Cushing's? (8 y/o male golden retriever)

[Artnlibsmom]

Hi my name is Lisa, but I go by Artnlibsmom. Been having some issues with my 8 year old male golden retriever, Artemis. First thing I noticed was that Artie always seemed "hot", panting even without exertion, in the air conditioned 60 degree house. This has been for months...maybe years.....but I've noticed it more lately. This weekend he developed facial paralysis on the left. Been to the vet, physically everything else is "normal". Eats good, very active. Blood work comes back today, low ALB, elevated globulins, neurophyls slightly low, all else normal. Vet requested urine, and by dipstick, high protein. Sending urine in for ALB creatinine ratio. I'm scared to death, searching for answers. Internet searches brought up Cushing's and led me here. But it appears that low albumin isn't typical? Any input would be GREATLY appreciated....this is my baby.

[Roxee's Dad]

Hi Artnlibsmom and welcome to you and Artemis,

Many will stop by to welcome you and hopefully somebody will have some helpful information..

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…Thanks!

[SoggyDoggy]

Hi Lisa, I'm sorry to hear that Artie is having such a bad run, it plain sucks and we all know and understand the "my baby" feel, it's what bought us all together, so welcome to the family.

I am by no means an expert and it sounds like you are dealing with something pretty difficult here. Facial paralysis is not something I have come across as a symptom of cushings disease, however that of course doesn't rule it out. The most common symptoms we see are increased thirst and urination, pot belly appearance, possible hair loss (though not always), excessive hunger. These are the most common and there are others I haven't listed as well, but are you seeing any of these at all? Of course panting does fit the pattern but isn't generally a symptom that causes significant concern as the others can do.

Because cushing's is so difficult to diagnose (it mimics so many other things) there are some specific tests that are commonly run to look at it. the UCCR is a good place to start as it is the cheapest option, there are also LDDS, ACTH (though as far as I know that is more for monitoring) and abdominal ultra sound. There are other folks here that are far more in the know than I am, and they will be along to help you out too. Just know that no one test will be able to definitely say "yep, cushings" and if you do get this diagnosis, please be very sure it is definite before you start treatment. In saying this, it doesn't sound like a clear cut case to me.

Again, commonly in cushings dogs we see elevated ALT and ALP readings in the blood tests. Were Artie's normal? you say "everything else was normal" so I am assuming so. I haven't come across low ALB before except in relation to calcium so can be of no help to you there either. As I said, I'm not an expert but others here definitely are so hang on and someone will be on hand in a bit. (time difference means many will be asleep now). To me this doesn't sound like a clear cut case of cushings from the symptoms you mention, of course that doesn't rule it out either. Did your vet mention anything that he/she might be thinking could be the cause?

Apologies I cant be more help to you here, but maybe this thread http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5427 (http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5427)might have some other indicators for you. It is from the Helpful resources section, if you haven't already, I would suggest checking the whole section out, it is by far the biggest concentrated source of information I found to help understand the disease.

Good luck finding our answers and hang in there, there's lost of helpful folks around that may have some suggestions for you.

[Artnlibsmom]

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…Thanks![/QUOTE]

Think I'm ok now? I responded but it said I was already activated so I'm thinking I'm good to go. Thanks so much.

[Artnlibsmom]

Facial paralysis is not something I have come across as a symptom of cushings disease, however that of course doesn't rule it out. The most common symptoms we see are increased thirst and urination, pot belly appearance, possible hair loss (though not always), excessive hunger. These are the most common and there are others I haven't listed as well, but are you seeing any of these at all? Of course panting does fit the pattern but isn't generally a symptom that causes significant concern as the others can do.


Again, commonly in cushings dogs we see elevated ALT and ALP readings in the blood tests. Were Artie's normal? you say "everything else was normal" so I am assuming so. I haven't come across low ALB before except in relation to calcium so can be of no help to you there either. As I said, I'm not an expert but others here definitely are so hang on and someone will be on hand in a bit. (time difference means many will be asleep now). Did your vet mention anything that he/she might be thinking could be the cause?



First thing I noticed was the panting. He seems to "sag" in his back to me, not so much potbellied. He does pod out in the belly when sitting...but so do I (LOL). The other symptoms don't seem to apply so maybe I'm grasping at straws here. He doesn't really drink more than normal, but then again we have the 2 gallon refilling water dish. He holds his urine for the entire day, when I get home after 8 hours of work, he stands and pees FOREVER, even though he has a doggie door that he can go out at will into a fenced yard. (We lost his sister to hemangiosarcoma in May, so he hasn't been the same since. We got a puppy as much for him as for us, but the puppy isn't his lost sister). He has always been hungry, willing to eat anything you give him, so I'm not sure about that one.

The vet ran a comprehensive blood panel. Other than the elevated ALB, his Globulins were slightly high, and his neutrophyls (SP?) were slightly low. Thyroid was low normal, sugar normal. Everything else is in normal range. As a side note, he does have Lyme's and has been treated for it. We are in the monitor stage now. Maybe the problem is from the Lymes, causing an issue with his kidneys, but other than the protein in his urine, the kidney values are all in normal range as well as the other liver values.

I'm at a loss, just searching for answers.

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.

[labblab]

Just wanted to let you know that, yes, you are good to go in terms of your registration! :). I "manually" approved you last night and should have left a note here to that effect.

Marianne

[Artnlibsmom]

Thank you!

[Harley PoMMom]

As a side note, he does have Lyme's and has been treated for it. We are in the monitor stage now. Maybe the problem is from the Lymes, causing an issue with his kidneys, but other than the protein in his urine, the kidney values are all in normal range as well as the other liver values.

I'm at a loss, just searching for answers.

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.

I truly think the abnormal values that are on Artemis' blood panel can be attributed to his Lyme disease. Is Artemis taking an antibiotic? Usually doxycycline is rx'd for Lyme.

Hugs, Lori

[lulusmom]

Hi Lisa,

I just wanted to say that I agree with Lori. The facial paralysis and bloodwork fits more so with (chronic) Lyme Disease than cushing's. I hope your vet can figure out what is going on real soon.

Glynda

[Artnlibsmom]

Hi Lisa,

I just wanted to say that I agree with Lori. The facial paralysis and bloodwork fits more so with (chronic) Lyme Disease than cushing's. I hope your vet can figure out what is going on real soon.

Glynda
Lori & Glynda,

He was treated in the spring with Doxy. His repeat Q6 test afterwards was at 1/2 of the initial level. We were advised to do another repeat of the Q6 in 3 months (December 3 is his apt for that) to see if the level was continuing down. His Lyme's test the previous fall (2012) was negative so the infection was acquired sometime between Fall 2012 and May 2013. I'm so hopeful that since his urine tests came back that his BUN and Creatine were still normal that the damage to his kidneys at this point can be controlled. All his other Bloodwork other than those listed above are in normal ranges. We have been referred to Cornell now so hopefully we get the underlying problem addressed and controlled. I'm not giving my boy up! Our appointment is the 23rd so I'm on pins and needles until then. On a good note, Artie is doing well physically, eats good, no excessive drinking or peeing, plays hard and seems to feel fine. I want to keep it that way.

Thanks so much for your thoughts, you have no idea how helpful it is to know that others understand.

Lisa & Artemis

[spdd]

Just popping in to hope you get definitive answers with the testing on the 23rd.

Glad your pup is feeling well.