12 y/o gsd x w/PDH (Wolfgang is gone)

[Wolfgang]

12 y/o 100.9 lb GSDx. Adopted last July - no health history known. He was almost asymptomatic until the last few months. Ultrasound and ACTH test confirmed PDH. Had waited to treat but progression over the last 1 month has been more than noticeable. Prior to he'd had issues keeping weight on ( eats like a horse ) and now has gained the wee potbelly, thirst, muscle wasting. Vet gave us 80mg daily Trilostane for a two week induction phase. Am fearful I may miss a symptom of overdose ( or perhaps as I read more resources this is not an adequate dose ? :confused: ). Was not given prednisone with it.
He's having his thyroid levels checked again in two weeks time as they were slightly off today. He's on Tramadol on an as needed basis ( mild spondylosis ). Any wisdom, advice from the cushings veterans here ? Lost my 12 y/o soul-dog in '09 so am paranoid of the effects of the meds.

This is Wolfgang ( " westminster " name : Hairy Wolfgang Amadogus hehe )

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5020087899_7a5ec977f9_z.jpg

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi and welcome! I was wondering if you could do us a favor; In order to complete your registration, you need to check your emailbox (or spam folder) for a communication from us. Once you respond to that email, your membership will be finalized, and anything that you post will become visable on the the forum immediately. Until that time, your replies must be manually "approved" by a staff member before they are visable to the public -- so there may be a bit of delay between the time that you write your replies and the time that you actually see them.

Cushing's is one of the most difficult diseases to get diagnosed. Not one test is 100% accurate and there are other illnesses that mimic some of the same symptoms as Cushing's, like diabetes and thyroid problems.

Could you get copies of all the tests that were done on Wolfgang and post the results here, please. The more information we have about Wolfgang the better our feedback will be, ok?

Trilostane does not include an "induction phase." The treatment of Lysodren does. Here is a link to our Trilostane/Vetoryl files, which I hope you find helpful: Trilostane/Vetoryl Information and Resources. (http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=185
)

One thing I want you to know is that Cushing’s is a treatable disease. Delivery of competent and humane medical care by a skilled GP and/or specialist experienced in the diagnosis and management of Cushing’s has a significant impact on patient survival and well-being. With proper medical management, close monitoring and owner observation, most Cushingoid pets can live to their full life expectancy, with complete or partial resolution of clinical signs, and good quality of life!

Please know we will help you and Wolfgang in any way we can so ask all the questions you want, ok!

Love and hugs,
Lori

[labblab]

Welcome to you and Wolfgang! :) Your membership registration has now been completed, so you should have no further problems with posting here. ;)

Marianne

[Wolfgang]

Hi ladies.. thanks for the reminder! : )

Apologies for misuse of induction ... trial would be more appropriate. 80mg/day for two weeks to determine appropriate dosing ( scheduled acth already ).

Thanks so much for the link to information re : trilostane

will he regain lost muscle in his hind end in the near term ? he's currently on a 80/20 ( meat/veg/fruit v kibble ) diet and receives a multivitamin - are there any other supplements or dietary changes anyone can recommend that assists in minimizing the cushings ( in conjunction with being on meds ) ? should i be asking my vet for prednisone ?

apologies for scatterbrain questions - just hope to make the stinky old man as comfortable as possible for whatever time he has left. ill obtain copies of all results from the vet tomorrow. thanks again

[Harley PoMMom]

What a beautiful fella Wolfgang is!




Apologies for misuse of induction ... trial would be more appropriate. 80mg/day for two weeks to determine appropriate dosing ( scheduled acth already ).

Will they be checking his electrolytes also? These levels would be found on a Chemistry Blood Panel.


will he regain lost muscle in his hind end in the near term ? he's currently on a 80/20 ( meat/veg/fruit v kibble ) diet and receives a multivitamin - are there any other supplements or dietary changes anyone can recommend that assists in minimizing the cushings ( in conjunction with being on meds ) ? should i be asking my vet for prednisone ?

All dogs are different so I can't really honestly answer your question about the muscle mass, some regain, some don't.

Some of us use a liver support supplement if our dog's liver enzymes are elevated, like milk thistle or denamarin...ask your vet about this first.

We usually encourage our members to have prednisone on hand, although many vets think Trilostane is safer than Lysodren, it is NOT.


apologies for scatterbrain questions - just hope to make the stinky old man as comfortable as possible for whatever time he has left. ill obtain copies of all results from the vet tomorrow. thanks again

No apologies are necessary, we all have been where you are. Cushing's can be a very confusing and frustrating disease to get one's head around! ;):) We would love to see those test results!! :D Please feel free to ask us as many questions as you want, ok?

Love and hugs,
Lori

[Wolfgang]

Well am a bad cushmama as I did not return with his test info. apologies. unfortunately what has brought me back is the trip to the ER yesterday.

He'd been increased from 80mg 1x daily to 80mg 2x daily after his first acth stim at 14 days. 3 weeks later sc heduled for another acth stim with 2x regimen. Week prior he'd been experiencing noticeable hind end weakness ( wasting was present before treatment but he " short circuits " now - hind end collapses - not full body ). His symptoms are not changing much with the exception of some decrease in panting.

Yesterday in for his acth...vet could not get a heartrate - noticeable atrial fibrillation... off to ER...

- consult with cardiologist
- EKG
- holter monitor 24 hours
- consult w/neurologist ( no signs of neuro causing collapses )
- superchem/cbc-ant ( renal values show mild elevation avg 141 he's 150 ) / alp moderately elevated / mildly elevated calcium
- slew of xrays of back/shoulders/knees/hips ( reconfirmed known stifle arthritis bilaterally / shoulder arthritis / spondylosis in throacolumbar area )

After searching these forums I found several members discuss the occurence of rear leg/hind end weakness and/collapse on the trilostane. the IMS at emerg did not seem to feel there was any correlation.

ER vets want him on gabapentin as opposed to tramadol along with the 2x trilostane.

Am frustrated and feel awful. My old boy is not very mobile. He is too wobbly ( even with crate or DH securing him with his body ) and becomes EXTREMELY stressed at the vets. I dont want to make him endure constant vet visits. This is not a financial issue at all. Can anyone offer any advice ?

Should I be consulting with an out state/province/country IMS elsewhere ? Would they do an assessment without physically seeing the dog but with all exam/test/xray/ultrasound info ?

:(

[littleone1]

Hi,

I'm sorry that you and Wolfgang are going through this.

You are not a bad cushmama. You have been doing everything that you can possibly do to help your baby.

I don't have any answers as to why some of our cushpups still have hind leg weakness when they are being treated with Trilo. Before Corky started taking Trilo, his hind legs were very weak, but after he was taking the Trilo for a short time, his hind leg weakness really improved.

I hope you'll be able to get some positive answers as what can be done to help Wolfgang.

Terri

[Wolfgang]

I had not posted here in some time. Not since his ER visit. His PDH cushings was well under control. So sadly his body was ravaged by rapid kidney failure caught only at late stage ( the group at k9kidneys was tremendous in support and information ). While I was not active in the forum I regularly visited and want to thank all of you for your insight/information/kindness. I am so heartbroken he had such a horrendous end. Feel like a failed guardian to him.

[Altira]

So sorry to hear that your sweet boy is gone. I'm sure you did eveything possible for him. Cushing's is a dreadful thing for anyone to face, for dog and owner. I'm soo sorry... 8:::

(((hugs)))

[Jenny & Judi in MN]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Please try not to be so hard on yourself. I've known 3 humans in the last 2 months who died from kidney failure brought on by other medical conditions. I think kidneys can only handle so much internal distress and then apparently, give out.

big hugs to you, Judi

[Squirt's Mom]

I am so sorry to hear about Wolfgang but you did not fail him. You fought hard to help him and give his life quality every day of his life with you. I have no doubt that he is ever so grateful to you for all you did on his behalf.

Today, he is running in the Rainbow Fields with many of ours who have gone before. He is strong and whole once again. And he knows that the day is coming when he will be reunited with you, never to be parted. Til then, he will watch over you with the same devotion you watched over him, always loving you, always thankful to you.

Please know we are here anytime you wish to talk. When you are up to it, we would love to help celebrate his life via any stories you wish to share by posting a memorial to Wolfgang in the In Loving Memory section. But take your time - your sweet boy will always be remembered and honored here -

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3918

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


See You Soon
by Luka Bloom

I hope I love you enough to let you go
On the road only you can see
I hope I love you enough to let you go
And loosen the hold that you have on me

I want to bless you on your way
Say always to yourself be true
I hope you know there is no sweeter place in the world
Than the places I have been with you

See you soon, see you soon

The weakness in me fills my heart with fear
Telling me to control and try to keep you here
The spirit in me that's what is good and true
Telling me to be strong, and trust the letting go of you

See you soon, see you soon

The road waits patiently before you
Away you go now
Don't even look behind
Fill yourself with riches from the times we knew
I'll keep your goodness here
In my heart and in my mind

See you soon, see you soon

I hope I love you enough to let you go...

[Wolfgang]

Thank you all so much. Your kind,caring words of support to a stranger mean more than you will ever know. I would like to make a donation to a suitable org in honor of this group & k9kidneys. Please recommend a suitable organization/charity. Many hugs to the furry cushbaby ambassadors on this forum.

[marie adams]

I am so sorry for your loss of Wolfgang.

You didn't fail him, how could you know he was sick if he can't tell you. Sometimes there are no signals to tell you. He knows you were there for him ALWAYS!!!

Take care!! Just picture Wolfgang running with all our Angels, having the times of their Rainbow lives.:)

[k9diabetes]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Wolfgang reminds me a bit of our Chris - he was diabetic, but that was the least of his problems. He had rather severe heart disease and then died of cancer. Like us, you managed what you could for Wolfgang as well as it could be managed. So you were a very good parent to your boy.

It is so hard when the body fails them and there's nothing you can do to fix it.

With deepest sympathy,

Natalie

[Sugarmomma]

I'm so sorry for your loss! I'm struggling to understand why we are graced with their presence for such a short time. I'm hoping that Wolfgang and my Sugar are hanging out together waiting to see us again!

Many Hugs!

[nibbles-mommy]

very sorry hear of your loss of wolfgang. take care of yourself.

[Casey's Mom]

So very sorry to hear of your loss of Wolfgang. We do all that we can to help them and you did everything you could my dear.

RIP to our newest cushings angel.

Love and hugs,

[Cyn719]

So sorry for the loss of Wolfgang. We all blame ourselves...but deep down you know you did all you could and you loved him very much...he knew that.....hold on to he good memories

Strength, support, love and prayers

[jmac]

I am so sorry to hear about Wolfgang. You are in my thoughts...

Julie & Hannah

[Roxee's Dad]

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