MarleyWhippet
01-12-2015, 02:05 PM
I dont know where to start, so im afraid i may ramble-I shall apologise now for that!
My whippet Marley is 4 years old. Though we now believe this to be a lie and believe him to be at least 8.
Shortly after we got him he went bald on his neck and belly. It has never grown back, but we thought nothing of it.
Since then hes had various symptoms- all wide apart when we noticed them, we are now just realising that together they could point to cushings.
He has a very stiff gait in his back legs, ive never seen a dog like it! The last 2 weeks it has been causing him pain, hes been snapping at my other dogs when they sit near him as they accidentally knock him. This isn't like him.
He has always scavenged, as im sure anyone with sighthounds understands thats the way they are. So again, we assumed it was just him. However its fairly extreme, we have to have locks on the fridge and lock cupboards with the bins in. Hes never got in since we locked them, but he will always chance it and scratches the fridges and bins. He seems to be ALWAYS hungry, this is getting worse with him trying to steal food from plates. As a trainer i do alot of work on this- its not a behavioural problem, he just really is hungry most of the time :/
Hes recently lost weight. Hes now only 14kg ( he is a large whippet who generally averages at 16kg)
Recently hes had 2 seizures, an absence seizure as well as a focal seizure.
He is covered in scars, he only has to look at something and he tears his skin! Again its a breed problem, however i have another whippet and know many and they have less scars between them all than he has. His skin just doesn't heal properly and he bruises easily. In the last few weeks hes developed open sores too :(
The biggest problem i have to hand is- he is reactive to people looking at him never mind touching him. We have chatted to vets and they understand this is a problem and they have agreed that its best i "prepare" him for vets for a week or so until hes comfortable with his muzzle.
First of all, does this sound like Cushings? ( he has more symptoms, but right now i can't recall them- typical!)
Next what tests are essential for diagnosis? Ive seen various kinds of tests but i wondered if they needed to be spaced apart or i could get them done within a couple of vet visits and which ones are most accurate? I have no knowledge really on this condition and just want to know more to help him.
He has always reacted to chemicals, and throws up badly whether its wormers, flea stuff and was very out of it following vaccinations. I would ideally like to avoid chemicals where possible.
Thankyou for reading.
My whippet Marley is 4 years old. Though we now believe this to be a lie and believe him to be at least 8.
Shortly after we got him he went bald on his neck and belly. It has never grown back, but we thought nothing of it.
Since then hes had various symptoms- all wide apart when we noticed them, we are now just realising that together they could point to cushings.
He has a very stiff gait in his back legs, ive never seen a dog like it! The last 2 weeks it has been causing him pain, hes been snapping at my other dogs when they sit near him as they accidentally knock him. This isn't like him.
He has always scavenged, as im sure anyone with sighthounds understands thats the way they are. So again, we assumed it was just him. However its fairly extreme, we have to have locks on the fridge and lock cupboards with the bins in. Hes never got in since we locked them, but he will always chance it and scratches the fridges and bins. He seems to be ALWAYS hungry, this is getting worse with him trying to steal food from plates. As a trainer i do alot of work on this- its not a behavioural problem, he just really is hungry most of the time :/
Hes recently lost weight. Hes now only 14kg ( he is a large whippet who generally averages at 16kg)
Recently hes had 2 seizures, an absence seizure as well as a focal seizure.
He is covered in scars, he only has to look at something and he tears his skin! Again its a breed problem, however i have another whippet and know many and they have less scars between them all than he has. His skin just doesn't heal properly and he bruises easily. In the last few weeks hes developed open sores too :(
The biggest problem i have to hand is- he is reactive to people looking at him never mind touching him. We have chatted to vets and they understand this is a problem and they have agreed that its best i "prepare" him for vets for a week or so until hes comfortable with his muzzle.
First of all, does this sound like Cushings? ( he has more symptoms, but right now i can't recall them- typical!)
Next what tests are essential for diagnosis? Ive seen various kinds of tests but i wondered if they needed to be spaced apart or i could get them done within a couple of vet visits and which ones are most accurate? I have no knowledge really on this condition and just want to know more to help him.
He has always reacted to chemicals, and throws up badly whether its wormers, flea stuff and was very out of it following vaccinations. I would ideally like to avoid chemicals where possible.
Thankyou for reading.