13 year old Maltese with Cushings, Diabetes, and Pancreatitis

[KellyChar]

Hello, all. We have a 13 year old Maltese diagnosed about 1 month ago with Diabetes. She weighed 11 pounds at the time and was started on 2 units of NPH. She went up to 4.5 units and then had a day where her BG spiked to 695. She was hospitalized for 4 days (dehydration, UTI, pancreatitis, ketones) and diagnosed with a left adrenal gland tumor...Cushings. She was started on Vetoryl (10 mg) along with 2 units of insulin. After several days, her BG spiked again and she had trace ketones. Her insulin was increased to 3 units (Vetoryl dose has stayed the same). She is rapidly losing weight and her hair. She is not herself. She seems like she is starving (I am following the vet's diet carefully), she is constantly drinking, she urinates constantly m(sometimes in the house), and she paces all night. I am beginning to wonder if I am treating her for her good or for myself. Is it possible that her Cushings/diabetes cannot be controlled? She is due for another visit with the vet within the next few days and I just want to have any and all information I can get for the appointment. Thank you.

[Roxee's Dad]

Hi and Welcome,
I only have a minute and wanted to get your post approved and up on the board for others to be able read and comment.



Moderator’s note: In order to complete your registration, you need to check your emailbox (or spam folder) for a communication from us. Once you respond to that email, your membership will be finalized, and anything that you post will become visible on the forum immediately. Until that time, your replies must be manually "approved" by a staff member before they are visible to the public -- so there may be a bit of delay between the time that you write your replies and the time that you actually see them.

If you have already received and responded to the confirmatory email, please be patient. Your registration will be finalized shortly, Thank you.

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi and welcome to you and your girl,

I have finalized your membership so now all your replies will be visible as soon as you post.

When a dog has Cushing's getting the diabetes under control can be difficult but not impossible. Our sister forum can help you immensely with the diabetes, here's the link:http://www.k9diabetes.com/forum/ I urge you to join there too.

If you could get copies of all tests that were done on your girl and post any abnormalities that are listed, that would help us to provide you with more meaningful feedback, ok?

Cushing's, uncontrolled diabetes, and an UTI, all of these conditions will cause a dog to drink and urinate more, and when they are all happening simultaneously this will create excessive thirst and urination.

Has a urine culture and sensitivity test been performed? This test will show what bacteria is growing in the urine and exactly what antibiotic needs to be given.

Regarding the pancreatitis, has a spec cPL test been done? Is she showing any symptoms of pancreatitis now?

Please know we will help in any way we can so do not hesitate to ask any and all questions, ok?

Love and hugs, Lori

[KellyChar]

Hi, Lori,
Thanks for the prompt reply. I will post her bloodwork results when I get home. She did have a urine culture performed. She was on Clavamox for 2 weeks for the UTI. She finished the Rx about 4 days ago. She did have the cPL test done. She has had pancreatitis for over a year and has been treated for it on and off. She is also on Denamarin (which I forgot to mention in my earlier post). She does not have any signs of pancreatitis now. I am just feeling like her quality of life is diminishing quickly. A month ago we had a happy dog and now...she is just failing before my eyes.

[KellyChar]

BTW...her diabetes has never been "under control". The lowest we have managed to get it was 270 (which was when she was int he hospital). It is typically in the low 300's.

[Harley PoMMom]

I believe a dog can feel pretty crappy until the diabetes in under control and sometimes that can take a while. Joining our sister site @ http://www.k9diabetes.com/forum/‎ will be a great help for you in learning all about canine diabetes.

[KellyChar]

I will join that site as well. I was told the diabetes wouldn't be under control until the cushings was. What is the typical time frame for that to occur?

[molly muffin]

Hi and welcome from me too.

I'm so sorry you are going through the diabetes and the cushings, along with other things at the same time. That is tough.

You said that she has a left adrenal tumor, so I am guessing that they think it is must be a functioning tumor. I don't know if the trilostane would need to be increased to try to counteract that or not. When is your ACTH test due? Has she had one at all since starting the vetoryl? When did you start that exactly?

Hopefully we can come up with some ideas along with the wonderful people at the k9diabetes site.

Welcome again to the forum

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[KellyChar]

Hi, Sharlene,
Yes, it is an active tumor. The tumor was found with an ultrasound along with what the vet described as "liver changes". Due to all the complications, surgery is not an option at this time. She began the Vetoryl on June 16th. She is due for her ACTH and a BG Curve on Thursday.
I realized that I don't have specific numbers for all of the tests performed, just the summary from the vet. I will get the information, as I know it helps all of you to help me:)