My Sweet Abby (11 y/o Boston Terrier)

[camfan54]

My 11 year old Boston Terrier was just diagnosed with Cushings and had all, I mean ALL the typical symptoms. I'm concerned because today will be her 4th dose of trilostane. The shakes have stopped but my concern is just now she had bloody stool. She's acting the same in every other way. I know she picks up chicken bones from the yard regularly and I'm thinking I could have missed her getting one and that could be the culprit but I just wanted to get some experienced input. I have a message in to my vet but she just had a baby so it may be a bit. Normally I'd give it a day but since she started the med I'm a little more nervous. She has had symptoms for about 8 months but I mistook them for age. Any recommendations appreciated! I don't have any blood work results available.

[jxeno13]

Hi and welcome! I'm sorry your Abby is having problems. Can you tell us a little more about your baby? How much does Abby weigh? How much Vetoryl is she taking? Can you get the results of her tests to post? The people here are really nice and will help you all they can. But, we need a little more information. How does Abby get to chicken bones in the yard? I'm sorry for all the questions. The senior members here can add so much more. I'm sorry for the reasons that brought you here, but so glad that you found the forum. :D

Usually Vets who are not in.still listen to their calls and/or messages. And, probably has someone to cover her if she won't be in. I would think.

[goldengirl88]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry your baby is having issues. When you get copies ofthe blood work please post them as we need to see the abnormal numbers along with the reference guide from the lab as they are all different. Now to the situation at hand. You never give trilostane to a sick dog. If your dog picked up chicken bones before, did you see the same result? I would not be giving trilostane to a dog with bloody diarrhea, so that is the first thing I would stop. How much does your dog weigh and how much is the daily dosage? Are you giving it with a meal? What you are normally looking for if they are going low on cortisol is diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, won't eat, can't stand. Are you seeing any of this besides the bloody diarrhea? Your dog could have something like IBD or IBS, where the bowel is inflamed. It is hard to say without knowing the whole circumstances. I would be taking the dog to the vet to find out the origin of the bloody diarrhea. Don't worry about treating the dog for Cushings as you can always resume treatment after treating the diarrhea. Again I would not give anymore trilostane!! Did your dog have any other issues going on when you had her tested? Please give a brief medical history, and what symptoms your dog was presenting with that made you have her tested. You dog should be on a starting dose of no more than 1mg per pound, if it is more than that, it could mean problems. Please get copies of the tests when you take your dog in. I am so glad you found us as this is the best place you could be to help your dog. Blessings
Patti

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi and welcome to you and Abby from me as well! Sorry for the reasons that brought you here but glad you found us.

Patti and Jo Ann have gotten you off to a really good start, but I do have some more questions.

The blood in her diarrhea is it a bright red or does it look dark and/or tarry? Regarding to her regular dog food, has Abby's diet changed in any way? The chicken bones she has eaten were they cooked or raw?

As Patti has mentioned, Vetoryl/Trilostane should not be given to a dog that is presenting signs of being unwell, and diarrhea is definitely one of those signs. Is Abby vomiting? Is she drinking/urinating normally? How is her appetite? Is she taking any other herbs/supplements/medications?

Posting Abby's weight and Trilostane dosage would be a great help, and is she taking this once or twice a day? Is the Vetoryl/Trilostane being given with food so that it is properly absorbed? Getting copies of all tests that were done on Abby and posting the abnormal values here would also help us to provide you with more meaningful feedback.

If this were me, I would withhold the Vetoryl/Trilostane until you can communicate with the vet.

Please keep us posted ;)

Hugs, Lori

[camfan54]

Well the bloody poop stopped, I gave her dinner and her dose of trilostane and then she pooped blood. She was diagnosed with Cushings because she was exhibiting all the typical symptoms: over eating, pot belly, excessive drinking, pottying on the floor, legs shaking. She is currently doing just fine, no other symptoms other than the bloody poop. I did talk to my vet but thinking it might be GI since it was worse after she ate. The pottying doesn't even phase her although Mommy's a wreck. Thinking I'll take her to the vet or at least a sample in so they can test and consult her regular vet. She's 22 lbs and taking 30mg. The only number I know is that her urine tested a 328 and that was well over the 13 that is normal. But not sure what that was. The chicken or whatever bones they are are left in the yard by some other animal as I live in a condo. Other than the Cushings symptoms she was fine before treatment. Even with the blood poop she's acting just fine. Thinking I'll withhold food tomorrow until the doc can see her or tell me what to do. My little Diva will not be happy with that as she will get in my lap and remind me loudly it is dinner time!

[camfan54]

She was taking a pro biotic that she hasn't for a few days. We got a new dog last Sunday. She's taking it once a day. She's not vomiting and eating and pottying habits are normal except her poop is blood. The blood is bright red and almost watery which makes me think a tear of some sort. The earlier poop was solid and just had blood around it which was darker and that was a while after she ate and just a few minutes after she had a bloody poop. Think I answered everything except the exact numbers.

[Harley PoMMom]

I have manually approved your membership so there is no need to respond to the email that is automatically sent to you for validation.


Well the bloody poop stopped, I gave her dinner and her dose of trilostane and then she pooped blood. She was diagnosed with Cushings because she was exhibiting all the typical symptoms: over eating, pot belly, excessive drinking, pottying on the floor, legs shaking. She is currently doing just fine, no other symptoms other than the bloody poop. I did talk to my vet but thinking it might be GI since it was worse after she ate. The pottying doesn't even phase her although Mommy's a wreck. Thinking I'll take her to the vet or at least a sample in so they can test and consult her regular vet.

Could be a GI issue but the chicken bones she ate are worrisome to me because they could splinter and may pierce the intestinal wall.


She's 22 lbs and taking 30mg. The only number I know is that her urine tested a 328 and that was well over the 13 that is normal. But not sure what that was. The chicken or whatever bones they are are left in the yard by some other animal as I live in a condo.

Dechra's product insert does state that the initial dose of Vetoryl should be started at 1mg - 3mg per pound of the dog's weight, however, Dechra also recommends to start at the lowest end to minimize side effects. So with Abby's weight of 22 lbs a starting dose of 20 mg would be recommended.


Other than the Cushings symptoms she was fine before treatment. Even with the blood poop she's acting just fine. Thinking I'll withhold food tomorrow until the doc can see her or tell me what to do. My little Diva will not be happy with that as she will get in my lap and remind me loudly it is dinner time!

Please do let us know what the vet says and I hope that there are no more bloody poops.

Hugs, Lori

[goldengirl88]

I agree the chicken bones are some of the worst things a dog can eat as they do splinter and can puncture and tear. Please find out from the vet what is going on with this and let us know. Are you still withholding the trilostane?? I would not be giving it at all until this issue is cleared up. Blessings
patti

[camfan54]

This morning the poop was fine and solid except a small amount of dark blood only noticeable because I was looking. This withholding food from a Cushing's dog is not fun though! She is letting me know she is not happy with the situation! I'm waiting to hear from her vet before I take her in to another one.

[camfan54]

And I'm not sure she even got into bones and what kind they were. I'm aware of the dangers which is why I'm usually watching them like hawks outside. She has been eating super fast as we got a new dog and I'm hoping that's what's caused it. Just waiting is driving me nuts though.

[goldengirl88]

Has the new dog been checked for parasites, did it have a parvo shot?? Something could have been passed from the new dog to Abby. Blessings
Patti

[camfan54]

New dog is up to date. I'm witholding food and will take her in Monday to get checked as they couldn't fit me in today and just now there was a little bright red blood but she was straining. She's acting fine otherwise so I'm not freaking out as bad as I could. I've seen a lot of places online recommend holding food then giving chicken and rice. I'm just planning on taking get in Monday. Thanks!

[goldengirl88]

Has the new dog been checked for the above???

[camfan54]

Took Abby to the vet yesterday. Prognosis: Colitis. Meds, normal food and treats, spoonful of pumpkin on food and Trilostane every other day. Abby is quite happy with the food arrangement, Mommy is quite happy that it's something simple and has a local vet that is open 7 days a week. Thanks everyone!

[goldengirl88]

I am glad to hear that you know what is going on with Abby. Hope the pumpkin does the trick, and let us know how she does. Blessings
patti

[labblab]

I'm hoping that Abby feels much better today. I am puzzled, though, by the switch to every-other-day dosing for the trilostane. Is this just a temporary change? Is the purpose to cut down on the amount of trilostane she is getting? If so, I know it is expensive to order a new set of capsules, but given the short time that trilostane is active in the body (less than 24 hours), giving her a larger capsule every other day just means she is getting too much trilo one day and not any at all on the intervening day. This pattern destabilizes her cortisol, and also skews the results of the monitoring ACTH test depending upon whether it is performed on a day when she gets the med or not. So I am hoping this is not the long-term plan for her Cushing's treatment...

Marianne

[goldengirl88]

I did not want to bring it up but I too am puzzled unless of course this is very short term?

[camfan54]

The every other day was just until the colitis was healed so that the Cushings wasn't getting neglected. I'll take her in week after next to get her levels checked for Cushings. She's doing great, the pumpkin was for extra fiber and the dogs love it! I put it on all of their food. Thanks!

[Harley PoMMom]

Just a word of caution, too much pumpkin may cause diarrhea. :eek: