8.5 year old with Cushings and liver cancer

[gbx2fan25]

My dog was recently diagnosed with both Cushings disease and liver cancer. Her Cushings symptoms do not warrant medication just yet so we tried chemotherapy for the cancer. We found out a week ago that the chemo did not work.

We were told that the loose stool our dog continues to have is no longer from the chemo so our vet gave her Hill's Prescription GI food for her stomach. She has taken it for two days and has vomited twice. I'm wondering if her vomiting is from the food or possibly the Cushings or cancer taking it's toll on her.

I don't know what to do because we scheduled her to try a different chemo this coming week but I'm hesitant because she is showing these symptoms.

Is there a common way Cushings tends to progress?

Thanks for any help.

[mytil]

Hi and welcome to our site. I am so very sorry your girl is going through this.

I wanted to ask a few questions. What symptoms does your girl have now for your vet to diagnose Cushing's? What tests were performed? (i.e. LDDS, ACTH, blood panel etc).

My thoughts are that it must be the chemo treatment that is cause your girl to vomit and not anything to do with Cushing's (vomiting is not a common symptom). Is your girl on any other medication?

Please keep us posted
Terry

[labblab]

Hello from me, too, and I am also so sorry to hear of your dog's problems. Like Terry, though, I doubt very much that Cushing's has anything to do with her soft stools and vomiting. It is much more likely caused by any one of the other three issues: the cancer itself, effects of the chemo, or the new food.

Also like Terry, I will be very interested to know more about the symptoms and the tests that were done to diagnose Cushing's. With a known liver tumor, I think it is possible that any Cushing's blood or urine testing could have been skewed since other, nonadrenal illnesses can cause the same hormonal elevations that are used to diagnose Cushing's. Plus, liver disease can cause many of the same symptoms.

At any rate, I do think the cancer is your first priority now. And again, Cushing's does not typically cause the GI issues that are currently a problem for you. I am still very glad you've found us, though, and we will still try to help you in any way we can! So any additional info that you can supply will be much appreciated.

Marianne

[gbx2fan25]

Wow thank you both so much for the quick response. She had the LDDS to determine that she indeed has Cushings. Her main symptom that began our suspicions that something was wrong was her increase in drinking water and having some accidents in the house, which she still does. She seems to be getting a little bit of the belly too. She is not on medications and we have been giving her the supplements DPLA and Milk Thistle to help her liver (as instructed by our vets).

I appreciate the feedback and will call the vet to let her know and maybe use the ole chicken and rice bland diet to calm her stomach.

Thanks again. :)

[SasAndYunah]

Hi and welcome from me as well :)

Vomitting and loose stools are clear signs of livercancer (not in general of course, but in a dog with livercancer, yes) as are increased drinking and a swollen/bloated belly. I am wondering if your vet has told you this?

Do you know if it is primary or secundary livercancer and what type of cancer it is? Because certain types of livercancer do not respond to chemo.

Wishing you all the best,

Saskia and Mhina :)