ChandlerBing
01-18-2015, 05:45 AM
Hi all,
Thought I'd read up on Cushings as my Pom was diagnosed in Sept 14. A year earlier he had been diagnosed with tracheal collapse for which he was prescribed small doses of prednisol steroid twice a day.
I only gave him small doses of the steroid when his 'goose honk' was particularly noticeable and he seemed happy with this. It cost a mere £5/$7.50 per month.
However in Aug 2014 I noticed a different type of lethargy and symmetrical hair loss across his rear section, only a week of excessive drinking. After 4 blood tests (the last one sent away) he was diagnosed with Cushing's and put on 10mg of Vet a month later due to his levels being 6 x the highest safe norm
In the Nov bloods levels of natural steroid in his system were 3 x the highest and in Dec it was increased to 20mg.
Weird that his initial condition required steroids and that his body seemed to be making it to compensate?. Downside of steroid levels coming down is that the goose honk is more noticeable. :(
However he now has developed a wheezing that makes his whole body convulse, these don't last too long with a cuddle usually helping clear these up.
He has rarely ever been physically sick in his 10.8yrs, I think maybe 2 or 3 times, his weight has come down from 7.2kg (16lbs) -to around 6.5 (14.5lbs)...his fighting weight is 5kg/11lbs, but as we know the Cushing's causes that loose skin and bloating. You've probs guessed he's not a teacup! Dad was an American show dog (5.2lbs) and Mum from the UK and a rather chunky 15lbs!:D
One thing I have noticed from this forum is that the prices of meds seem a lot higher stateside, for example I pay £60 for 60 x 10mg Vetoryl capsules which last a month. I think that works out to circa $90 of your USD. Mine would have been double but my vet agreed to match the lowest on-line price (so goes to show their mark-up!). Something that some of you may want to ask...after all you are paying your vet for everything else (tests etc)?
As he's a fussy/slow/unconcerned eater I can't mix with his food but open the capsule and tip it on his tongue, so to the questions:
1) Is it OK to give it to him neat like this,?I give him one in morn and one before bedtime, usually 12 hours apart, which I've read on here is OK
2) He is due to have bloods tested again (sent away) at the start of Feb which costs me about £80/$120. He was last tested in Nov when his dosage was upped from 10mg to 20mg. Vet said that every 3 months is fine and once settled it would only be required each year. Is that what you've been advised, is this normal?
He sleeps through the night without issues (snoring gently under my bed!) and luckily can get through a medium sized cat flap in our back door. He's never had an accident in the house as can take himself out! :)
Personal profile of Chand
He's a proud and rather weird canine in that he's never smelt another dogs butt (runs away if one tries to his...lol), also when he goes to the toilet he goes behind our conservatory so no one can see him. In all of his life he's never passed a stool anywhere but in his own back yard (or if we are away somewhere) I still carry bags though. Also I can probably count on two hands the number of times he's cocked his leg when on a walk. He's very gentle and I can take a treat/bone/biscuit away from his mouth with my mouth...he just says "well you probably need it more than me!" ;)
PS: He won't eat plain steamed chicken and plain wholegrain rice, he just sniffs it and walks off...if however it is seasoned with garlic, some black pepper and a little soy, he'll eat it...lol
His fave is marinated steak which I mince once cooked and THAT will disappear like most dogs eat dog food (20 seconds)
NB: I've noticed that stateside you all seem to have the print-outs of your animals tests, it's not the norm here in the UK, but will remember to ask my vet for a printed history.
More later!
Thought I'd read up on Cushings as my Pom was diagnosed in Sept 14. A year earlier he had been diagnosed with tracheal collapse for which he was prescribed small doses of prednisol steroid twice a day.
I only gave him small doses of the steroid when his 'goose honk' was particularly noticeable and he seemed happy with this. It cost a mere £5/$7.50 per month.
However in Aug 2014 I noticed a different type of lethargy and symmetrical hair loss across his rear section, only a week of excessive drinking. After 4 blood tests (the last one sent away) he was diagnosed with Cushing's and put on 10mg of Vet a month later due to his levels being 6 x the highest safe norm
In the Nov bloods levels of natural steroid in his system were 3 x the highest and in Dec it was increased to 20mg.
Weird that his initial condition required steroids and that his body seemed to be making it to compensate?. Downside of steroid levels coming down is that the goose honk is more noticeable. :(
However he now has developed a wheezing that makes his whole body convulse, these don't last too long with a cuddle usually helping clear these up.
He has rarely ever been physically sick in his 10.8yrs, I think maybe 2 or 3 times, his weight has come down from 7.2kg (16lbs) -to around 6.5 (14.5lbs)...his fighting weight is 5kg/11lbs, but as we know the Cushing's causes that loose skin and bloating. You've probs guessed he's not a teacup! Dad was an American show dog (5.2lbs) and Mum from the UK and a rather chunky 15lbs!:D
One thing I have noticed from this forum is that the prices of meds seem a lot higher stateside, for example I pay £60 for 60 x 10mg Vetoryl capsules which last a month. I think that works out to circa $90 of your USD. Mine would have been double but my vet agreed to match the lowest on-line price (so goes to show their mark-up!). Something that some of you may want to ask...after all you are paying your vet for everything else (tests etc)?
As he's a fussy/slow/unconcerned eater I can't mix with his food but open the capsule and tip it on his tongue, so to the questions:
1) Is it OK to give it to him neat like this,?I give him one in morn and one before bedtime, usually 12 hours apart, which I've read on here is OK
2) He is due to have bloods tested again (sent away) at the start of Feb which costs me about £80/$120. He was last tested in Nov when his dosage was upped from 10mg to 20mg. Vet said that every 3 months is fine and once settled it would only be required each year. Is that what you've been advised, is this normal?
He sleeps through the night without issues (snoring gently under my bed!) and luckily can get through a medium sized cat flap in our back door. He's never had an accident in the house as can take himself out! :)
Personal profile of Chand
He's a proud and rather weird canine in that he's never smelt another dogs butt (runs away if one tries to his...lol), also when he goes to the toilet he goes behind our conservatory so no one can see him. In all of his life he's never passed a stool anywhere but in his own back yard (or if we are away somewhere) I still carry bags though. Also I can probably count on two hands the number of times he's cocked his leg when on a walk. He's very gentle and I can take a treat/bone/biscuit away from his mouth with my mouth...he just says "well you probably need it more than me!" ;)
PS: He won't eat plain steamed chicken and plain wholegrain rice, he just sniffs it and walks off...if however it is seasoned with garlic, some black pepper and a little soy, he'll eat it...lol
His fave is marinated steak which I mince once cooked and THAT will disappear like most dogs eat dog food (20 seconds)
NB: I've noticed that stateside you all seem to have the print-outs of your animals tests, it's not the norm here in the UK, but will remember to ask my vet for a printed history.
More later!