Dietary supplements

[lindalou001]

My dog was greatly helped with her cushings symptoms by a dietary supplement called supraglan. It prolonged her time and made her life more enjoyable despite this disease. I don't sell this product but did a lot of research before trying it. I would have done just about anything to save our sweet Angel. Sadly, she wound up with a horrible joint problem and we had to make the decision to let her go. Cushings was not the reason and I believe that this supplement helped her greatly in her last years. She was also on a medication called Temerol P for her allergies and some omega oils put on her food. This combination of treatments was the only thing that worked for her. Good luck to all.

Linda

[labblab]

Dear Linda,

I am very sorry that your Cushing's dog is no longer with you. Thanks for writing in hopes that your experience will be helpful to others who are facing Cushing's now. I am glad you felt as though your Angel was not suffering too much from the disease. However, I must tell you that our experience here is that the only proven way in which to control the elevated cortisol that causes Cushing's damage and symptoms is through the use of prescription medication. It would be wonderful if the same thing could be accomplished by a simple dietary supplement, but we have seen no evidence that this is true.

One of our staffers sent an email to the company who makes supraglan, asking for any clinical trials or studies that can support their healing claims. This was the response she received back:


RE: Supraglan‏
From: Pet Wellbeing - Customer Service (orders@petwellbeing.com)
Sent: Mon 5/11/09 6:47 PM
To: 'Glynda Pomerantz' (gpomerantz@hotmail.com)
Hi Glynda,

Unfortunately no scientific tests or trials have been conducted on this product to support the claims you inquired below about.
The items we offer on www.petwellbeing.com are not drugs or medicines, but rather all natural herbal alternatives. Please be aware that these products are not guaranteed to cure or treat all animals, as each individual animal and their situation's are different.

PetWellbeing Customer Service
1-877-633-2401
http://www.petwellbeing.com

I do know that fish oil is recommended as a supportive supplement for a variety of conditions. I'm afraid I do not know anything about Temerol P. Was Angel ever formally treated for her Cushing's by a vet?

Once again, I'm glad that you felt as though Angel was not too uncomfortable with her Cushing's. But we must recommend that any members with dogs who may be suffering from the disease consult with their vets for diagnostic testing and scientifically validated treatment options. This is the only confirmed way in which to halt the worsening damage and discomfort that Cushing's can cause.

Marianne

[Squirt's Mom]

Temoril P is an antibiotic that contains Prednisone. Pred can cause a form of Cushing's called Iatrogenic - which is a form caused by the use of steroids. This form is treated, and cured, by simply tapering off the steroid. Once the steroid is removed from the system, the body no longer displays Cushing's signs or positive test results.

The use of pred in Cushing's dogs is not typically recommended unless there is a crisis situation in which the cortisol has dropped too low and needs replacing - which is what the pred will do.

Just further FYI about this particular drug....

[Bgoods]

Our vet recommended some Omega-3/Fish oils for Rolo a good while back. They were specifically for dry skin, which I think is an accompanying symptom with Cushings. Looking back, perhaps the dry skin was the first of the Cushing's symptoms to appear, but we were also bathing Rolo at least weekly then so it was also felt we were over-bathing him. We gave him the supplements and decreased his bathing frequency (something he never complained about) and that problem seemed to go away. However, if that was the first symptom, we were only treating a symptom and not the cause.

As the company said, each dog is different and each situation has so many complex variables that can be at work. I know all of the vets we have seen have said that given Rolo's age (6), they would aggressively address the Cushings. Perhaps if he was older, a more palliative approach would have been advisable.