[MissMommy05]

Hi. I'm Jen. I was wondering if maybe anyone could give me some advice or something...see, my dog Lucky (the one in my avatar) is 16 years old. She has Cushing's Disease in her pituitary gland that was diagnosed a year and a half ago, the same time that my other dog, Buddy, was diagnosed with cancer in his lymph nodes. Buddy passed away only a few weeks after the diagnosis, but Lucky has been hanging on and, surprisingly, doing very well.

Normally, like a lot of older dogs, I guess, Lucky just lays around the house and sleeps a lot when she's not sleeping in the backyard. She gets up and moves around for a while, eats and drinks in her usual routine and everything. She enjoys being close to me and the other members of my family, but after short periods, she always goes off to sleep on the kitchen floor for a while.

Just today, I've noticed a change in her behavior. She doesn't want to go outside (guess I can't really view that as abnormal...it's raining, and she never has liked the rain), but aside from that, she's been staying very close to me at all times. She lays down only a few feet from wherever I'm sitting and she sleeps there until I get up and move. She follows me closely wherever I go. She's also been visibly shaking off and on all morning. Like the kind of shaking that usually means she's afraid of something. I don't understand what would be making her act this way so suddenly, and honestly, I'm a little afraid myself.

Does anyone have any advice for me? Like what I could do to try and calm her? Also, I'd like to know if anyone can maybe offer me an explanation of what may be happening to her. I really don't know what's wrong or what I could do, if anything. Please help.

 

[lexilu]

Maybe the weather is affecting her (any thunderstorms?) Is she's eating normally - with a good appetite? I don't really have any advice - just see if you can calm her down, hugs and cuddles and treats, and maybe call your vet for suggestions. Sorry I'm not more helpful.

 

[spotted nikes]

Sometimes, trembling and weakness is the result of too much Lysodren or other Cushing's med. Too much of the Adrenal gland is being killed off. The result can be pushing a dog into Addisons, which is the opposite of Cushings. Personally, I'd go to the vet for a checkup. Prednisone will reverse the symptoms, but needs to be given under a vet's supervision.