Benny, 7 y/o beagle with mild symptoms - Should I treat?

[Benny's mom]

Just got confirmation that my 7 yr old beagle has Cushings. Found it with a fluke pre op visit for something else. Now that i know what to look for, the symptoms seem mild. Vet is giving me the option to delay treatment with trilostane, or to start it now. Help please... what would you do with a young dog with mild symptoms that you happened to catch on a fluke?

[labblab]

Welcome to you and Benny! I noticed you had posted this reply on the thread of another member who has not returned to the forum for quite some time. Because I want to make sure that folks have the opportunity to talk with you directly, I've taken the liberty of making a copy of your reply and creating this new thread that is your very own.

I'm so glad you've found us!

Marianne

[doxiesrock912]

Welcome Benny and mom!

Most delay treatment until the symptoms become bothersome.
Cushings dogs can be prone to infections, UTIs, and other health issues.

I'm going to suggest that they do an ultrasound to look at his organs to determine which type of Cushings and if the organs have been affected yet.

How was he diagnosed? Would you please post the test results here so that we can advise you better?

[goldengirl88]

Welcome to the forum. I was wondering if you could tell us the symptoms your Benny is having? Also we always like to know the diagnostic tests that were done to confirm this diagnosis? Could you post the abnormal numbers from the tests, and the normal scale supplied by the lab as all are different? That way we can better judge what is going on. Cushing's is a very difficult disease to diagnose and other diseases have similar symptoms. Has you dog been checked for diabetes? We are here to help and support you so can you give us a little background on Benny? Blessings
Patti

[Benny's mom]

Thank you for your responses. I brought him in initially to have a lump looked at. It was determined that it was a cyst and scheduled to have it removed next month. The pre op bloodwork showed elevated liver enzymes. I don't have the exact number, but it was in the 700 range. That vet said to do nothing, continue with the surgery and recheck the level the day of surgery in march. I didnt like that answer, so I got a second opinion.

The next vet did a urine test. She didnt like the results, so we did a low dose dex suppression test. She determined it was pituitary dependent . The only symptoms I'm noticing are increased thirst, seems to be rolling around a little more than he used to so I'm guessing he is a little itchy, and a very small patch on his tummy that has no hair.
She is basically giving me the option of starting treatment no or waiting until his symptoms are worse.

She also recommended not doing an unnecessary surgery at this time.

What would you guys do?

I don't have the exact numbers for his tests

Thank you again

[doxiesrock912]

Please ask your vets for the test result. We really need to see them in order to advise you. The symptoms that you describe are some of those for Cushings.

I would make sure that Benny doesn't have a skin infections brewing since he's itching.
Absolutely delay unnecessary surgery because uncontrolled Cushings slows the healing

[Harley PoMMom]

I wouldn't start a dog on Cushing's medication until clinical Cushing's symptoms are present, and other non-adrenal illnesses have been ruled out.