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View Full Version : 7 year old springer just diagnosed with pituitary dependent cushings



bailey007
04-21-2015, 08:54 AM
Hello all,

We are new to this forum but just yesterday received a diagnosis of pituitary dependent Cushing's disease. After a month of the routine testing (full blood panel, urine test for cortisol, a low dose suppression test and the finally the ultrasound) we received what we believe to be a fairly accurate diagnosis and have prepared ourselves for the life long medication that our still fairly young pup is going to need. Luckily, Bailey's other major organs looked great and the only symptom of cushing that is impacting her now is the increased thirst and excessive urination. However, my question to anyone out there with a cushings dog is related to human pregnancy and breast feeding. While with the internal medicine specialist yesterday, she had very strong concerns and warnings about us using any of the typical and most effective currently prescribed medications such as lysodren or trilostane due to them being on the contraindicated list for pregnancy. There are two other medications mentioned but they fall into the unknown category C for pregnancy. I have read several cases where pregnant owners have still used these meds but have either not handled them directly or used gloves when administering and coming into contact with their dogs bodily fluids. Does anyone have any experience or advice related to this? I am currently 6 months pregnant and we spent lots of time trying to conceive which also consisted of several costly IVF rounds. So we certainly don't want to do anything to risk our pregnancy either. It just seems that perhaps the specialist is being too cautious by telling us that I can't even be around Bailey when she is on the medication. She is our "first baby" so the idea of having to send her to live with out of state with family to start the treatment may be possible but not ideal. We plan to speak with our regular vet within the next few days to further discuss these recommendations. In the end, all we really want to do is what is best for Bailey.

Squirt's Mom
04-21-2015, 10:14 AM
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Harley PoMMom
04-21-2015, 09:46 PM
Hi and welcome to you and Bailey!

A baby on the way, Awwww...Congratulations! Lysodren/Mitotane and Vetoryl/Trilostane are the two drugs generally prescribed for canine Cushing's. Dechra, the makers of Vetoryl, recommend not handling their medication while trying to conceive or if you are pregnant. Here's the quote from Dechr'a product insert:
HUMAN WARNINGS:
Keep out of reach of children. Not for human use.
Wash hands after use. Do not empty capsule contents and do not attempt to divide the capsules. Do not handle the capsules if pregnant or if trying to conceive. Trilostane is associated with teratogenic effects and early pregnancy loss in laboratory animals. http://www.dechra-us.com/files/dechraUSA/downloads/Product%20inserts/Vetoryl.pdf

Could you get copies of all tests that were done on Bailey and post those levels that are abnormal with their reference ranges and units of measurement. Was an urinalysis done, and if so could you post those findings too.

Cushing's is a slow progressing disease and it takes a while before that extra cortisol does any internal damage. If Bailey's symptoms are not real bothersome than another possibility would be to wait until the new baby arrives to start treatment.

Please know we are here to help in any way we can, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask them.

Hugs, Lori

lalosmom
04-21-2015, 09:49 PM
Congratulations on your pregnancy, but not so much on having a pup with Cushings. I have no medical advice to add and do agree with you that this is a question for your doctors; however, I do use surgical gloves to administer the vetoryl/trilostane to Orlando. He is not a gracious pill taker and would never eat it if I did something like use tweezers and drop it in his food....also, he is a GSD type grazer who eats his dinner over the next few hours of it being served. Because I have to physically put it in his mouth, and we have had a little grappling at times, I went to surgical gloves. I can't say I have a lot of contact with his bodily fluids, unless the dr is worried about your pup licking you at times. If you have anyone else who can give the pill, that would be even safer I would think.

molly muffin
04-22-2015, 07:14 PM
I would ask the vet about maybe waiting to start treatment till after the baby is born, or about having someone in the house give it. I haven't heard that you can't be around the animals at all, but I don't think you'd want to be doing any pee and poop cleanup until after the baby is born.

Welcome to the forum