My friends dog with Cushings

[mimir]

Hi, all

Glad to be here among you.

My friend's thirteen year old Dachshund was diagnosed with cancer this spring but now has also been diagnosed with Cushings. Her vet put the dog on Lysodren. The dog has become very fussy eating and has had some diarrhea.
My question to you guys is this...could the med be causing the change in appetite and the diarrhea? She is at her wits end. The vet has stopped the Lysodren and they may try Anipryl or melatonin and flax hull lignans.
What is your experience with drugs for Cushings? And in your opinion what works best
Please help asap....thank you
Mimi

[Squirt's Mom]

The answer is - definitely.

How much does the dog weigh? What dose of Lyso was it taking? How many times a day? For how long? Did the vet do an ACTH and check the electrolytes when they told your friend to stop the Lyso? If so, what were the results? What tests were done to diagnose the Cushing's and is the vet positive the elevated cortisol is from Cushing's and not the cancer? Think your friend might want to talk to us direct? :p You will be passing info back and forth so much your head will be spinning in no time. ;)

[molly muffin]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Yes Cushing meds can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It is usually a sign of overdose/cortisol going to low.

I am a bit leery of the Cushing diagnosis when cancer has already been determined. As Cushing tests can be false positive when other chronic illnesses are present.
So what kind of cancer does her dog have? Was it treated? Surgically removed?
What Cushing symptoms does or did her dog have?
Usually they drink buckets of water. Which they need because their kidneys are working over time. Have acid repents and must urinate frequently. Ravenous hunger. They will eat anything. Pot belly. Loss of hair. Skin issues. Hind leg weakness.
What kind of tests where done to diagnose Cushing's?

Lignans and melatonine ate prescribed when the sex hormones other than cortisol are elevated. They are fairly benign and can be used usually without complications but will not lower cortisol if it is greatly elevated. For that typically lysodren or vetroyl/trilostane is used. Often that I'd
S based in the vets preference and whT they have the most experience with.

Was a follow up ACTH test done to see if the lysodren had caused her cortisol to go too low? Do you know the results of that test?

There are a whole lot of factors that have to be considered when decided what to test and what to use. Most of which I have already mentioned.

Has the diarrhea cleared up now when off the lysodren. Is appetite back?

[mimir]

Thank you so much for a quick response. I will ask my friend to come here and talk directly.
Right now, today she is dealing , alone, with two sick elderly parents as well as her sick dog. Elderly parents were in a car accident.
thank you again
Mimi

[molly muffin]

Oh my gosh. How horrible for her. I hope her parents are going to be okay.

[Squirt's Mom]

Oh no! I hope her grandparents do ok. When she is ready, we will be here. ;) Cushing's is not usually life threatening and since she has stopped the Lyso, an over dose is no longer a concern. As long as her baby is eating and drinking good again, the pup should be alright for a bit as far as Cushing's goes.