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View Full Version : Bo, 14 y.o. Mixed Breed Treating with Trilostane



mandyau02
02-18-2013, 11:17 AM
Hi!
I'm new to the site, and first let me say that I'm so happy to have come across you all. The amount of information I've read in 5 days has become overwhelming regarding Cushing's. It's so nice to know that so many other families are out there to help support and give advice.

So, our baby is Bo who just turned 14 last month, he is a 58 lb mixed breed. We got him at 8 months old from the humane society in Auburn AL. He has been with us ever since and is a huge part of this family.
In the last few weeks he started acting out of sorts and wanting to go out more, drinking a ton of water, pacing at night / acting confused, and panting much more than normal. Last week we took him in to be tested for diabetes, immediately the vet called me and said his sugars were fine but she wanted to test for Cushing's. By dinner time we knew that's what he had and started talking treatment. With Bo's age we weren't interested in any kind of invasive procedures so medication was the best route and he started on Trilostane Saturday twice a day. I've also been cooking for him more in the last month or so and after the diagnosis it's the only way he's being fed now. Bo goes back in two weeks for a follow up blood test to see how he is taking to the medication. So far we've noticed no side effects and he is already walking better, drinking less, and just seems more perky (as perky as a 98 year old dog can at least ;).
My hopes are high for the diet and medication, along with the continued Adequan injections he is on for arthritis.

Again, I'm so excited to have found this site for support! Any advice is much appreciated. Especially with the cooking. I'm very familiar with the kitchen for my kids, but I'm really trying to give Bo what he needs the most of and cut out the junk.

lulusmom
02-18-2013, 01:20 PM
Hi and welcome to you and Bo.

I have moved your thread to our Questions and Discussions forum and retitled it so everybody can readily identify your and Bo's thread.

I'm sorry for the reasons that brought you here but I'm really glad you found us. We'll do whatever we can to help you get your precious boy back on track. I'm personally a little weak on the nutrition front but we have a few members who probably have some handy tips for your home cooking.

If you've looked at many threads here, you've probably figured out that we ask lots of questions and nag at people to post results of tests done to diagnose as well as post results of subsequent acth stimulation tests done to monitor treatmen. So I'll start the twenty or so questions by asking you to please round up copies of all tests that have been done thus far and post the results here. With respect to the blood chemistry and cbc, you need only post the highs and lows...and please remember to include the normal reference ranges.

Did your vet tell you what form of cushing's Bo has.....adrenal or pituitary? What dose of Trilostane did your vet prescribed for Bo?
You can never give us enough information on Bo. The more info we have, the better able we'll be to provide you with meaningful and appropriate feedback. If you haven't already taken a look around our Helpful Resources forum, I would suggest you do that and pay particular attention to the information on Vetoryl (Trilostane) so that you have a better understanding of dosing, side effects and how to properly monitor treatment for efficacy. Bo should be getting his doses with his morning meal. The acth stimulation test should be done within 4 to 6 hours after dosing has been given with a meal. Do not fast Bo for this test.

We'll be looking forward to hearing much more about Bo.

Glynda

molly muffin
02-18-2013, 05:38 PM
Hello and welcome from me too.
So, blood sugar was fine, the other thing I'd like to ask is whether they tested for a UTI, via culture and has the specific urine gravity been tested? If the urine is dilute, then the only way to confirm if a UTI is present or not is via culture.
You mentioned that you knew for sure by end of the day and didn't want to do any invasive procedure, was an ultrasound done? That is the surest way to know if the cause of cushings is an adrenal tumor or pituitary.
As for food, I'll pass that over to the others as they have quite a bit of experience with diet and cushings.

Sharlene and Molly Muffin