Cassie has cushings

[tsou]

Cassie, my pitbull is 11 years old and was diagnosed with cushings 2 weeks ago. My vet put her on Lysendren 500mg , 1 pill 3 times a day for the first 10 days. after the initial 10 days, she started getting extremely dizzy to the point that if she tried to stand, she would fall over. We took her back to the vet he said she has vertigo. Is this a normal thing with this medicine? She is not eating and doesn't move. She weighs 70 lbs, and we are having to carry her outside and help her potty then carry her back in and she doesn't move. We are debating on whether we should continue her on this medicine or not. Our vet has her now taking 1 pill twice a week. Please give me some guidance.

[Squirt's Mom]

Please STOP the Lysodren now - no more medication. Did your vet give you any prednisone? If so, give her some right NOW. If not, get her to an ER asap. It sounds as if her cortisol has gone too low which is life-threatening. Please do this now, right this minute, then get back to us later.

[tsou]

I took her to the vet on Tuesday because she was doing this, he ran her blood as said her numbers were looking a little better to keep giving her the meds. I haven't given them to her because she hasn't eaten, when I called him he said she need the med. should I bring her to another vet right away?

[Harley PoMMom]

I agree with Leslie, please do stop the Lysodren and get to a vet ASAP to have her cortisol and electrolytes checked.

The vet shouldn't have gave you more than an eight day supply of Lysodren.

I am very concerned for you and your girl.

Love and hugs, Lori

[Harley PoMMom]

Did you get a copy of the results? If so, could you post them? If not, please call the vet and ask what the ACTH stim numbers are and please post them.

Is Cassie vomiting? any diarrhea?

If she is not eating then no Lysodren is to be given.

[tsou]

The vet is closed today but I will get them on Monday. She is not vomiting. She just lays there, I found some prednisone 20mg that was for her a while back, should I make her take one?

[Squirt's Mom]

How much does she weigh, honey? We can help you with the dose if needed but it would really be much, MUCH better if she could be seen NOW. I'm afraid your vet may have missed the mark on this - when you took her in and he said "vertigo" her cortisol may have been too low then and the best thing would have been to do an ACTH immediately but apparently he didn't. Lysodren keeps working for 48 hours - two days - after the last dose so if she was low then, she is life-threateningly low now and needs help quickly. I am very, very worried about your baby girl and am not sure it can wait until Monday.

Is she eating? Drinking? Are her stools loose at all? These answers are critical!

[tsou]

she isn't eating, is drinking and last stool was normal. she weighs 62 lbs.

[Squirt's Mom]

Is she responsive? Will she get up on her own? When was her last dose of Lysodren? Was it a full pill?

[tsou]

she is alert, she picks up her head and sits, but can't stand up real good without her legs getting wobbily. she went outside this morning and pottied on her own. she took one pill yesterday.

[Squirt's Mom]

If you just simply cannot get her to a vet now, then give her 1/2 tablet of the pred. tablet - 10mg.

[frijole]

Wow. I'm just coming in from doing yard work and reading all this. The others are right! Give the prednisone and put the lysodren away for now. I know you don't know us but I used this drug successfully for almost 5 years. It is wonderful unless you give too much. I can't believe your vet said to keep giving it.

Please trust all of us and cease giving it for now. Give the prednisone as it is given for emergencies such as this. Depending on how low the cortisol has gone she should see some relief in a few hours.

Here's a link to how lysodren works:

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181

If she starts vomiting or has diarrhea or is so lethargic she looks dead take her to an animal hospital IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE. Tell them she has taken too much lysodren and needs to have her electrolytes checked right away. We see this alot and some dogs require IV's and overnight stays.

You have done the right thing and I'm so glad google landed you here. We won't leave your side so just keep us updated on how dear Cassie is doing ok?

Kim

[Squirt's Mom]

Did you give the pred? How long ago? How is she now?

[molly muffin]

Oh gosh, I only just now have seen your thread. How is your baby doing now?

We have people like Kim and Leslie on the forum who have used lysodren successfully for years. So their advice is very good, they know what they are talking about.
This forum exists in part because not all vets are as familiar with cushings and the medications, how they work and what they can do, as they should be. Often an IMS is a better choice if possible, since they specialize in these sort of disease, rather than a GP. Owners often haven't heard of cushings until that day that they get the diagnosis and again, we are here to help. Many vets recommend this forum to their patients even. So I hope that you feel comfortable with the advice that is given here. We aren't vets, but we do have years and years of experience with cushings to help us all out.

I hope that your baby is doing better now and has recovered.

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[mytil]

How is your girl today?

Terry