Advise or experience re treating a senior with cushings (Sheila) 11-12 y/o yellow Lab

[Roseygirl]

Hello my name is Sheila my dog is Rosey a terrific yellow lab who is approx 11 or 12 yrs old. She is a rescue some 2003 so I don't really know her exact age. Rosey was diagnosed w cushings in May after several tests & the all day test. We had a panel and ultra sound done she has a growth on or very close t her adrenal gland but our vet could not rule out pituitary Cush. Rosey has been in good health just really slowed down last several months. Due t her age the surgery is not a good option for her.. So we put her on the Vetoryl .. About 11 days later She came down w severe diahrea.. Vet hosp on IV s for 2 days. The confusing part is we don't know if some new treats and a steak bone caused this or the meds. Our neighbor have her some new treats and them all this. I realize Rosey is older but I want t make her as comfy as possible . We almost lost her w the diahreah episode so I am truly afraid of puttin her on meds again. Vet said we could try but he understood if due t her age we didn't want to and due to the arthritis and joint side effects she has lost muscle mass in her back legs . She gets peppy a few times a day has good appetite but we can't walk her even half of her old normal self. I just want t help my girl be comfy in her old age an reading about the organ issues on here for not treating her is very concerning. Does anyone have exp w the side effect of diahreah from this med ( vet said not common side effect ) should we give the med another try? Thank you sorry so long post.

[mytil]

Hi and welcome to our site.

When you get the chance, please let us know the dosage you are giving as well as the weight of your girl.

Diarrhea can be an adverse reaction to the Vetoryl for dogs who are sensitive to the drug or the dose is too high...but, there could be many other reasons why she had such a severe case; possibly she ate something in the yard.

But nonetheless, it is a good idea to stop the drug until she is completely well and then reassess whether to start again.

When you can, post the lab results of the tests that diagnosed the Cushing's so we can see the actual numbers of the diagnosis. The symptoms of Cushing's also mimic other conditions (i.e. thryoid condition, diabetes for example).

Please keep us posted.
Terry

[addy]

Hi and Welcome,

Boy that is a hard question. My Zoe has colitis/IBD. It was controlled when we started her Vetoryl treatment. We started her at a very low dose, 10mgs. She weighed at the time 18 pounds. She still flared for a few days and had runny poops. Because you had more than one thing happen, you don't know cause and effect.

What did your vet say?

If you could give us more info, tests done, results, pups weight, Vetoryl dose given, any history of stool issues?

Others will be along soon to chime in. Im so glad you found us. Cushings is a very hard disease to diagnosis. The drugs used help elevate symptoms. Treatment can also uncover issues the high cortisol was masking. In some cases, the dog is self medicating. It is a balance we all weigh and it really helps to have a very experienced specialist to help sort things out. Sometimes that is easier said then done:)

The good thing, is you are not alone in your journey anymore.

[lulusmom]

Hi and welcome to he forum.

First let me say, "bless you" for adopting a rescue. Rosey is a very lucky girl to have cross paths with you but I'm sure she's not feeling very lucky right now. I have to disagree strongly with your vet. Diarrhea is at the top of the list of Vetoryl's side effects. After eleven days the first thing your vet should have done was to check cortisol levels via an acth stimulation test. Was this done? If so, can you please post the results? If it wasn't, this coupled with your vets erroneous assumption that diarrhea is not a side effect of Vetoryl has raised my concerns about his/her experience with the disease and the treatment.

Besides Rosey's slowing down, did she have any symptoms associated with cushing's like excessive drinking & peeing, voracious appetite, constant panting, loss or thinning of coat, skin issues, etc.? if not, then I would question the diagnosis as overt symptoms are a huge component of the diagnosis. Short of an adrenalectomy for the small percentage of dogs who have an adrenal tumor, there is no cure for the disease. The goal of treatment is to remedy problem symptoms, symptoms which are usually more problematic for the pet owner than the dog. If a dog has no symptoms, there is no reason to rush to treat.

It would help us a great deal in understanding your vet's rationale if you could round up all of the test results and post them here. With respect to the blood chemistry and cbc, we need only the abnormal values and please include the normal reference ranges. The diagnostic tests we'd be interested in is the acth stimulation test and/or the low dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDS). Can you also get a copy of the ultrasound findings and post those results here too?

I'm sure sorry for the reasons that brought you here but I'm glad you found us. I hope you know that you no longer have to stand alone with Rosey. You've now got lots of friends to help you help Rosey.

Glynda

[Roseygirl]

Hi Addy thank you for the message I appreciate the support . Rosey is on thyroid meds and has been since 2006 it's Thyroxin and she takes dasaquin for her hips/ joints ... She has had a few pancreatitis attacks in past. It. It as a rule. Rosey lives to eat but is at a healthy wy of 80 lbs now she at one time weighed 107 but that was 6 yrs ago and befor her thyroid diagnosis. Dosage for cushions med was 60 mg vet said correct for her wt but can be lowered if she reacts again to it. But as I mentioned I am afraid to put her theu that again I veterol caused it. Vet is unsure due t treats & steak bone she had that weekend.,,, Not her norm either. Hersymptoms began with incontinence while she was in resting mode and drinking
More water ... First signs of this were in April the. Aftera y vet. Is it'd the cushings test....

[Mitz]

Your Rosey sounds just like my 12 YO yellow Lab, Mitzi. She too was on Veterol, developed diarrhea, then vomiting, was in the hospital on IVs for 2 days now treated with antibiotics for pneumonia, most likely from inhaling vomit. I too am afraid to put Mitzi back on Veterol at any dose. She is now being treated by a vet with an internal medicine speciality but her Cushings will not be addressed until pneumonia is cleared up.
Sending get-well wishes for Rosey.

[Roseygirl]

Oh poor Mitzi I hope her pneum. Goes away soon. Rosey was also treated w antibiotics after her episode. It seems like their quality office is almos better without meds at their age but I guess that's where I hope our vets will guide both of us. Prayers to Mitzi:)

[Roseygirl]

Thankk you Glynda for all the great info and support I will post her tests today after work. She did have the excessive drinking, appetite yes but she's always had that and the panting especially at night. She lost some muscle mass in her back legs areas ... Initially I was told in June that was her age ... But the. After the leaking, drinking lots h2o and panting the cushings tests were done then ultrasound. The vet said that the diahreah wasnt one of most common side effects of veteryl but I see now from you and others that is. It true.
First let me say, "bless you" for adopting a rescue. Rosey is a very lucky girl to have cross paths with you but I'm sure she's not feeling very lucky right now. I have to disagree strongly with your vet. Diarrhea is at the top of the list of Vetoryl's side effects. After eleven days the first thing your vet should have done was to check cortisol levels via an acth stimulation test. Was this done? If so, can you please post the results? If it wasn't, this coupled with your vets erroneous assumption that diarrhea is not a side effect of Vetoryl has raised my concerns about his/her experience with the disease and the treatment.

Besides Rosey's slowing down, did she have any symptoms associated with cushing's like excessive drinking & peeing, voracious appetite, constant panting, loss or thinning of coat, skin issues, etc.? if not, then I would question the diagnosis as overt symptoms are a huge component of the diagnosis. Short of an adrenalectomy for the small percentage of dogs who have an adrenal tumor, there is no cure for the disease. The goal of treatment is to remedy problem symptoms, symptoms which are usually more problematic for the pet owner than the dog. If a dog has no symptoms, there is no reason to rush to treat.

It would help us a great deal in understanding your vet's rationale if you could round up all of the test results and post them here. With respect to the blood chemistry and cbc, we need only the abnormal values and please include the normal reference ranges. The diagnostic tests we'd be interested in is the acth stimulation test and/or the low dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDS). Can you also get a copy of the ultrasound findings and post those results here too?

I'm sure sorry for the reasons that brought you here but I'm glad you found us. I hope you know that you no longer have to stand alone with Rosey. You've now got lots of friends to help you help Rosey.

Glynda[/QUOTE]

[Roseygirl]

Thanks Terry, Rosey is on thyroid meds since 2005 and she has always been. It water drinker just not as much as since all this. I will post her test info later today and hopefully get her scan info too. Thanks for helpful info

[molly muffin]

Hello and Welcome.

It will be interesting to see what Rosey's test results look like. We basically want abnormal results, high/low and the range and results of any LDDS, ACTH test, with ranges.

I'm glad you found us. It's always good to meet others who are going through or have gone through this themselves and know what to look for.

Hugs,
Sharlene

[Buffaloe]

Hi Sheila,

I am sorry you have to deal with these issues with Rosie. I have a wonderful 2 year old yellow lab, Maddie, and I am sure your Rosie has been a fabulous companion for you for almost 10 years.

I've been all through the adrenal tumor deal with a senior dog. My german shepherd mix, Shiloh, was finally diagnosed with a very large adrenal tumor and had a successful adrenalectomy at the age of 12. She lived another 3.5 years as an exceptionally happy and healthy girl. Prior to her surgery, she was just hanging on, a 100 yard walk was a long one for her and she had absolutely no quality of life. We worked with great surgeons and internists.

Shiloh had many appointments and tests with three different GP vets before we got her diagnosis. From my experience, GP vets just don't know alot about adrenal tumors. They know very little about adrenalectomies to remove a specific tumor. Shi was 12 when she had her surgery and she tolerated it and recovered beautifully. Maybe Rosie is too old for an adrenalectomy but only an experienced board certified surgeon can decide that, unless she is just really old and feeble. Our first consultation with our BCS cost $85 and I walked out of there saying, that's some of the best money I've ever spent.

There should be a written ultrasound report. An ultrasound needs to be performed by a top-notch ultrasonographer with state of the art equipment.

For us, an adrenactomy was the only option. The meds. (Lysodren or Trilostane) pretty much only provide palliative care. The LDDS test can sometimes give some indication of the presence of an adrenal tumor but only an ultrasound can diagnose it definitively. All the best to you and Rosie.

Ken