Medication change...problems

[HollyChihuahua]

Hello, I am new to this site and appreciate the information I read. I have an 8 year old female Chihuahua diagnosed first with Diabetes and later with Cushing's Disease (after symptoms escalated). Holly was prescribed Vetoryl for many months but recurrent vomiting (and a couple of anti-nausea medications not helping) lead to Holly being taken off of the Vetoryl. She has recently been prescribed Mitotane and although that drug frightens me (can't touch a drug I'm giving my fur baby), I am willing to try almost anything if it will help my girl. She looks typical Cushing's with a distended, hairless abdomen, frequent drinking/urination, intermittent panting, etc. The biggest current challenge is muscle weakness impacting her ability to walk. I read Cortisol could lead to muscle weakness but seeing it now is absolutely heart-breaking. My dog was admitted to hospital overnight, on IV for an electrolyte imbalance. I was told it could take weeks for her to stabilize when all I see (this second time around) is decline. I took a week off of work to be with her but I need to return so very worried to leave her alone. She was diagnosed late last summer although I started taking her to the vet several months earlier due to concerns following sudden weight gain, etc. When she was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease and I searched the condition, my dog fit the diagnosis perfectly (unfortunately). Since then, trying to stabilize my dog has been a challenge ...I am losing hope and very worried I am prolonging death due to her dramatically reduced quality of life. Any thoughts? Friends/family are questioning continued treatment so now I am questioning myself. I wouldn't wish this diagnosis on anyone but am grateful to find this website.

[labblab]

Hello and welcome to you and little Holly, although I am surely sorry for the worries that have brought you here. With the combo of diabetes and Cushing's, we know it can be tough to unravel which problems are being caused by which illness.

Am I understanding correctly that she was in the hospital overnight? How is she doing today?

I don't want to pummel you with questions right off the bat, but can you tell us how much Holly weighs, and how much Vetoryl was she taking at the time she became ill? Do you know what her monitoring ACTH testing was showing re: her cortisol level at the time? And how about her diabetes -- has her glucose been pretty well controlled?

Thanks in advance for any and all answers. We know how worried you are about your girl, and will do our best to try to help sort out the path forward.

Marianne

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi and welcome to you and Holly!

So glad you found us and we will help in any way we can. One thing I want to provide to you is a link to our sister site that deals with canine diabetes: http://www.k9diabetes.com/forum/ I strongly urge you to join there too as the loving and supportive people know the ins and outs of canine diabetes.

Was the Cushing's diagnosed before the diabetes was found? Cushing's is very difficult to diagnose, and unfortunately it is often misdiagnosed as there is not a test that can accurately identify it. A good many of the symptoms, as well as blood abnormalities associated with both conditions, overlap.

Is Holly's diabetes under control? Cushing's is challenging enough to diagnose but it's almost impossible to diagnose Cushing's if the blood sugar is out of control.

Could you get copies of all tests that were done on Holly and post any results that are marked abnormal here? Is Holly taking any other herbs/supplements/medications?

We are here for both you and Holly, and please don't hesitate to ask all the questions you want.

Hugs, Lori