Do small dogs get pituitary and large dogs adrenal?

[AngelToto]

I've been doing a bit of research and it seems to be that large dogs are more suspectible to adrenal tumors while small dog breeds typically get pituitary rumors. Does anyone know why that is? Is the outcome worse for small dogs ? Which type of cushings is worse?

[goldengirl88]

I don't know about the research you did, but I can tell you this my Jack Russell Terrier Tipper is considered small and she has both Pituitary and Adrenal tumors so I guess you can throw that into the mix too. I have never heard this before, so that is new to me. Blessings
Patti

[labblab]

Hello and welcome to our forum! I have never seen research, myself, that links either pituitary or adrenal Cushing's to the size of a dog. And in the years that the forum has been active, I have never noticed any correlation. So if you have found a specific resource that gives that information, you might want to give us a link so that we can check it out.

Overall, pituitary Cushing's is by far the more common form of the disease. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the statistic is something like 85% of all cases are pituitary in origin. The same medication can be used to treat either form. Pituitary tumors are usually microscopic and benign, and the treatment goal is to manage the symptoms that result from the tumor's action on the pituitary gland. Adrenal tumors can be either benign or malignant, but sometimes are successfully removed so as to gain a total cure. If the tumor cannot be removed but it is not malignant and is slow-growing, then once again, the treatment goal is medical management of the symptoms via medication.

Do you have a dog who has already been diagnosed with Cushing's, or are you just suspecting that Cushing's may be a problem? We'll be really glad to find out more about your dog so that we can give you feedback that is directly relevant to your situation.

Marianne

[goldengirl88]

Marianne:
You are right on with the 85% and after researching this subject of small and large dogs prone to different types of tumors I cannot find anything. Hopefully this can be posted for all of us to see the link.

[AngelToto]

I'm new to the forum and don't post alot but I noticed the last time I picked up my dogs prescription for Trilostane, the price DOUBLED from $40 to $85. Can you buy medicine online that is xcheaper?

[goldengirl88]

Yes try Lambert Veterinary Supply ask for Nancy she will get you free shipping too. Blessings
Patti

[molly muffin]

Yes there are a couple of online pharmacies, such as Lambert that Patti mentioned, Diamondback in Arizona and California pharmacy. We have members who use all of these. Give them a call or check websites to find out how much your prescription would be.

Sharlene and molly muffin

[Renee]

I think it also depends on whether you are purchasing Vetoryl (brand name) or the compounded trilostane.

[goldengirl88]

Were you able to locate the drugs at a better price? Hope all is well. Blessings
Patti

[Squirt's Mom]

MODERATOR NOTE: I have merged your post about Trilostane prices into your original thread. We normally like to keep all posts about each pup in a single thread as it makes it easier for members to refer back to the pup's history when needed. Thanks!

[Squirt's Mom]

Angel, could you tell us a little bit about your cushing's pup? We see you posting on other threads and asking questions but we know nothing about your situation. Mind sharing? ;)

[goldengirl88]

Yes please post and tell us about you and your dogs situation, maybe we can help with something?? No I have never seen this that small dogs get PDH and large dogs get ADH. That is evidentially not true, where did you get that from?
Blessings
Patti

[AngelToto]

Vicki, I have only kept up with a few stories on this forum, and unfortunately have never been able to fully read yours. I come to the site every so often for tips, updates, and any information I can soak up from those with Cushings experience. My vet appears to be clueless and its only hitting me now. Scoop was a small pug just as my girl is. Do you mind if I ask how long he lived after the initial diagnosis? The words of my vet and the words of women on this board are hugely contradictory. If you don't want to talk about it, I understand and apologize profusely. But Scoop seems to have been with you through so much, how long were you together? How quickly did he deteriorate? Was it a slow process? I think my dog is being mistreated and improperly medicated. Desperately looking for an expert vet on Cushings but it is a challenge.

[AngelToto]

Smaller pups seem to handle Cushings worse. I assume it works thru their little bodies faster and causes damage more quickly. Do u agree?

[AngelToto]

My name is Erin and my Cushings pup is Toto. She was diagnosed in January of this year, just as we celebrated her 5th birthday. I have never been a frequent poster on this website, just a quiet follower and observer. I keep up with a few women who i identify most with but was weary of sharing my story out of guilt and shame.

[Budsters Mom]

Hi Erin, you left me a visitor message asking if I was a moderator. No, I am a Forum Host. I am here to assist the moderators in welcoming new members. The moderators know tons more about Cushings than I'll even know. Some of our moderators will be reading this. Is there something you'd like to ask? They will do everything they can to help. You will find many very knowledgable members here.

[goldengirl88]

Erin:
We are all in this together. You will receive all the help and support you want on here. Just one thing I can say to help you would be do not put blind faith in anyone. Many vets do not know a lot about this disease or how to correctly manage it, so this helps people in your position on what to do and how to manage your dogs treatment. We have all been where you are, confused and scared. I look forward to your posts. Blessings
Patti

[goldengirl88]

Erin:
The reason you are finding conflict is because not many vets understand the ins and outs of this disease and it's treatment. Here is an example; It's like a General sending his troops to battle, he does not always have the answer for everything but his men on the ground fighting the battle do, as they have the experience of what is really going on and what needs to be done as they are the ones fighting not the General. Some of these vets have never treated Cushings, and are unfamiliar with the treatment. We eat, sleep and breathe this disease. the best thing you can do is get your vet talking with Dechra if you were using trilostane they will help and guide your vet thru this process so that your dog is safely treated. If the vet is unwilling to work with you, then I would go some where else as you must be a team in order to have success with this treatment. Blessings
Patti

[labblab]

Hi Erin and Patti! You will see that I have shifted some of your replies from Vicki's thread over here. I think it will be better and easier to carry on the related discussion here. I do apologize because some of the replies now seem a bit out of order due to the timing of when and where they were posted. But from this point onward, I think everything will make better sense. ;)

Marianne

[goldengirl88]

That's ok Marianne, you do a wonderful job.

[doxiesrock912]

Erin, Cushings affects each dog differently which means that treatment must be tailored specifically to the one dog. I found that local vets were not as knowledgeable in this area and sought out an IMS specialist.

Please don't believe everything that you read! Still so much doom and gloom on the internet and much of it is not true or extremely outdated.

With a skilled vet, Cushings is treatable.

[AngelToto]

Thank u for so much helpful info!! And the resources page has been very great as well. I need a new vet ASAP. I need to trust people who know and understand the disease. I need to keep my princess alive

[molly muffin]

Hi Erin, I agree, you need to a good specialist, but also make sure you have copies of all testing, diagnostic and follow up that was done. This can be taken to a specialist or another vet and will be good for you to have too.

The main thing to figure out is what is going on with your baby and what needs to be done to help her now. Is her cortisol at a controlled level, is it still high or has it gone too low. All of that can contribute to symptoms she may have.

We Will try to help you figure these things out. As I have said to others, none of us need to walk this path alone, we do have each other.

Sharlene and molly muffin

[Harley PoMMom]

My name is Erin and my Cushings pup is Toto. She was diagnosed in January of this year, just as we celebrated her 5th birthday. I have never been a frequent poster on this website, just a quiet follower and observer. I keep up with a few women who i identify most with but was weary of sharing my story out of guilt and shame.

Hi Erin,

A very belated welcome from me to you and Toto! I am so sorry that you felt that you couldn't share yours and Toto's story with us. I just wanted you to know that we are here for you and that were are not here to judge any one, ok? ;)

Tons of hugs to you and Toto, Lori

[AngelToto]

You are all so sweet, like guardian angels always there for the struggling :)

[goldengirl88]

Hi Erin:
How are you and Toto today? I hope everything is going well and that you feel at home to express anything on this forum. It sometimes helps to vent and get it all out to people that care. Blessings
Patti

[addy]

Hey Erin,

I just wanted you to know that you should post any time you want to. I know it can feel awkward or weird but we dont bite and we are all here for each other so dont feel funny.

It gets easier:):):):):):):):) :)The more you do use your thread and others, the better it gets:):):):):)

So jump in to the pool:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[scoora]

Hi Erin,
I don't mind answering questions. See if I can remember.
Scoop had a lot of problems. Around his 10th birthday(Oct. 2010) he became diabetic. He did fine with his diabetes. Then July 2, 2012 went to vet for infection in both ears and both eyes. Then he got vestibular disease soon after we treated the infections. He had the drinking and peeing and the vet wanted to make sure it wasn't his diabetes. Did a BG curve which was OK. So even though the vet suspected Cushing's in July it was end of Aug or beginning of Sept till he was tested for it. Scoop passed July 1, 2013. The vet warned me it was tough to control both diseases. He lived just about a year after the vet suspected Cushing's.
Scoop was about 3 1/2 months old when we got him so he was with us for a wonderful almost 12 1/2 years.
Scoop had one infection after another. The eyes and ears. Then his ear canal was removed because of infection. He had an MRI to diagnose the ear and they could see his pituitary tumor which was on the large side. His calcinosis cutis was infected. He had a corneal ulcer which was infected. Then in Jan. he started to become picky with his food. The end of Feb. he started with diarrhea and he had that till he passed. He also had protein in his urine.
Three weeks before he passed he had a radiation treatment done on his tumor. I was so sure the tumor was causing his eating problem but the neurologist wasn't sure it was the problem. Talking to his IMS after he passed she said different problems could cause the picky eating. I told her I wished I would have known that before we did the radiation. Maybe I would have had her check into other things first. If I understand what the IMS told me is that Scoop had been fighting these infections all along and it then somehow got into his blood and caused him to get pneumonia. It cleared up then came back a few weeks later. His last day he had the vestibular problem again.
My Scoop went through a lot the last year of his life. We kept trying to help him but he just had to much going against him. I don't think you can go by what Scoop went through.
I wish you the best of luck finding the right vet. There is a ton of knowledge on this forum and everyone is so wonderful and happy to help you with any questions you have. I don't mind any questions. I don't always come here.
I wish you and Toto all the best.
Hugs

[doxiesrock912]

Erin,
I encourage you to read through the helpful resources section on this forum and write down facts to test the vets with. That will help you to weed out those who aren't knowledgeable enough.

[AngelToto]

Hi Erin,
I don't mind answering questions. See if I can remember.
Scoop had a lot of problems. Around his 10th birthday(Oct. 2010) he became diabetic. He did fine with his diabetes. Then July 2, 2012 went to vet for infection in both ears and both eyes. Then he got vestibular disease soon after we treated the infections. He had the drinking and peeing and the vet wanted to make sure it wasn't his diabetes. Did a BG curve which was OK. So even though the vet suspected Cushing's in July it was end of Aug or beginning of Sept till he was tested for it. Scoop passed July 1, 2013. The vet warned me it was tough to control both diseases. He lived just about a year after the vet suspected Cushing's.
Scoop was about 3 1/2 months old when we got him so he was with us for a wonderful almost 12 1/2 years.
Scoop had one infection after another. The eyes and ears. Then his ear canal was removed because of infection. He had an MRI to diagnose the ear and they could see his pituitary tumor which was on the large side. His calcinosis cutis was infected. He had a corneal ulcer which was infected. Then in Jan. he started to become picky with his food. The end of Feb. he started with diarrhea and he had that till he passed. He also had protein in his urine.
Three weeks before he passed he had a radiation treatment done on his tumor. I was so sure the tumor was causing his eating problem but the neurologist wasn't sure it was the problem. Talking to his IMS after he passed she said different problems could cause the picky eating. I told her I wished I would have known that before we did the radiation. Maybe I would have had her check into other things first. If I understand what the IMS told me is that Scoop had been fighting these infections all along and it then somehow got into his blood and caused him to get pneumonia. It cleared up then came back a few weeks later. His last day he had the vestibular problem again.
My Scoop went through a lot the last year of his life. We kept trying to help him but he just had to much going against him. I don't think you can go by what Scoop went through.
I wish you the best of luck finding the right vet. There is a ton of knowledge on this forum and everyone is so wonderful and happy to help you with any questions you have. I don't mind any questions. I don't always come here.
I wish you and Toto all the best.
Hugs

Thank you for sharing so much with me. I'm sorry if I was too pushy during a hard time for you. I can't believe Scoop dealt with so much and handled it like a champion. He must have loved life and loved you so much. You did so much for him. It reminds me of my old pup. The diabetes and Cushings together must have been so terrible and so expensive, it's so unfair that little dogs who do nothing but run around and love us have to suffer from disease that they don't deserve :(. Blessings, Erin

[AngelToto]

Thank you Valerie, I spent all day browsing the links. This website is amazing!