New member need help identifying symptoms of macrotumor

[Noname6184]

Hi my name is Jen and I have a miniature poodle named sweetie that is between 10 and 11 years old. She was diagnosed with Cushing's disease somewhat recently although I think she's had it for a while. Back in December she had surgery to remove a mammary tumor. Two or three weeks later all of a sudden out of nowhere she woke up with neurological problems. She cannot see out of her right eye her right front paw knuckles under her right rear leg is very weak and she falls to the right when walking. She does not seem to have any feeling in the front right paw or on the front right side of her face. She has somewhat of a personality change and at times when I call her name she looks the wrong way. I've Googled it extensively and it seems to be consistent with symptoms of a pituitary macrotumor. It also seems to be consistent with symptoms of canine encephalitis. I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with either one of these illnesses. I've taken her to three different vets for this problem and they think I'm crazy or something. One vet told me it's obvious she has neurological issues but he thinks her joints are to blame. When I suggested a brain tumor I think he thought I was nuts. Encephalitis has never been discussed but I saw a video on YouTube from a neurology center of a dog that was diagnosed that was almost identical to her symptoms. I want to get her an MRI but in reality God forbid it's a brain tumor I can't afford radiation so I'm struggling with the decision whether or not to pay for an MRI. What makes me think it might be something else is the fact that it literally appeared overnight. From everything I've read it seems as though brain tumors increase in size and then cause issues one by one not everything all at once. I'm just wondering if anybody with any knowledge could give me some insight. Thanks

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Jen,

Welcome to you and your precious baby girl! :)

I have manually approved your post so members can start responding to you. One of our Admins will be along soon to free your account but if you want to handle it yourself, check your email for a message from K9Cushings to which you need to reply to release you account. Be sure to check your spam/junk folder. ;)

A macro usually comes on a bit more gradually but here is a thread devoted entirely to macro cases. You can read thru this and see if any of the experiences shared match what you are observing. It was started by a member so those who face this complication can not only learn from others but share their own stories in an effort to help someone else. http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?3567-Macroadenomas

A few years ago I had a Boston who had breast cancer that spread to her brain. I didn't notice any real changes that I remember until her first seizure. Then they got more frequent and more intense very quickly. So that is the first thought I had reading about your sweet girl - the cancer has spread. Another thought is a stroke - something my Squirt had caused by medication. She lost use of her back legs and seemed to forget how to use her tongue and mouth to eat or drink. I carried her and syringed food and water for months after the stroke but she did recover and almost fully back to her old self.

If there is an IMS (Internal Medicine Specialist) in your area and she hasn't been seen by one yet, I would get an appointment asap with an IMS. Sometimes they have areas of special interest/training so if you find one with Neurology that would be your best bet.

I'm sure others will be along soon to chat with you as well. Just know you are part of us now and we will walk every step of this journey with you from now on. I'm glad you found us.
Hugs,
Leslie

[labblab]

Hello, Jen, and welcome from me, too. To me, what you’re describing sounds most consistent with a stroke, so I’m glad Leslie has already mentioned that as well. I’m especially suspicious of a stroke because one of my cousins suffered a blood clot in her brain last month, and her symptoms were very similar to Sweetie’s: one-sided facial droop and one-sided muscle weakness/paralysis. Although her vision was not involved, my cousin was initially unable to speak because her clot was on the side of her brain that controls speech.

I think the fact that Sweetie had surgery a short time before the sudden onset of her neurological symptoms also increases the odds of a stroke — the formation of clots are a common worry subsequent to surgery. Last but not least, apparently the abnormally high cortisol level caused by Cushing’s can be associated with a higher risk of blood clot formation even in the absence of surgery. Have any of the vets mentioned a stroke as being a possibility?

Can you tell us more about Sweetie’s Cushing’s diagnosis, as well as her overall health history? Has she received any treatment for the Cushing’s?

Once again, welcome! And your membership has now been approved, so you can resume posting here any time you wish ;-).

Marianne

[molly muffin]

Hello from me too. I am not thinking macrotumor so much as something either caused by the surgery, like stroke/clot as Marianne mentioned and seeing a specialist. That is what I would do. Is the high cortisol truly cushings or was the cortisol high due to another issue like the mammary tumor for instance?