Blood clot a complication of Cushings - Cooper passed

[Cooper is missed]

My beagle Cooper was diagnosed with Cushings when he was 8 years old, last December. He was prescribed veteroyl and in testing he was at a therapeutic level but I saw no improvement in his symptoms. He was recently diagnosed with an aortic blood clot. He was in excruciating pain and couldn't walk. The vet first thought he had a disk problem and injected him with steroids. He responded well to that injection and was able to walk fairly well for a few days but then the pain was back. We were sent to a specialist for an abdominal ultrasound where they discovered the blood clot. It was preventing blood flow to both of his legs and that was the reason he couldn't walk. We decided to put him to sleep that day nearly 2 weeks ago and I'm still left wondering, what happened? I keep asking myself if I could have done anything to prevent this. My vet says we made the right decision for him. He had recently lost a lot of weight and as she put it was "a very sick dog". Has anyone heard of this before? I've been reading so many stories here about this disease but I haven't come across any with this complication.

[molly muffin]

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry to hear that Cooper had a blood clot. :( I'm sure your heart is broken.

There have been cases of blood clots involved sometimes with adrenal tumors. Usually it is a case of needing to do surgery, so the blood clot doesn't come lose.

Some of our admins/mods have been here for over 8 - 9 years, so I'm sure they will pop in when they can and and we can see if they have heard of this happening with other cush dogs or not.

My sincerest condolences.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Harley PoMMom]

I am so terribly sorry for your loss of dear Cooper. Unfortunately dog's with Cushing's have an increase in the degree of clotting of blood. I do remember another member whose furbaby, Buster, had a blood clot in the artery leading to his leg.

Sweety, there was nothing you could have done to prevent this so please stop being so hard on yourself, ok.

With heartfelt sympathy, Lori

[Cooper is missed]

Thank you both so much, my heart is broken and I feel like I need answers to move on. Regarding surgery, the specialist said that if they removed the clot too quickly the fresh blood going into his legs would flush toxins from this old blood stuck there into his system and possibly do more harm. The only way to treat it would have been blood thinners and that would take weeks to months. Even then he was at risk of a small piece of the clot breaking off and going to his heart, lung or brain. He was suffering so much, I just couldn't put him through any more pain so I had to let him go. It's been really tough.

[Harley PoMMom]

Praying that our babies will be taken in their sleep is a prayer I think we all have raised at least once. Too often, though, it falls to us to make "the decision" for them. That decision is made out of love, out of a desire to spare them more pain and suffering, even tho it tears our heart out to do so. Someone once said we take their pain and make it ours - and that is so very true.

Oh sweety, we are here for you and we do completely understand the pain you are feeling. It is so very hard when we lose our furbabies, we love them deeply. Please do continue to talk to us, sending huge, consoling, and loving hugs, Lori

[Squirt's Mom]

I am so sorry we meet this way. It sounds like you did all you could for your sweet boy and when nothing more could be done, you gave him the greatest gift of all - freedom from suffering. I know Cooper is grateful for all you did for him and is watching over you with the same love and devotion you showed to him.

Cooper's name has been added to the In Loving Memory thread for 2013 where he will always be honored as a member of our family here at K9C. We would also like to include a photo of Cooper in the 2013 In Loving Memory album. If you would send a copy of your favorite pic to k9cushings@gmail, we will take care of that for you. If you would like to start a tribute thread in the In Loving Memory section when you feel up to it, we would love to help celebrate his life via your memories.

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

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4794

[scoora]

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your sweet boy Cooper.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
HUGS

[doxiesrock912]

My sincere condolences. Rest peacefully Cooper.

[Cooper is missed]

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and words! Reading all of the info on this site makes me really wish I had found it when he was diagnosed. I had no idea what a Cushings diagnosis meant, I assumed we would give him his meds and all would be fine. Reading here how much of a struggle this disease is has been a real eye opener. I'm wondering why Veteroyl doesn't work in some dogs like Cooper? Could it be that we didn't get him diagnosed and treated early enough in his illness? He had always been a water obsessed dog. Even when he was a puppy he would drink huge amounts of water. He gained weight in his belly in 2010 but we just assumed he was kind a lazy chubby beagle that loved to eat! He needed surgery about a year ago and that's when they discovered abnormalities in his blood work and then tested him for Cushings.

[spdd]

I am fairly new to this forum, and to date cannot get my dog diagnosed properly, but I wanted to say that I am so very sorry to hear about Cooper.

I believe you did the very best for your boy, although it is so difficult.

My condolences go out to you, and please feel welcome on this forum.

[gatorgirl_bama]

Sorry to hear about Cooper. I know you did what you thought was best for your baby.

I just lost my Tia 5 weeks ago. She was tested for Cushing on August 9th and died August 11th. She never got to start any medications for the disease even though she was "a very sick little girl". The vet said she thought is was a blood clot that killed her. I still don't understanding all the "cush" complications and I am very obsessed with trying to figure it out because of the fact that I lost Tia so soon.

I blame myself for losing her, but everyone here has been so kind to me and will try to help you figure things out about your Cooper.

Take care and and I'm sending much love to you.

Donna and Angel Tia

[goldengirl88]

So sorry to hear your sweet Cooper passed. It is a really brave act to have them put to sleep. It is something all of us do not want to think about, but know we might have to do. God Bless you for your strength and love of your Cooper. Blessings
Patti

[Cooper is missed]

Thanks again for all of your kind words and condolences. It was definitely the hardest thing I've ever had to. I'm haunted by his last breath and the life going out of his eyes. In some respects I wish I hadn't seen him go but I couldn't let him go alone. He needed to know how much we loved him.
Donna I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm in the same boat, I'm obsessed with the need to know what happened to Cooper and what I could have done to extend his life. I'm starting to realize though that there really was nothing I could have done differently. His body had just deteriorated from the disease.

[LtlBtyRam]

I am so sorry for the way you found these forums. I am equally sorry for the loss of your beloved Cooper. In time I hope you find peace with your decision.
Angela

[jrepac]

So sorry to hear about Cooper. I'm sure you did all you could.

I would think a blood clot is very possible as a side effect of cushings. The blood can get very thick, due to above average levels of lipids. I recall that a few weeks before my girl passed, the vet commented on the thickness of her blood sample. He felt her overall condition was good, but this was a Cushings side effect. She passed about a month later, from what was presumed to be a heart attack; certainly, it could've been caused by a blood clot.

Jeff & the Girls.

[Cooper is missed]

Wow that's interesting Jeff, I'm starting to realize there was nothing I could have done differently. I still miss him but everyone here has been so helpful and supportive and I really appreciate it!

[Trish]

Sorry I am late to your thread, I too am sad to read about Cooper passing, such a sad time and I agree with all the others who have commented that you could not have done more. Pleased to read your last post that you are realising this also. Take Care :)

[Simba's Mom]

So sorry to hear about your precious Cooper, hugs and prayers

[Cooper is missed]

There's such good info here from very knowledgeable people and I appreciate you all so much. I've been searching other threads looking for someone else that had a similar experience to mine with Cooper. I can't figure out why Cooper had no relief from his symptoms, mainly increased thirst and hunger, when he was on the correct dosage of veroryl. Has anyone had a similar experience and if so did you get an explanation?

[molly muffin]

Thinking of you and cooper, sending big hugs your way

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[kstomotto]

I am BRAND NEW to this site. A tear down my cheek in Cooper's honor. I AM TRULY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS!!! I pray that your heart mends soon!!! "Alway's LOVED, NEVER forgotten!"

[Cooper is missed]

Thanks so much, today is a difficult day. Cooper passed 5 weeks ago and at about this time of day (actually about 12:45 Pacific). I keep hoping that I can make some sense of what happened to him. I research all of the threads here looking for some piece of info that will help me understand why he had to die so young. Why the medication didn't work for him, why did he get the blood clot? He was only 8+ years old, he would have turned 9 this month. I will continue to look for the answers to these questions. I just need some closure, I miss him so much.

[goldengirl88]

I am so sorry your Cooper passed. I know how hard this is to understand. This disease is terrible, and takes far too many wonderful babies from us. I hope your heart heals. Blessings
Patti

[mypuppy]

Hi,
I too am deeply sorry for your pain in losing your precious Cooper. I looked at your album, and he is so adorable! I lost my girl almost 3 weeks ago and it gets the best of me lately. The fact that things can awry overnight without warning and we feel helpless in order to have saved them. Hurts real bad. I know. I want answers too, but don't know where or if I will ever get them.

God Bless you and your Cooper and please take some tight hugs for yourself.

Xo Jeanette

[Cooper is missed]

Patti and Jeannette thanks so much for your words or encouragement. Jeannette I'm so sorry for your loss as well. These little guys work their way into our hearts and when they leave there is a giant void. Thank goodness my 2 other dogs are healthy now but I know I will go through this at least 2 more times and I'm not looking forward to that.

[molly muffin]

Sending you big Hugs! I wish there were easy answers to all the questions, but there is never anything that seems to be easy or definite, only possibilities and maybes.

I couldn't agree more, they move into our hearts, take it over and then leave a huge hole when they are gone.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Cooper is missed]

I have a question, is Cushings better controlled the earlier it's caught? I've been reading different opinions and some say the sooner it's diagnosed and treated the better. I've read that chronic exposure to high cortisol levels can cause a lot of problems including blood clots, which was the reason we had to put Cooper to sleep. I ask because my vet diagnosed Cooper with Cushings last year but said if his symptoms weren't bothering him we shouldn't treat him. By January I felt his symptoms had become worse and she prescribed 30mg. Veteroyl daily. On his follow up testing they said his cortisol levels had come down but I never saw a decrease in his thirst or hunger and his fur never grew back from his surgery in 9/2012. I'm just trying to make sense of this, I also have two other dogs that I want to watch for Cushings.

[doxiesrock912]

Because every dog responds differently, each case is new with it's own path. Honestly, it sounds like everything was done correctly from what you're saying. In hindsight, I believe that Daisy also has had Cushings at least a year or two before she was diagnosed.

All of the vets whom I've spoken to have said that the meds do more to help with the symptoms and they prefer not to use them until they have to.

Given all that I've read on this forum etc, and having experienced the touch and go associated with the trial and error of getting the cortisol under control while not causing our dogs to get sick from too much, I can see good reason to wait.

I hope that this helps honey. Hugs.

[Cooper is missed]

Valerie, that really helps me. I try to compare other stories to mine but you are right every dog travels a different journey. Copper has now been gone 6 weeks and I really thought I would have moved on by now. Cooper was so special to me though. We got him when he was 8 weeks old and as we soon found out was very sick. I bought him from a pet store in our local mall. Now I realize he was a puppy mill dog but at the time I was just in love with him and would do anything for him. Days after we got him he became very sick. The vets were telling us he might have parvovirus, kennel cough or even distemper. At one point they quarantined him and to visit him we had to wear scrubs and booties. We spend countless hours and dollars to make sure our baby would come home and be well. Finally he did and we had about 8 more years with him. I just can't believe I missed the signs that he was sick. If I had maybe we could have controlled his Cushings and he might still be with us. All of this is to say that Cooper was really loved and now is really missed.

[doxiesrock912]

Daisy's beginnings mirror Cooper's! She came from a pet store. (I still swear to this day that she picked us.) We'd lost our 17 yrs/10 months old poodle six months prior and decided that we were ready to love another.

Not even a week later she became very sick! Kennel cough. We had papers from the pet store as she is a pure bred miniature dachshund. Something told me to google her breeder and I found out that this woman (Ruth Heckert of MO) was barred from the AKC for refusing to let them inspect the premises until 2011!

I immediately contacted the pet store and they paid the vet bills and said that we could return Daisy. NO WAY were we doing that so they agreed to refund the purchase price of $900. It took two rounds of antibiotics to make her well again. That was 10 years ago and that store is no longer in business thank God.

Since then, Daisy has been healthy except for luxating patella surgery and now Cushings and a salivary mucocele which will have to be surgically removed once her Cushings is stable.

Don't blame yourself. Lesson learned and consider it that you rescued Cooper from God knows what. This is what I think about Daisy <3. Both of them are/were loved dearly and we saved them from a life of hell in a puppy mill.

I have a dear friend who lost a puppy to Parvo. Heartbreaking. Did they ever tell you what Cooper did have then?

We each have our own time table for grieving. Don't rush through it. It's part of the healing process and know that you did nothing wrong. Cushings is just plain complicated and if they have other health issues, that makes it even more so.

I suspect that Daisy had it for at least a year before she was diagnosed. I don't blame myself. I'm just thankful that now we are treating her correctly and I owe her life to this forum because we went through 3 vets before finding a qualified IMS specialist who works in conjunction with Daisy's vet. If it weren't for the knowledge that I gained here, I would've had no idea that the other two vets were so far off the mark and I truly believe that Daisy wouldn't be here now.

Despite what Daisy's numbers indicated, the "correct" dosage of Trilo was too high for her to start with and we had to work our way up to that dose and give it twice a day. I learned what to watch for and she did not have an Addisons episode.

Her fur was dull, dry, and she had bald spots. Now she is shiny and fur is growing back. She has a more normal appetite, pot belly has subsided, and drinks much less water. Testing on the 21st to know for sure where her numbers are.

[Cooper is missed]

Cooper was from a breeder/puppy mill in MO too! I wasn't as smart as you were though, I never contacted the pet store about his illness. Thank goodness that store went out of business too and was replaced with an adoption center in the mall! I love that.

The vets never really figured out what he had so I'm guessing it was some sort of virus. He recovered and grew to be a healthy boy. I don't think he would have made it if we hadn't bought him so it's true, we gave him some good years he probably wouldn't have otherwise had.

I have learned a lesson though and I'm watching my other two for signs of illness. We have a golden/spaniel mix that's getting quite chubby but she doesn't have the thirst and urination problem. I'm taking her for a physical soon.

I'm so glad your Daisy is doing well! Thanks so much for your kind words of encouragement it really means a lot to me.

[doxiesrock912]

You're quite welcome. :-)