puppro
11-03-2015, 10:44 AM
Hi there. I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Lady C (aka Charlie). She was diagnosed with pituitary Cushings July 2014. She had a pre-dental screening blood test show elevated liver enzymes and that lead to all the tests for Cushing's way back then (at Oregon State University in Corvallis...she had every test available). Charlie is 10 years old now. She also has mitral heart valve disease. It is fairly mild and no need for meds yet for mvd.
Charlie has been on trilostane (Vetroyl) since diagnosis. We started her at lowest dose and very slowly increased it over several months. We diligently tested with ACTH stim tests. She has been tested about a dozen times since July 2014. We wanted to slowly increase dosages to give her adjusting time and reduce side effects. Her numbers were not satisfactory to internist, who used the guidelines from the Vetroyl manufacturer. The numbers were not low enough per guidelines, even with dosage increases. From August 2014 to June 2015, the meds were eventually increased to 60 mgs a day for 20 lb dog. 30 morning and night, always with food. I was concerned about such a high dose.
Her numbers were about 7 pretest and about 13 post test when that dosage increase was made at end of June. Looking back, her symptoms (besides panting) were pretty controlled even with those numbers. They wanted numbers under 5.
Her symptoms, in the past, included increased thirst, panting, rearend muscle wasting, and great hunger. She had no hair loss. Some mild skin thinning on tummy.
With trilostane, the thirst was completely controlled. Her appetite was healthy. I had her on Honest Kitchen and many homemade 'super foods' to help her immune system and general health. Besides an internist treating her, I consulted with integretive vet for diet needs besides Honest Kitchen.
Up until that last dosage increase, things went pretty well. Still lots of energy and short walks 3-4 times a day. She also took Denamarine for liver health and omega 3s.
About a month after dosage increase, she started loosing hair very rapidly. Her thirst increased. I thought it was the Cushing's of course, though hair loss a new symptom. By Sept, she lost her appetite. She had an earlier than usual ACTH test and her numbers were way too low, under 1. She refused her Denamarine and all her super foods and HK. I had to entice her with lean ground beef, fresh cod and eventually canned Evangers salmon. Internist stopped meds for 4 days. Then wanted her on 10 a day, increasing eventually to 10 twice a day. For the past two months, her appetite has been inconsistent, though much better than when she was on high dose. On the 10 mg a day, she improved and I could get her to eat with spoon feeding and the new foods. I added powdered vitamins. Her walks were still good. Still happy, though a bit more tired. Going to 20 mgs for just 2 days, her appetite wained again and she stopped eating. She sleeped all day. So she is off the meds again to regain appetite. It has only been a day. I do not mind the sleeping, but eating is imperative! I think she will eat again off meds. ( It is 3 am while writing this and just got her to eat some more hamburger). The appetite thing is definitely related to meds.
She never had vomiting or diarrhea with vetroyl.
Amazing, once the high dose of meds stopped, her severe hair loss (for those 2 months) has decreased significantly. I see small amount growing back. Her breath is really bad, from the stomach not dental. Pepcid has not helped. Still bad now.
My concerns are about not having enough meds so she will keep her appetite. She no longer will take Denamarine. She scratches a lot now. She wears a cone so she does not scratch her eye.
Anyone had this type of experience? Also, the Cushing's caused her to loose weight. Not just the initial muscle wasting, but beyond that. I fed her about 5 times a day to MAINTAIN weight. She cannot go more than a day without eating. It affects her a lot. She is hovering at 17-18 lbs. I pray she eats in the morning.
Her most recent chem panel results, which was taken with last ACTH test, were pretty good. One liver enzyme elevated again.
Charlie has been on trilostane (Vetroyl) since diagnosis. We started her at lowest dose and very slowly increased it over several months. We diligently tested with ACTH stim tests. She has been tested about a dozen times since July 2014. We wanted to slowly increase dosages to give her adjusting time and reduce side effects. Her numbers were not satisfactory to internist, who used the guidelines from the Vetroyl manufacturer. The numbers were not low enough per guidelines, even with dosage increases. From August 2014 to June 2015, the meds were eventually increased to 60 mgs a day for 20 lb dog. 30 morning and night, always with food. I was concerned about such a high dose.
Her numbers were about 7 pretest and about 13 post test when that dosage increase was made at end of June. Looking back, her symptoms (besides panting) were pretty controlled even with those numbers. They wanted numbers under 5.
Her symptoms, in the past, included increased thirst, panting, rearend muscle wasting, and great hunger. She had no hair loss. Some mild skin thinning on tummy.
With trilostane, the thirst was completely controlled. Her appetite was healthy. I had her on Honest Kitchen and many homemade 'super foods' to help her immune system and general health. Besides an internist treating her, I consulted with integretive vet for diet needs besides Honest Kitchen.
Up until that last dosage increase, things went pretty well. Still lots of energy and short walks 3-4 times a day. She also took Denamarine for liver health and omega 3s.
About a month after dosage increase, she started loosing hair very rapidly. Her thirst increased. I thought it was the Cushing's of course, though hair loss a new symptom. By Sept, she lost her appetite. She had an earlier than usual ACTH test and her numbers were way too low, under 1. She refused her Denamarine and all her super foods and HK. I had to entice her with lean ground beef, fresh cod and eventually canned Evangers salmon. Internist stopped meds for 4 days. Then wanted her on 10 a day, increasing eventually to 10 twice a day. For the past two months, her appetite has been inconsistent, though much better than when she was on high dose. On the 10 mg a day, she improved and I could get her to eat with spoon feeding and the new foods. I added powdered vitamins. Her walks were still good. Still happy, though a bit more tired. Going to 20 mgs for just 2 days, her appetite wained again and she stopped eating. She sleeped all day. So she is off the meds again to regain appetite. It has only been a day. I do not mind the sleeping, but eating is imperative! I think she will eat again off meds. ( It is 3 am while writing this and just got her to eat some more hamburger). The appetite thing is definitely related to meds.
She never had vomiting or diarrhea with vetroyl.
Amazing, once the high dose of meds stopped, her severe hair loss (for those 2 months) has decreased significantly. I see small amount growing back. Her breath is really bad, from the stomach not dental. Pepcid has not helped. Still bad now.
My concerns are about not having enough meds so she will keep her appetite. She no longer will take Denamarine. She scratches a lot now. She wears a cone so she does not scratch her eye.
Anyone had this type of experience? Also, the Cushing's caused her to loose weight. Not just the initial muscle wasting, but beyond that. I fed her about 5 times a day to MAINTAIN weight. She cannot go more than a day without eating. It affects her a lot. She is hovering at 17-18 lbs. I pray she eats in the morning.
Her most recent chem panel results, which was taken with last ACTH test, were pretty good. One liver enzyme elevated again.