flaxseed lignans

[odieboy]

Our 8 yr old male schnauzer was just diagnosed with cushings. He is just at the beginning of it. It was caught on a senior blood work. Two liver enzymes were elevated . We have a wonderful vet who is very caring and competent . He wants to try Flaxseed lignans first to lower the liver enzymes. Just concerned if they have any side effects. Do they have a tendency to upset their stomach.

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi and welcome to you and your baby! :)

Personally, I doubt lignans will do much for either the liver enzymes or cortisol. They may have a minor effect on either or both but when faced with the levels most cush pups carry around in their bodies, it can't do much or we would ALL be using them. ;)

Lignans are half of a treatment protocol for a form of Cushing's called Atypical which is treated with a combination of lignans and melatonin. Atypical pups have NORMAL cortisol but elevations in one or more of five intermediate, or sex, hormones. The only lab in the world we know of who tests for this form is the Univ. of TN in Knoxville.

For the liver itself, Milk Thistle is a good herb to use. But again, if the cortisol is elevated to the levels seen in most cush pups, MT is just a band aid for an amputation. ;) Lowering the cortisol lowers liver enzymes usually.

It would help us a great deal if you could get copies of the actual tests done to diagnose the Cushing's and post the results here. We only need to see those values that are too high or too low on the lab work that shows the liver enzymes but we need to see all the info on the LDDS and ACTH and ultrasound, if all those were done.

I'm glad you found us and look forward to learning much more about your baby soon.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[Wrighton]

My dog was prescribed lignans and melatonin, and she has had no negative effects. Unfortunately there is doubt whether or not she has cushings or not to begin with and she continues to have no clinical symptoms. However, the lignans and melatonin have been fine for what that is worth.

I am very new to all this, so can be of little help.

[molly muffin]

I used lignans and melatonin for awhile before moving to traditional treatment. It didn't bring down the liver enzymes or the cortisol It did make her calmer at night.

What did help with liver enzymes was milk thistle and sam-e. Take a look at denamarin. You can even ask your vet about it. Most people with dogs with cushings use something like this for liver support.

Welcome to the forum.

[jrepac]

Flaxseed Lignans, Sam-e, Milk thistle and melatonin are all Non-Rx options to try...and unlikely to prove harmful.

Lignans can be bought in capsule form; if you go with the seeds, mixing them w/yogurt is a good option. My girl used to love it :D

[AgilityDog]

My dog just started Melatonin last week and HMR Lignans this week. So far she hasn't had any digestive side effects from either supplements. These are to help lower my dog's elevated adrenal sex hormones.

[Squirt's Mom]

Yes, they should help with the elevated sex, or intermediate, hormones. Just know they will have very little effect on cortisol or liver values. ;)