chihuahua Scooby has muscle loss in hind legs

[JAESA16]

I am new to this forum and hoping to get advice from someone that has been there.

I HAVE A 12&1/2 YEAR OLD CHIHUAHUA MALE, HIS NAME IS SCOOBY, HE IS NOT NEUTERED.
2 YEARS AGO HE STATRED GETTING SICK- PANCREATITIS, HEART MURMUR, ENLARGED LIVER, HIGH LIVER ENZYMES, AND HERNIATED DISCKS IN HIS LOWER SPINE. HE HAD X-RAYS, ULTRASOUND,AND BLOOD WORK WITH ACTH BLOOD TESTS DONE. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CUSHINGS ALSO A YEAR AGO - WE DECIDED NOT TO TREAT THE CUSHINGS DUE TO THE OTHER ISSUES AND AGE, MONEY, ETC. HE HAS HAIR LOSS AND HE GETS YEAST INFECTIONS ON HIS EARS AND IS PRONE TO THE PANCREATITIS FROM THE CUSHINGS. WE MANAGE THE OTHER SYMPTOMS OF ALL OF HIS CONDITIONS WITH DENEMARIN, PEPCID, TRAMADOL AND METATOPOROL AND AMOXIL WHEN NEEDED.
TODAY HE COULDN'T GET UP, AFTER I HELPED HIM, HIS BACK IS CURVED DOWN AND HIS HIND LEGS STICK OUT,, KINDA LOOKS LIKE HE IS STUCK IN THE POOPING POSITION. HE CAN BARELY WALK AND FEEL OVER OUTSIDE USING THE BATHROOM. HE EATS, DRINKS, PEES, AND POOPS FINE BUT IS IN PAIN AND CAN'T GET UP AND WALK. I TOOK HIM TO THE VET - HE HAD LOST 1&1/2 POUNDS IN JUST A MONTH, NOW WEIGHTING 7 POUNDS AND SHE SAID HE HAS LOST THAT IN MUSCLE IN HIS HIND LEGS. SHE GAVE US GLUCOSAMINE TO TAKE TOO AND THAT IS ABOUT ALL WE CAN DO. I DON'T WANT TO LOOSE HIM, CAN YOU THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN DO FOR HIM? :(

[JAESA16]

My dog Scooby is so sweet and i need advice. He is a 12&1/2 year old chihuahua male, not neutered. 2 years ago he started getting sick- pancreatitis, heart murmur, enlarged liver, high liver enzymes, and herniated discs in his lower spine. He had x-rays, ultrasound,and blood work with acth blood tests done. He was diagnosed with cushings also a year ago - we decided not to treat the cushings due to the other issues and age, etc. He has hair loss and he gets yeast infections on his ears and is prone to the pancreatitis from the cushings. We manage the other symptoms of all of his conditions with denemarin, pepcid, tramadol and metatoporol and amoxil when needed. Today he couldn't get up, after i helped him, his back is curved down and his hind legs stick out,, kinda looks like he is stuck in the pooping position. He can barely walk and feel over outside using the bathroom. He eats, drinks, pees, and poops fine but is in pain and can't get up and walk. I took him to the vet - he had lost 1&1/2 pounds in just a month, now weighting 7 pounds and she said he has lost that in muscle in his hind legs. She gave us glucosamine to take too and that is about all we can do. I don't want to loose him, can you think of anything else we can do for him? It has gotten worse over the evening and I don't know how to help him. Right now he is sitting with me with a hot pack on his hips.:(

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi and welcome to you and Scooby,

Gosh I am so sorry for all the issues you and sweet Scooby are dealing with, we will help in any way we can.

My boy, Harley had pancreatitis so I understand how frightening it is dealing with this disease. With the hunched back I really think that Scoopy is having a pancreatitis episode right now, did the vet prescribe any type of pain medicine? If not, I strongly recommend that you ask for some as pancreatitis is quite painful. Was a spec cPL test done? The spc cPL test is performed to diagnose pancreatitis.

Was the ACTH stimulation test done when Scooby was feeling ill? If so, I question his diagnosis of Cushing's. Could you post the results of all tests that were done on Scooby, including the findings of the ultrasound.

A diet very low in fat is needed when a dog has pancreatitis and feeding several small meals throughout the day is recommended. Does Scooby's poop look normal?

Please know we are here for you both, and do not hesitate to ask any and all questions.

Love and hugs, Lori

I wanted to let you know that I merged your post about Scooby's muscle loss into his original Thread as to keep all information regarding Scooby in one place.

[Budsters Mom]

Hello and welcome from me too! :)

You have come to the right place! There is a huge arsenal of K9Cushing's angels standing by to help and stay with you every step of the way. They love details, test results, any information you can get your hands on. The more the better.

So again welcome to you and Scooby,
Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

[JAESA16]

Thank you both for your welcome and kind words. I do not have the specifics on the tests but no he was not ill when we tested. We are not treating the Cushings just dealing with the symptoms. He also has a herniated disc in his lower back and is loosing muscle mass fact. He doesn't have pancreatitis right now and he is on pain meds and glucosamine. Today he got up and walked just fine although gingerly and then 5 hours latercouldn't get up by himself and fell over when I stood him up. His hips stick out and his back is hunched - he looks like he is stuck in the pooping position. I put hot packs on him again and meds and he ws able to get up again. does this sound like Cushings related? The vet says that it is due to the muscle loss from the Cushings and other then symptom treat there is nothing we can do. I am recently unemployed due some serious health issues of my own and so I am at least home with him but it's such a difficult time for us both right now. I would appreciate any advice on quality of life help or symptom help I can get. Oh and he eats home made plain boiled chicken mixed with overcooked rice and the chicken broth and some canned ID dog food. Thank you all :)

[doxiesrock912]

Honestly, it sounds more like the herniated disc is acting up. I'm fairly new to the forum so I'll let the more experienced members speak on this problem.

[JAESA16]

Thanks I think I am inclined to agree about the disc acting up which is a relief that is something I can help, treat, and make better.....the muscle loss is real though and I am dreading what may come. Is anyone dealing with Cushings without treating it, for whatever reason, like Scooby and I?
I tried to post a pic of him but I can't add it to the post and don't have amin rights to add it to my profile but he is adorable....as they all are.

:D

[Harley PoMMom]

I tried to post a pic of him but I can't add it to the post and don't have amin rights to add it to my profile but he is adorable....as they all are.

:D

Once you've logged in to our website, find the yellow menu bar at the top of any page and click on "User CP" at the far left-hand side. Once you're in your User Control Panel, then you'll see another menu on the left-hand side. If you click on "Pictures and Albums," you'll be able to create your own photo album and upload pictures. If you click on "Edit Avatar," you'll be able to add a picture of Scooby that will also appear alongside your username.


If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Love and hugs, Lori

[JAESA16]

Thank you so much for the help on the pic posting. I posted one of Scooby playing cards with the family. He has to be involved in everything we do and he would really put his paw on a card to pick which one to choose.

[molly muffin]

Hello and welcome from me too. Somehow I missed your thread with your first post :( It does sound like the disc is acting up if not a pancreatic episode. The only thing to do really is pain meds to and packs. Sounds like the heat helps and then when that wears off it acts up again. I know disc problems in people can take awhile for the inflammation to go down enough to feel better. I assume it is the same. He just needs to stay off it as much as possible and time to heal up. I know that is hard for a dog to do. No self control to not move around or walk somewhere.
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[doxiesrock912]

We weren't treating until Daisy got her first bacterial skin infection. Until this point, she was a very healthy dog and Cushings takes a toll on the immune system.

Now that Cushings is affecting her immune system, we've begun using Trilostane. You might consider finding a qualified IMS vet to assist you because the not all general vets know enough about Cushings and proper treatment is key.