treating copd with cushings

[IDeutch]

Hi all,

I just signed up at the recommendation of a friend because I'm desperate. My beloved miniature poodle has suddenly gotten very ill, and has been diagnosed with lung disease, tracheal collapse, and almost definitely Cushings.
The only medicine that allows her to breathe is prednisone, which is the WORST things to give a dog with cushings. Without the prednisone, she literally can't find a place for herself because she's having such a difficult time breathing. The prednisone allows her to breathe so that she's not suffering, but now she's frantic to eat most of time.

Does anyone have any experience with this situation??? I'm desperate.

[Roxee's Dad]

Hi and welcome to you and your baby girl.

I manually approved your post so others may see it and respond. Please check your inbox for a message from K9cushings and follow the instructions to complete your membership. Once your membership has been completed, your post will no longer need to be approved and will appear on the board quickly.

[lulusmom]

Hi and welcome to you and your precious pup.

I'm sorry for the circumstances that brought you here but I'm glad you found us, with the help from your friend. Please be sure to thank your friend for us.

I have two dogs diagnosed with congestive heart failure, one of which has collapsing trachea. I do understand how hard it is to watch your dog cough, hack, and struggle to breath. Prior to your vet putting your dog on a prednisone, did s/he prescribe a bronchodilator like Aminophylline or Theophylline? If not, I would definintely discuss this with your vet. Theophylline and Tussigon cough syrup really helped my dog.

Did your dog have cushing's symptoms before treating with prednisone?

[IDeutch]

Hi, thanks for answering so quickly. Yes, she's on both of the other medications you mentioned, but they did not help. The only help was through the prednisone. The first sign I ever saw of the Cushings occurred just a few days before she came down with the dreadful breathing problem and tracheal collapse.

[lulusmom]

Cushing's is a very slow progressing disease and it is very unusual for symptoms to come on that quickly. Excessive thirst and urination and increased hunger are all side effects of Aminophylline. Which symptoms did you observe prior to starting treatment with prednisone. My dog actually quit eating on Aminophylline so we switched him to Theophylline and it worked great. I do know that Aminophylline and Prednisone really shouldn't be given together. Is your dog receiving both at this time?

Okay, last question. Did your vet do an ultrasound to check the lungs, heart and surrounding internal organs?

[IDeutch]

Actually, my dog is on Theophylline, and the eating, etc. started before she was put on that. She had all the tests, including a bronchial wash, so she's also being treated with antibiotics, one of which will be new today. She has 2 leaky valves, so there is underlying heart disease, but my clear goal is to have her breathing without a major struggle. I spoke with the vet (cardiologist) since my original posting earlier, and she feels that Pika needs to be stabilized first before we start reducing the prednisone.

Thanks for your concern!

[SasAndYunah]

Hi and welcome from me as well :)

I had a dog as well with diagnosed collapsed trachea, emphysema, cushings and epilepsy. And so true, what's good treatment for one condition is counterproductive for another...I've been there too.

First of all, I am from The Netherlands and sometimes I don't quite understand everything so I appologize upfront for that :)

In your first post you mention "...has suddenly gotten very ill, and has been diagnosed with lung disease, tracheal collapse, and almost definitely Cushings." This strikes me as strange since neither collapsed trachea or cushings comes on sudden. If with lungdisease you mean pneumonia for example, yes that can come on pretty sudden but something like emphysema also doesn't come on very sudden, they are all more or less slowly progressing conditions. So I wonder what were the symptoms that she had when she became suddenly very ill and what tests were done by the vet/specialist to diagnose all these conditions?

In that same post you say that prednison is the only medicine that allows her to breath but then in your 2nd post you mention "she's on both of the other medications you mentioned" (meaning the theophyline and Aminophylline Glynda mentioned I assume?) and in your 3rd post you say that "Actually, my dog is on Theophylline" so I am very confused here :) If prednison is the only medication that helps her breath, why give her the other medication(s) as well? Could you please post all the medications, including the anti biotics and anything else she is on?

I understand from your posts that "She has 2 leaky valves, so there is underlying heart disease" and I wonder if she is on any medication for that? Because heartdisease and "sudden" breathing problems are not uncommon and they could be related.

So sorry for all the questions but it will help us to help you solve the puzzle hopefully...but we need accurate and detailed information in order to do so :)

All our best,

Saskia and Mhina.