Just came from Vet, appears to be Cushings. Scared!!

[Ace4Grace]

Grace will be 10 years old this month. We're planning a pup play party with her "cousins" next weekend. Today I'm scared she won't make it. Grace is an American Bulldog and my best friend, we've been through a lot together. About two weeks ago she started having potty accidents during the day, I just thought well, she is getting older. I also noticed she was drinking much more water. She's a "big" girl 101.7 pounds and has had constant ear infections her entire life. She also has been on meds for "leaky-leaks" for 3 years, twice week. Anyway, the past few days she has taken a sudden downhill turn. Lots of potty accidents, she can hardly walk and tremors and shakes. She can't get up on her couch,climb the three stairs from the yard to the deck, things like that. Last night after 3 potties on the carpet within an hour, panting like she's been playing for hours (had not) and even yellep when I patted her tummy I knew this was not good. She still has been eating normally, no change. For about a year she's had a "wart" on her hip the vet said not to be worried about (age thing). Her hair has been thin w/bald spots for years (again,vet was not concerned). We went to the Vet tday (new vet in our office) and she thinks it may be Cushings. She said the prognossis is not good. They did basic blood work and several indicators points to Cushings. I've never even heard of Cushings until this afternoon. She (vet) started her on antibitotcs for the weekend and told me to think about more extensive testing next week. My heart is breaking, she looks so misereable (only symptom she doesnt have is the pot belly). I dont know what I want or need from all of you, but my world is spinning and I don't know what to do. I hate to even say this, but she told me treatment is very hard on the dogs and very expensive. Any advise or words of wisdom. Thanks.

Teri

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi Teri,

Welcome to you and Grace, I am so sorry for the circumstances that brought you here but very glad you found us. We will help you and Grace in any way we can.

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, dogs with Cushing's disease can live to their full life expectancy, with complete or partial resolution of clinical signs, and good quality of life!

Cushing's is one of the most difficult diseases to get diagnosed properly. Other non-adrenal illnesses, like diabetes and thyroid problems, have some of the same symptoms of Cushing's.

Some of the symptoms that Grace is displaying; constant ear infections, tremors, thinning hair, can be attributed to a thyroid problem. Has her thyroid levels been checked lately and has thyroid issues been ruled out?

Has Grace had a senior blood panel done recently? If so, could you post anything that is marked abnormal with the reference ranges and the units of measurements.

Is Grace taking any herbs or supplements?

We are here for you, Teri, so please ask all the questions you want, ok. ;):)

Love and hugs,
Lori

[frijole]

Greetings from me as well. I want to start out by saying the reason this site exists is because we all were scared at first too. IF and that is a big IF your dog has cushing's, it does not mean a death sentence. Dogs live normal lives with treatment.

I am wondering if something hasn't been going on for a while that the vet didn't catch. And please don't believe the vet that said the meds are hard on the dogs. Its the cushing's that is hard on the dogs.

But like Lori said - alot of other things can appear to be cushing's so the first step is to get a diagnosis. This is normally done by starting off with a blood panel. That will tell the vet what might be going on and give them a clue where to start additional tests. When you get those values, please post anything that is abnormal high or low.

Cush dogs always have round tummies so it could be hypothyroidism like Lori said (easy to treat and cheap too) or diabetes.

Please make sure your vet has alot of experience in treating cushing's. If you have any doubts whatsoever about the experience level you could save alot of time and go to an internal med specialist (IMS).

My dog Haley had cushing's for over 4 yrs. She passed at 16 1/2 and it wasn't from the cushing's so please don't fret about that right now. Focus on getting the right tests done. And feel free to ask us anything.. we aren't vets but we have alot of experience.

Hang in there. Kim

[Ace4Grace]

Thank you both for your ideas/comments. just hearing your comments really helps. The impression I got from Vet was she may have very little time (or perhaps that's just what I read into it) I've decided of course to have the tests done, probably on Tuesday. I forgot to get copies of the tests ran yesterday (while checking out she had a potty so I got sidetracked). After tests this week I'll post everything.

She's had thyroid checked every so often and I was always told it was normal. Yesterday was told her glucose was very normal. Her protien levels are very high and liver is 2 points above normal range. Vet did say if the test is positive she willl send us to internalist as she's had little experience w/cush.

She takes no herbs or suppliments. Well for awhile the past year I gave her gluclosamine but she kept spitting it out so I stopped. Thanks for your support. I'll be on this site reading and learning all I can.

[frijole]

If her liver is only 2 points above normal then you aren't looking at cushings. That is if the test was a blood panel and they are looking at liver enzymes. To really help we would need to know the specific tests the vet did and the exact numbers on those tests.

Cushing's effects the liver first so that is why I am questioning the vet's comments. That and the fact that they said something to make you think the dog doesn't have long to live. It is real important when you get into these tricky diagnoses to take notes and feel free to ask questions of the vet.. I know...emotions take over... anyway please know that dogs don't typically die from cushing's - they die from untreated cushing's.

So please let us know specifically the tests done so far. If you don't know then get copies of the tests done from the office. You paid for them so you own them.

Kim

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Teri,

I don't have much time right now but wanted to tell you to FORGET everything that vet told you. :mad: Cushing's is NOT a death sentence and dogs can and do live out their normal lifespans with proper treatment. At least they have enough sense to know they aren't equipped to deal with Cushing's - IF that is what you are dealing with - and will send you to an IMS. That is good. :)

For right now, read, ask questions, post all the info you have on Grace's medical history. Please, please don't take what that vet said to heart. That was ignorance speaking and quite unprofessional IMHO. :(

More later!
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

PS. Remember to breath! :p

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Teri,

How is Grace doing today after being on the antibiotics for a few days? Any improvements?

There is a very simple, non-invasive, inexpensive test you can do to start the testing called the UC:CR. It can rule out Cushing's but it CANNOT diagnose it. If this test comes back normal, it is very unlikely you are dealing with Cushing's. If it comes back abnormal, that simply means something (NOT necessarily Cushing's) is wrong and further testing is needed. If this test has not been done, ask your vet to start here - with the UC:CR.

Another beginning test is a senior blood panel. This will look at all her values and start pointing the docs in the directions they need to check out. It will give an indication of diabetes, thyroid issues, kidney and liver issues, and a whole host of other organ status'. Your vet may well have already done this as it is pretty standard when a pup has problem. If you already have this test, post the values that are too high or too low along with the normal values for each one. (Different labs use different normal ranges so we need to see what they are working from. ;))

One of the most valuable test available is the ultrasound. An abdominal ultrasound will let your vets see her organs like the adrenals, kidneys, liver, gall bladder, bladder, intestines, stomach, pancreas. This test saved my Squirt's life as a tumor was found on her spleen that was causing her cortisol to soar. Once it was removed, her cortisol returned to normal. Without this test, I wouldn't have known about the tumor and it would have ruptured, taking her life in a horrible manner. I cannot emphasize how much I value this test - regardless of what condition is suspected.

Once the UC:CR and blood work is done, we can help direct you to the next tests you might want to consider having done. Cushing's is a slowly progressing condition so you have time to make sure that is what Grace has via proper testing. Cushing's is one of, if not THE, most difficult disease to diagnose because so many other things share the same signs and no one test is 100% able to diagnose Cushing's.

The testing can be expensive but once a diagnosis is made and treatment is dialed in, the cost drops dramatically. There are things that can help. Many folks here use Care Credit. Here is a link to find help:

Financial resources
http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212

We can help you find the most economical places to purchase Cushing's meds if needed, too. This won't be from your vet. ;)

I can so relate to your fear right now. I was a complete basket-case when I finally found my family here. :eek: A dear friend later described me as looking like someone who had stuck their finger in a light socket - hair standing on end! :D She kindly left out the parts about bulging eyeballs and flying slobber! :p I really was a mess. :o All I could think was that my Sweet Bebe was dying right in front of me and I felt so helpless and hopeless. :( But these kind folks took my hand and gently led me along until I could breath again. Then they started teaching me what I needed to know in order to help Squirt. The more I learned the less I feared this disease or it's treatments.

We are here for you and Grace, too. Ya'll are not alone on this journey - we will be with you every step of the way. Ask any questions you may have and we will do our best to help you understand. If we don't know, we will learn together. We are family and I am glad you and Grace are part of us now.

Keep your chin up, honey! And let us hear from you soon.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[JenniferFionaLeigh]

My dog Fiona was diagnosed almost a year ago and we had very good luck with Trilostane. She is a 10 year old female poodle and responded very well to the drug but make sure your vet supplies you with prednozone (sp?) just in case your dog has an adverse reaction if you decide to go that route. Unfortunately, last week she was also diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis which can mimc the same symptoms as Cushing's. It turns out she has both but I have been controlling it with insulin and diet this past week and she should be able to go back on Trilostane next week. I recommend the drug simply because Fiona is usually sensitive to antibiotics/treatments and Trilostane provided no side effects for her which is unusual (for her on anything). I saw results with Trilostane within two weeks but definitely get the Cushing's test and if your dog continues to drink excessively, lay in cold spots and ESPECIALLY incontinence ask for a ketone test of his/her urine. DO NOT LET THEM GIVE YOU PROIN ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A SMALL DOG. This is a cheap drug almost devoid of tests and it has a thirty percent stroke rate in dogs. Diapers are cheaper but if your dog starts leaking without his/her knowledge in the middle of the night I would recommend a diabetes test because the symptoms mimic each other and it can go hand in hand. Fiona didn't exhibit any incontinence due to Trilostane at all and it did seem to really help her. I will recommend that if you go that route give it to him/her every day at the same time. It's an inhibitor so you want to make certain it's on the correct time release. If after about 48 hours your dog doesn't have a bad reaction then you're good to go. Just make sure you are provided the steroid just in case. If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me! Jennifer.Etheridge9@gmail.com - just put Cushing's in the subject and I'll share with you what I know. I hope everything works out for you. Mine just got out of a week in the hospital and I'm dealing with two insulin shots a day and trying to juggle food and meds but it's, of course, totally worth it. Also, watch for frequent urinary tract infections and more than usual loss of hair. If his/her liver enzymes are low, squeeze a fish oil tablet over the food and that will work wonders in a month (every vet that I know recommends this whether there are liver problems or not). Definitely have a senior blood panel! I know the diagnosis is scary - it terrified me but it is something they can live with, promise. Ok, that's all for now :-)

[jrepac]

Cushings is not a death sentence....it amazes me in this day and age how UNEDUCATED so many vets are about this disease...:mad:

right now, get the needed tests and take one step at a time.

Cushings is a challenge, but with treatment, your baby can have a fine quality of life.

Jeff & Angel Mandy