My mini schnauzer is shaking when sleeping

[tinkersmom]

Could someone please give me some suggestions. First I live in
GA and Tinker, my mini schnauzer was diagnosed with Cushings last year. TinkerBell is now 11 years old. Tinker in on 40 mg trilostane in the morning. She is also taking enalapril 5 mg am and pm for her blood pressure.
Recently she has begun having eye twitches, her back legs begin shaking and her body eventually begins almost bouncing. I'm concerned as I know she does not get much sleep at night. During the day when this happens I can call her name and she wakes up and it stops. I have called my vet several times and they just continually say she is dreaming. I don't believe this. Could someone please suggest something. She is fine in the morning, acts like a pup but after dinner
and taking her enalapril she just climbs into her bed and goes to sleep.
Eventually she gets up and sits with my husband and me on our couch.
I have noticed she just follows me around our home. Every room etc. She is the sweetest little girl and I don't want her to suffer but I'm very concerned.

[mytil]

Hi and welcome to our site. I am sorry your girl is having troubles.

I would like to point out that enalapril is an ACE inhibitor and should be used with caution when also giving Trilostane. See this product insert (at the bottom of the page) http://www.dechra-us.com/files/dechraUSA/downloads/Product%20inserts/Vetoryl.pdf

Let us know how much your girl weighs that way we can see if the dosage is too high. Also, when you get the chance post the results of the most recent ACTH stim test and when was her blood pressure checked last?

Usually when one of my dogs does not feel well she will follow me around as well. It makes her feel more secure.

So are you seeing these twitching episodes at a particular time of day or right after giving any of the meds? Does she looks like she is "zoning out?"

Sorry for all the questions, but the more we know the better we can offer advice.

Terry

[frijole]

Hello. Please tell us when the last time your girl had an acth test and what the results were (there should be two numbers). It could be that the cortisol has risen. Shaking is common with uncontrolled (high cortisol) cushing's. Cush dogs tend to be restless at night also. Again as cortisol goes down that goes away. It could be she needs to increase the dose but before going there I'd like to see what the last results were. If it has been a while I suggest you schedule another test and see where she is.

Obviously your vet never had a cush dog because I know exactly what you are describing. :)

Kim

[molly muffin]

Hello and welcome. Sorry I missed your post and I'm just now catching up.

It could be that if the cortisol isn't controlling symptoms any longer that maybe a twice a day dosing instead of once would work better for it. Help her get some sleep at night. Also you could try melatonin at night, as it is natural and won't interact with the trilostane, so it's okay to give.

How are things going now?

Sharlene and Molly Muffin