Daisy, 10 y/o Basset - Need advice

[naomi turtle]

Hi I live in the uk and have a beautiful cushings dog , my Daisy a10 year old Basset Hound. She has been having a lot of problems and really need some good advice , hugs to you all, naomi:):):):)

[labblab]

Welcome to you and Daisy!!!

We are so glad you've found us, and we will be happy to offer any advice we can. First, it will help us a great deal if you can tell us more about Daisy's diagnosis and health history. Is she currently being treated for her Cushing's? Can you list any symptoms or problems that she's currently having? Any and all info that you are willing to share will allow us to give you our best and most accurate feedback.

Looking forward to hearing more about your sweet girl.
Marianne

[SoggyDoggy]

Hi and welcome from me too.

Just to add to Marianne's post, when you tell us about Daisy, if you have any testing results that you could share, or can round some up to share, it will give everyone a better idea of what you are dealing with and therefor we'll be able to help you out on the advice side more effectively.

As you go through the board, you will find a huge number of people willing to help out in any way they can, everyone is fully supportive and non judgemental. We all have different situations to deal with and all dogs are unique in their own problems and how they respond, so there is no one set way to do anything.

Any questions you have, please feel free to post and we'll all help out as much as we can. And if you're a full bottle with no questions, then tell us some stories about you and Daisy. We like those too :D

So once again, welcome and we look forward to hearing more.

PS What a great name you have! :D:D:D:D

[Budsters Mom]

Hello and welcome from me too!
I am sorry for the reason that brought you here, but very glad you found us.
You have come to the right place! There are many K9Cushing's angels standing by to help and stay with you every step of the way. They love details, test results, any information you can get your hands on. The more the better.

So again welcome to you and Daisy,
Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy:cool:

[naomi turtle]

Daisy was diagnosed with cushings a year ago when she went to the vets to have a cyst removed. She was immediately put on Vetoryl, and seemed to improve. She had been drinking loads got very fat around the stomach etc... Lots of symptoms improved but then all hell broke lose, constant ear discharge, a burst ear drum, she had to have her ears flushed 3 times this year, she had to have 2 teeth out, and constant weeping from her eyes. She has been back and forth to the vets every few weeks. She was on first, 90 mgs, then 100 mgs, then 120 mgs , then 90 again not to mention countless blood tests, and distress. After her last test when she was to high or low I'm not sure, she was off her meds for 10 days and it was heaven I had my old girl back. But then my vet said, put her back on 90 . She was so poorly she was lethargic, confused , etcccc. I sometimes feel I'd rather just take her off her meds and stop all the rounds of tests and distress. I now have her on 60 mgs. She seems ok for now. Any advice?..thanks so much, I'm so confused . I love my girl so much and can't bear all her suffering. Hugs Naomi

[frijole]

Naomi it's time to take charge of the situation and you did the first step by finding us. ;) You gotta go get copies of all tests that have been done and get us up to speed so we can help you.

If you don't know if she was high or low last time then that isn't good. If she was too low you stop giving it - too high you normally increase dosage. Sounds like you've been all over the map with dosing ...

But what bothers me is that all of the things you are talking about (infections, ear drum bursting, eyes infected) are really not cushing's symptoms. Cushings dogs have compromised immune systems so are prone to infections but I seriously don't ever remember a member with all of the symptoms you are mentioning... makes me wonder if your dog even has cushings.

YOu said you took her off and you had your old dog back and when you put her back on she was lethargic - that is a sign that either the dose is too high or heck she may not have cushings. But we can't really say until we get test results.

But to be honest - based on what you shared I would take her off the drug and let her be herself while you sort through all of this. My two cents. Kim

[molly muffin]

Hello and welcome from me too. It does sound like you have been all over the place with dosage. It also sounds like she had a crisis and her cortisol dropped too low. When that happens, you wait for symptoms to come back and then restart vetoryl at a lower dosage. Never before they come back, never at the same dose. That is if this is truly cushings.
I'd stop dosing until you get this figured out. If we can see the numbers on the ACTH test and any blood and urine tests (only post abnormal high/low results with ranges included) then we'll have a better idea of what might be going on.
We have people here who have successfully treated cushings for years, so there is a lot of experience behind any advice given.

Again welcome. Now some deep breaths and lets figure this out
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Peety's Fur-mom]

Hi Naomi and Daisy, Just wanted to say hi and welcome you and Daisy. I love Basset's. I have had 7 and they are so fun. So sorry Daisy is a Cushing's pup. Stay right here for great advice and even greater support.
Hugs to both of you.
Pat Peety's #1 fan

[Simba's Mom]

Welcome Naomi and Daisy, so glad to have you here, but sad your furbaby is sick, we are here for you and Daisy too.....