination. But we have seen a few instances when specialists have opted to combine the two, apparently in circumstances when it is really important to carefully maintain and control a very consistent steroid level in the bloodstream. I'm sure you are grateful that this regimen seems to be working well for Sugar!

Please continue to update us about Sugar's progress. How did the specialist come to guess that she has both pituitary and adrenal tumors? That must have been a diagnostic puzzle in and of itself!

Once again, best wishes, and I'm really glad you've started posting!
Marianne

[Sugarmomma]

Well we went through all of the low dose and high dose tests. We had sonograms that showed what they thought was the adrenal tumor but they had other test results that leaned toward pituitary. After much more testing they came to the conclusion that most likely she had both.
She was your classic case..swollen belly, hair loss, drinking, eating like she had never been fed, panting, the whole nine yards. They started her on a low dose of 8mg trill twice daily( which they thought they would have to increase) but after her first blood test they decided that they actually needed to decrease it a bit to make her more comfortable.
Her blood work is right where they want it and she is feeling great! The first month was scary when she kept getting lame and not moving at all but I kept reading this forum and didn't give up. It only took about three months to get her on the regimen she is on now and for her to stabilize. Thanks again for all of your guidance!

[labblab]

I love your avatar photo of Sugar -- what a sweetie-pie!!! :o

And all your other photos, too! Sugar travels the world, for sure!!!!!! :)

What a lucky baby girl, to have been rescued and raised in your loving home.

Marianne

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi and welcome to you and Sugar! :)

I'm a sentimental old slob and I gotta tell you, when I read your post the first time, I teared up. Reading your second post, I teared up. It truly means so much to know k9cushings has helped you. If you only knew.... the words "thank you" seem insignificant to express the gratitude I know we all feel. This is the reason for our existence - to help those who have to face this condition.

I'm glad you decided to come out of the shadows! :D I hope we will hear from you more often now.

Sugar's treatment approach is nontraditional but as Marianne said, we have seen other pups succeed with it. As they say, the proof is in the pudding and it sounds as if this approach is working well for your baby. To see her coming back to more of her old self had to be a huge relief, especially after the lameness. She is a very lucky girl to have been found and loved by you.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[Sugarmomma]

Thanks guys but I am the lucky one. I feel blessed that she chose to share her life with me.

[Sugarmomma]

By the way...after looking at my photos of Sugar it looks like we are filthy rich and have our own helicopter. Not even close to reality! My husband and I both work for a helicopter co and one of the perks is getting to fly in the helicopter. Just thought I would clear that up!

[bgdavis]

Hi and Welcome,

I don't post here much anymore since my Cushings' baby passed over to the bridge 3 years ago. But, I just had to tell you that I also have an Eskie named Sugar! HE is 9 years old and I adopted him from a rescue group 8 years ago. They had found him abandoned on the streets in Columbus, Ohio with a tag that said 'Sugar'. He's grown a little 'plump' over time, so I call him my Sugar lump.

Bonnie and Angel Criss Ann

[Rebelsmom]

Welcome from us also, so glad Sugar is doing well on her unconventional treatment :)

She is really really cute. :)

[Sugarmomma]

I rescued my Sugar about 14 years ago. She too had been abandoned after a serious injury that had broken her pelvis. When I adopted her the vets had named her marshmallow because she was so white fluffy and fat. I just couldn't imagine yellow "Marshmallow, Marshmallow, Marshmallow". So I had to rename her! Eskie's are such devoted dogs and I'm glad you have one to love you as well.

As a follow up...I just took Sugar for bloodwork today and the vet said she is doing great. They are going to reduce the prednisone by half and hope that it doesn't make her lame again. I will be keeping a close eye on her for the next week. Other than that....we are wonderful.

Here's to hoping that all of you on this forum have as good luck as we have with whatever treatment your baby is on!

[Roxee's Dad]

Wonderful Pictures :)

[Sugarmomma]

My beloved Sugar passed over the rainbow bridge yesterday morning! I am devastated! I have been caring for Sugar for about 13-14 years now and have been there every step of the way during all of her ups and downs. My husband's mother was getting married and I had to leave her with a babysitter for 6 days. I picked a wonderful lady to babysit and appreciate all she did....but Sugar passed away the morning that I was coming home. The babysitter managed to get her to the emergency room but she died before they could do anything to save her. The vet called me and said she was in cardiac arrest and that I needed to make the decision to let her go or to keep trying. I didn't want her to suffer any more so I told her to stop the CPR. Now I am feeling so horrible that I wasn't there with her in the end! I know she was wondering where I was and I don't know how to get over the guilt!
I am thankful that she is no longer suffering and hope she knows that I will love her the rest of my life! Please hug your babies every day!

[Lady's mom]

Oh I can feel your hurt. I am so sorry for your loss.

Try to remember all the happy times you had together, and how much you meant to each other.

[Squirt's Mom]

Oh, I am so, so sorry to hear this. :( These events like Sugar experienced can happen at anytime and your presence would likely have made no difference in the outcome, tho we always feel as if we could, or should, have. Such is the nature of loving these precious souls.

But there is no doubt in my mind that Sugar knew how very much you loved her, that she understood why you couldn't be there, and that she has only enduring love in her heart for you. I also have to ask if perhaps Sugar wasn't sparing you in her own way. Perhaps she knew helplessly watching her suffer in her final moments would be worse. You gave her so much, such a wonderful life, maybe this was her final gift to you.

You sweet girl's name has been added to the In Loving Memory list for 2012, where she will always be remembered and honored as a member of our family here.

Our deepest sympathies,
Leslie, Squirt, Trinket, Brick and our Angels, Ruby and Crystal


A Simple Message From Your Pet
by Ken D. Conover

To have loved and then said farewell is better than to have never loved at all.
For all of the times that you stooped and touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and
returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you. For the care that you gave to me
so unselfishly. For all of these things I am grateful and thankful. I ask that you grieve
not for the loss but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each other's lives.
My life was fuller because you were there, not as owner, but as my friend. Today, I am
as I was in my youth. The grass is always green, butterflies flit among the flowers and
the sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures. I can run, jump and play
and do all of the things that I did in my youth. There is no sickness, no aching joints
and no regrets and no aging. We await the arrival of our lifelong companions and know
that togetherness is forever. You live in our hearts as we do in yours. Companions such
as you are very rare and unique. Don't hold the love that you have within yourself.
Give it to another like me and then I will live forever. For love never really dies,
and you are loved and missed as surely as we are.

Your pet in heaven.

[marie adams]

I am so sorry for your loss of Sugar.

No matter how they leave us, it is always hard. Please do not feel guilty because as Leslie said it was Sugar's way of sparing you any more pain. Now she no longer feels any pain. She is running and jumping as she did when she was young. She is there with all our pups playing in paradise. :)

[frijole]

Sending you love and peace. RIP dearest angel Sugar. Kim

[Sabre's Mum]

I am so sorry for your loss of dear Sugar. My thoughts are with you.

Hugs
Angela and Flynn

[Sugarmomma]

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and good thoughts! It will be tough to get through the next few days but I know she is with me!
I'm hoping she is there with all the other cush dogs waiting to see us again some day! My thoughts go out to all of you dealing with the day to day struggles of living with a cush pup. All I can say is enjoy every minute with them....their time here with us is just too short!

[frijole]

Yes it is entirely too short. I know this board is a great source of healing during times like this as I recently lost my little girl also. Know we understand and are here if you need us. Hugs, Kim

[KarenJ]

I am so sorry and feel your pain as I, too, just lost my precious girl on Sunday. I'm sure our girls are running together free from pain! My thoughts are with you.

Hugs,
Karen

[mypuppy]

So saddened for your loss of your sweet Sugar. Please do not second guess yourself about her final moments. Sugar was loved wholeheartedly and you were both blessed with each other's lives.

God Bless you all and your sweet girl.

Tight hugs. xo Jeanette and Princess

[nibbles-mommy]

I'm very sorry for your loss of Sugar. I just lost my Nibbles 2 weeks ago. When my Casey passed, i was sleeping downstairs with her every night for about 6 months. The one night I decided to sleep in bed because her daddy was downstairs and he fell asleep, she passed away. This was 2 years ago. Now I think maybe she waited until I wasn't there because I would have tried to do something to save her and not let her go from her struggles.

[k9diabetes]

I'm so sorry for your loss.... at 16 she was definitely a grand old lady as well as world traveler. That handful of photos gave a great sense of what a wonderful and active life she lived in your care.

Natalie

[Sugarmomma]

Thank you again for all of your well wishes. It's wonderful to know that I am not alone! You guys are angels to both the people and the dogs that need you!

[Jenny & Judi in MN]

Sounds to me like Sugar was very blessed to have you in her life. I'm so sorry you are hurting right now. Judi

[Casey's Mom]

I am so very sorry to hear of Sugar's passing. My healing prayers and thoughts are with you.

Love and hugs,

[bgdavis]

I'm so sorry for your loss of Sugar. You two spent many wonderful years together. I can only image how sad it is to lose one you have devoted so much time to. She will be greatly missed.

Rest in peace, Sugar.

Bonnie and Angel Criss

[Cyn719]

So sorry to hear about Sugar. Sugar enjoyed a wonderful life with you..you loved her very much and she loved you just as much....I am glad you have beautiful memories to hold on to.

Sending you support,strength and prayers

Hugs xoxo

[jmac]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss...

Sending my thoughts your way,
Julie & Hannah

[Roxee's Dad]

I am so very sorry for your loss. Rest in Peace Sweet Sugar, You are one of our newest and brightest stars in the sky.