Maggie (11 y/o springer spaniel)

[Maggie Mom]

Hi,
Maggie, my 11 year old springer spanie,l was diagnosed with Cushings as a result of adrenal gland tumor over 8 months ago. We opted not to treat surgically, because of her age. So my regular vet started her on Vetoryl and we saw no real change in symptoms, after adjusting the dosage several times. With encouragement from our vet, we then took Maggie to internal specialists and the specialists confirmed the original diagnosis (blood work, ultrasound, scans). Since the Vetoryl was not providing any symptom releaf and they confirmed that surgery was just too risky, we switched her to Lysodren. The specialists are taking the very conservative approach to administration of the new medication and Maggie is now on 1-500 mg tablet, 3 times per week (started this week).

I am confident that the diagnosis is correct and we are doing everything for Maggie that we can, but her age and this disease have really changed my happy go lucky exhuberant dog.

Your forum is great and really helped me during all the testing, etc. over the last 8 months. I never posted before until today - not sure why, but just decided today I could use a little moral support.

Specifics about Maggie: 11 year old, springer spaniel. In good health prior to diagnosis with the exception of torn hock as a puppy and knee surgery on her back leg at 5 years old - like I said a very exhuberant dog. She weighs 50 pounds and also takes deramax for her arthritic leg.

Maggie Mom

[mytil]

Hi and welcome to you both. Glad you started your own thread :). We are all here for each other.

Am glad you are working with a specialist. Let us know how Maggie is doing specifically symptom and behavior wise. I know being an elder, they slow down a lot and just do not have the energy level.

I do have a few questions - Are the Cushing's symptoms still evident? Did you go through any loading process with the Lysodren? And was there a waiting period between stopping the Vetoryl and the start of Lysodren? When you can, post the most recent ACTH test performed.

Keep us posted
Terry

[Maggie Mom]

Hi,
Thank you for the welcome.

Yes, Maggie was off Vetoryl for over 6 weeks, before we started the Lysodren. Along with all the Cushings bloodwork, she has also had thyroid and pancreatitis testing - both negative. The specialists are not loading the Lysodren but starting out with the conservative approach, already mentioned.

Her symptoms are still very consistent with Cushings and unfortunately also old age. She is ravenous, thirsty, experiencing muscle waste, and very thin hair coat. She also has limited her own activity (less jumping on furntiture), which is combination of the arthritis and muscle wasting.

So hard to watch my little girl go through this.

[My sweet Ginger]

Hi and a big welcome from me, too.
Like Terry asked can you post the results of Maggie's most recent ACTH stim test, please?
I am also interested to know the reason why the specialists went right to maintenance skipping a loading period. I'm thinking it may have something to do with the results of that test.
I hope Lysodren will work for Maggie and she will get a lot of her old self back soon. Thank you. Song.

[molly muffin]

I just want to say hello and welcome to the forum too. Glad you decided to post. We do moral support real well. :)

I hope the lysodren does the trick. If you haven't read over or printed out the lysodren tip sheet, that will be very beneficial.

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181

Welcome!
Sharlene and molly muffin

[Maggie Mom]

Hi,
Thank you for your responses. While I don't have the test results to provide you right now, I can provide more information on Maggie.

She has atypical cushings. We have had extensive bloodwork checking on sex hormones, etc. and that is why she was changed to the Lysodren. The specialist didn't load the lysodren, I believe because of all her test results, including those sent to UTK (might not be right initials).

Do you have more information on atypical cushings? I know she needs less Lysodren than the typical cushings, but I'm still concerned with this drug, even though she has not had any negative reactions.

Mary

[molly muffin]

Usually with atypical cushings the cortisol is not high but at least 2 or more of the sex hormones are.

This is treated with a combination of lignans and melatonin and sometimes supplemented with maintenance dosage of lysodren, without the loading phase.

Here is the treatment sheet from University of Tennessee which is still the only place that tests for atypical cushings and pioneered the treatment process.

https://vetmed.tennessee.edu/vmc/dls/endocrinology/Documents/Treatment%20Info,%20Atypical%20Cushing%27s%20revis ed%20June%202011.pdf

What lysodren does is to erode the outer cortex of the adrenal gland there by suppressing the production of cortisol.

Some of the others who are more familiar with exact dosages with lysodren will be stopping by too and give their thoughts.

Sharlene and molly muffin