10yr old Boston, Bogie, needs Cushings specialist in San Jose/Santa Cruz CA

[Bogiesmommy]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for this wonderful resource of information and maybe just as important, for your compassion, caring and concern!
I am beside myself at having diagnosed the probable condition of my precious pup to likely have Cushings. Yesterday I had the vet keep him for the day for an LSST test. Once I have the results you will be the first place I tell them to.
My most urgent task is to find an experienced specialist in my area. I live in the Santa Cruz Mtns between Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz areas. Please let me know of any and all qualified vets that you would recommend. I want to line up Bogies appt to review the results. His current vet is not board certified and missed every sign of cushings which are many and obvious, so my confidence level there is nil for further treatment.
Many, many thanks in advance for your kind consideration of this request.
Nancy

[labblab]

Welcome to you and Bogie!

I have only a moment to post right now, but here's a link that may help you find a specialist who is better equipped to guide you. You will be selecting "SAIM" as the specialty (Small Animal Internal Medicine), and then you can enter your state (zip code may be too restrictive). I am guessing you can somebody in the south Bay area.

http://www.acvim.org/PetOwners/FindaSpecialist.aspx

Marianne

[molly muffin]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I'm not sure which area you are closer to, Santa Cruz or San Jose, but just browsing I saw that there is a specialist clinic in Capitola.

I completely understand why you would want a specialist to review results for opinion.

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Pacific Veterinary Specialists - Emergency Services (i think they might require a referral)
I didn't see an endo specialist on staff, but I notice that they have done written reports about calicinosis cutis and addisons disease on their website, so hope they would have some knowledge and expect them to of cushings.
Most specialist work with your vet.

[Bogiesmommy]

Thanks to you both.
I found a board certified internist in SJ and we just had first appt. I am working fast as we just lost Bogies mom on Jan 7 2014 to doggie neurological damage and we cannot bear to lose Bogie so soon after.
His LDDS results are
Pre-Dex 9.1
4 post-Dex 2.8
8 post-Dex 3.7
Pituitary type
He also has high blood pressure and a 2-3 level heart murmer.
He'll be taking Trilostane and BP med. Also will use Ketochlor shampoo

[molly muffin]

Okay, glad you found someone, you must be closer to San Jose. :)
I'm so sorry you lost Bogies mom so recently, that must be hard.

Okay, trilostane, start low, 1mg/1lb is a good place to stop and not have complications. How much does Bogie weigh and what dosage are they suggesting?

So, give the trilostane with food. Are you doing once a day dosing or twice a day?

You'll want a follow up ACTH test, assuming that one was done, but you definitely want one in 10 - 14 days, which should be done after the morning dose with food, within 4 - 6 hours completion.

If you notice vomiting, lethargic, not eating, wobbly, stop medication and get an ACTH done.

We've had members have good results with ketochlor shampoo.
Awww, high blood pressure and a heart murmer, poor thing.
You must be a nervous wreck, but I'm glad you got in right away to a specialist.
We have several members with bostons on the forum. :)

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Renee]

I would also recommend an ACTH now, before starting vetoryl, in order to establish a baseline. Not sure if everyone recommends this, but I did it, and it has been useful information to have.

[molly muffin]

It is a VERY good idea to have one prior to starting medication. I agree with Renee.
Did they do one by any chance today?

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Arizona Boston]

Just stopping in to say Hi. I am one of the not the experts, but I am a Boston Mom. My dog is currently on the mend and I hope the same for your baby.
We went through 3 vets before we got the right fit. Good Luck to you on your journey.
Shelly and Lucy

[Dawn Anderson]

Welcome Bogie and mom,
I also agree with Renee, get the ATCH number prior to starting meds., I see your in the beautiful Santa Cruz area. My girl was diag on 11/02 with PDH cushings and was refered to UC DAVIS for treatment , should you encounter any problems with anything you can always ask for a referral to Davis, they saved my girls life.
I see that you are dong the bathing, how bad is bogies skin?? My girl has a fierce case of calcinois cutis( not all cush pups get the dreaded CC, thank god)
Davis gave me trizchlor spray conditioner for her skin and coat and it is helping , don't have to bath as often anymore.

Glad you found this place everyone here is very supportive and they love numbers so be prepared for lots of ?? Buttercup and I are just getting ready to start the med phase ( she had radiation treatment for the macro tumor causing her PDH cushings) and I am also nerves about all this but I know that I have this forum to help get me through this and so do you. So keep up the good work you are doing for your baby

Dawn and Miss Buttecup