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View Full Version : 13yr old lab mix cushings and sludge in gallbladder



Megmor
10-23-2014, 10:49 PM
My baby's name is Mariel. She is approx. 13 years old I found her in 2002. Short history she was found with erlychia but never treated(vet didn't find it necessary) I finally went to a vet that treated her with doxycycline. About three years ago I started noticing that she was having issues with her teeth I thought it may have been from a previous bad tooth however it turns out that she has CUSP's. About a 1 1/2 yr ago she was bloated ,she had what I call hothead, where her head feels very warm to the touch, she was panting and constantly drinking water and urinating in the house which was definitely not her normal behavior. I took her to the vet they did an ultrasound her spleen was enlarged. Later it continued to bother me so I took her back in they did a blood test her numbers were elevated so they did the ACTH test and she was diagnosed with Cushing's. She was on 60 mg of Vetoryl for the first three months then when she was retested she was so low she almost switched to Addison's disease. Dropped her dosage down to 30 mg a day and she is so far maintained very good levels. She still has a potbelly so badly that she cannot even sit normally. She can no longer jump on the bed struggles getting up on the couch. 3 months ago I took her back in because of my concerns about the potbelly and concerns about it being spleen issue but she had sludge in her gallbladder according to an ultrasound. She was prescribed the gallbladder medication that humans take, she was on it for a month, started to feel better, was off the medication and started to get bad again so I took her back they read prescribed another prescription of the gallbladder medication. She was on it for a month and a half took her back for another ultrasound and her gallbladder is completely full of sludge.

My biggest concern is her gallbladder rupturing and I am unsure what to watch for. Or if any of you have had any experience like this and can offer any advice. There's no one around me that can do surgery to remove her gallbladder and I'm also concerned that what that could do to her...

molly muffin
10-23-2014, 11:04 PM
I just want to welcome you to the forum. I don't know alot about gall bladder ruptures, but know it can happen. Did they try putting her back on the first medication to see if it would help again? I think you are talking about Ursodiol. Along with antibitotics, I've also heard of vitamin k1 mentioned, but anything to try and dissolve the sludge should be tried.

How far is the nearest surgical option? We've had members drive hours and stay over to get to a good place to have procedures done.

Others will be popping in soon. I just want to welcome you and your baby to the forum.

Sharlene and molly muffin

Megmor
10-23-2014, 11:24 PM
Thank you. She is currently on the urisodal, she pants and has the bloating...it's almost like a triage of which issue I am treating. I've switched her to a LF diet...k1, like a capsule or?

The other big thing is that she has gained over 15 lbs in 3 months.