Rosie and Fern, 13 year old Border Terriers

[Catherine]

Hello everybody.
I was so pleased to find this forum to give me a chance to talk with other owners going through the same thing.
I have two 13 year old litter sisters, Rosie and Fern.
Fern was diagnosed with Cushings two years ago. She is being treated with Vetoryl, 10 mg and 20mg on alternate days. She has been on this dosage for approx 9 months and has being doing really well. However, I noticed over the past couple of weeks that her water consumption was slowly increasing, and then she started panting. So I booked her in for an ACTH test for next Monday.
Last week she had been a little off-colour for a few days - nothing that I could really put my finger on. Then on Friday she refused to eat, and then started vomiting. She had a very tense abdomen and was unsteady on her back legs.
I took her to the vet (my usual vet was not on duty) who decided that it was a gastro-intestinal upset. He administered antibiotics and an anti-emetic. When I re-emphasised that she had Cushings he decided to give her a steroid injection as well. Within a few hours she was much more relaxed, her abdomen was not as tense and she had stopped vomiting.
When I took her back to the vet the next morning (same vet) he said that it was obviously a stomach upset and that the antibiotics had 'done the trick' - obviously miracle antibiotics..........
I am convinced that it was related to her Cushings - possibly her pancreas.
Anyway, Fern is just about back to her normal self - but refusing to eat anything other than bland food. I will just have to wait until her ACTH test.
Worryingly, her sister Rosie has started to display symptoms that are similar to the ones that Fern displayed before she was diagnosed. Poor coat, excessive drinking, panting and an increase in appetite.
I had routine bloodwork done, and everything came back within normal perameters. Just to make sure, I have booked her in for an ACTH test on Monday as well.
I am so worried about both of them. I will not be able to relax until I get both of them back after their tests.

[jmac]

Hello and welcome to you, Fern, and Rosie!

I am glad you found us too! It sounds like Fern has been doing pretty well for the last couple of years, but that sounds like a scary episode last week. I'm glad she is okay!

You have found a wonderful site with tons of knowledge, and very caring, helpful, kind people who will be able to support you and your dogs. I'm sure others will be along soon to gather additional info. and we'll be eager to hear Fern's ATCH results.

I know how it feels to worry when things just aren't right. I'm glad you don't have to wait to long for the test. Please feel free to ask us any questions you have in the meantime.

Julie & Hannah

[frijole]

Hi and welcome from me. The episode that included not eating, vomiting and being unsteady sounds like a case of cortisol being too low. I would bet that the steroid that was injected was the liquid equivalent of prednisone which is designed to counteract low cortisol. Please ask and get the exact name of the steroid. This would explain why the shot made her better so quickly.

What I don't understand is why the vet didn't perform an acth test right then and there vs. waiting? Dogs that go low can die. The signs you mentioned are textbook "low cortisol".

The only thing that does NOT fit is that a week earlier you said her water intake was increasing and she was panting again. That could have been from the heat I guess.

Luckily there will be plenty of time between that injection and the acth test for her cortisol level to go back to where it was.

Keep us posted and don't forget to get the name of that injection. Thanks!!! Kim

[lauraperla]

Hello Catherine, and welcome!
I hope Fern is much better today and Rosie is doing ok too.
I think you are wise to schedule the ACTH. It is a puzzle, when did she have her last ACTH, do you have the results of that?
It's also likely that you may be a big puzzled by the ACTH numbers comparative to others on this site. We use a different measure in the Uk, nmol/L whereas in the US its generally ug/dl, if you divide your pre and post nmol/L numbers by 27.59 you will get a figure in ug/dl :)
I'm also assuming that we can disregard heat as the cause of the panting with the atrocious weather we've been having!!!
Love Border Terriers, they are such amazing characters. Look forward to hearing more about your girls!
Laura

[mytil]

Hi and welcome from me too,

I am with you on the pancreas. Did the vet mention anything about pancreatitis? Even a single episode like this and that she is still not wanting to eat normally after the steroid injection I would certainly mention this. Especially with a tight abdomen as you described.

Some Cushpups are prone to this.

Keep us posted
Terry

[Catherine]

Thanks everybody.
Fern is doing a bit better. her abdomen is a lot less tense, although I am still having problems getting her to eat. She seems to be hungry, but after a few mouthfulls she just cannot face any more. Although I can get her to eat my homemade dog biscuits.
Any suggestions would be very welcome.
I do not have her results yet from previous tests, I will collect them on Monday when I am at the vet's.
Her last ACTH was in February, I don't have those results but there was no change in her meds.
I agree with Mytil - I am certain that it was acute pancreatitis. The way that it responded to the steroid and the continuing nausea seems to point in that direction. She is still panting and drinking excessively. That did not change with Friday night's crisis.
I will just keep a close eye on her till Monday.
Up until now she has been an active and happy dog. Always playing with her great-niece Ciara. Poor Ciara cannot understand why her best friend no longer wants to play with her.:(