cole
05-10-2016, 06:25 PM
Hi All! I stumbled across this group while doing a Cushings search and I must say I am so glad that I did! Everyone here seems amazing, and my heart goes out to all of you and your furbabies. My Frisco was diagnosed about a year and a half ago with cushings. At that time his only symptoms were drinking and peeing more than usual but nothing super excessive (a few accidents in the house), some weight gain, panting, and a good appetite (which he has always had). Tests were done to confirm cushings (I do have all of his records so I will post results at the bottom) but both his vet and I felt the symptoms were so minor that treatment was not necessary at that time.
Frisco did real well up until about 6 months ago, when I noticed he was having a harder time getting up and down stairs (nothing too crazy, just not with ease as usual). He had gained some more weight and had a pot belly. The drinking and peeing came in bouts--for the most part normal, but on occasion I would notice an increase in both that lasted about a week, then it was back to what a normal dog would be. He still LOVED his food, as he always has. He never whined or cried or got aggressive about food though.
Fast forward to today--Frisco is not doing well at all. It breaks my heart. He can barely use his hind legs, so he lays pretty much in one spot all day, except when he gets up to eat or to use the bathroom (which is only 3x a day for bathroom--not sure if he has to go more and is just holding it because he knows he can barely walk or not). And it's so hard for him to walk. He has callouses on both front elbows and a growth on his back foot that has broke open and bled on two occasions (the doc said it was a wart, but she barely looked at it). Whenever I am gone from the room or house and come back, he always wags his tail though.
Most recent vet visit was last week. X-rays showed nothing wrong with spine or hips, and the doc said liver was slightly enlarged. I don't think his hind legs were x-rayed, but she did a neurologic test on them and she said it was nothing neurologic. Wants to begin meds for hypothyroid and Vetoryl 60mg. Frisco is 68 pounds. I am terrified to start either one, and am hoping for reassurance I guess.
And that's my story. Now for questions...
1. Based on Frisco's lab results, does anyone feel one problem should be worked out before the other (cushings vs. hypothyroid)? Does it even look as though he has true hypothyroidism, or do you think the results are that way because of the cushings?
2. Because he is in such bad shape right now, should I even give him Vetoryl? I was under the impression that the meds get the whole peeing, drinking, eating and hair loss issues under control (which Frisco doesn't even have, except the eating), but do little for hind leg weakness, which is his biggest, if not only, concern right now. I would absolutely hate to put him on a medication that may make him feel horrible for nothing.
I know I'll have more to ask and contribute along my journey, but I'll leave it as this for now. Thanks for listening!!
Will post only lab work that came up abnormal.
1/15/2014:
T4 Result: 0.7 Range: 1.0-4.0
ALKP Result: 242 Range: 5-160
ALT Result: 212 Range: 18-121
TSH Result: 1.33 Range: 0.05-0.42
1/14/2015:
ALKP Result: 378 Range: 5-160
ALT Result: 170 Range: 18-121
ABS Lymphs Result: 1047 Range: 1060-4950
UCCR Result: 88 greater than 34=cushings possible
1/22/2015
LDDS
Result: pre--8.8, 4 hrs. post--0.8, 8 hrs. post--4.1
Range: 4 hrs. post was less than 1 and within normal range
8 hrs. post-less than 1 is normal, 1.0-1.5 is inconclusive,
greater than 1.5 and greater than 50% of baseline is
consistent with cushings
9/9/2015
T4 Result: 0.6 Range: 1.0-4.0
TSH Result: 0.42 Range: 0.05-0.42
5/6/2016
T4 Result: 0.8 Range: 1.0-4.0
TSH Result: 0.74 Range: 0.05-0.42
ALKP Result: 459 Range: 23-212
ALT Result: 123 this was actually in the average
range this time 10-125
PLT Result: 507 Range: 148-484
Lymphs Result: 0.86 Range: 1.05-5.10
ACTH Pre: 5.8 Post: 36.0
(normal pre) (greater than 22 consistent
with cushings)
Whew! Done, sorry for the incredibly long post!
Frisco did real well up until about 6 months ago, when I noticed he was having a harder time getting up and down stairs (nothing too crazy, just not with ease as usual). He had gained some more weight and had a pot belly. The drinking and peeing came in bouts--for the most part normal, but on occasion I would notice an increase in both that lasted about a week, then it was back to what a normal dog would be. He still LOVED his food, as he always has. He never whined or cried or got aggressive about food though.
Fast forward to today--Frisco is not doing well at all. It breaks my heart. He can barely use his hind legs, so he lays pretty much in one spot all day, except when he gets up to eat or to use the bathroom (which is only 3x a day for bathroom--not sure if he has to go more and is just holding it because he knows he can barely walk or not). And it's so hard for him to walk. He has callouses on both front elbows and a growth on his back foot that has broke open and bled on two occasions (the doc said it was a wart, but she barely looked at it). Whenever I am gone from the room or house and come back, he always wags his tail though.
Most recent vet visit was last week. X-rays showed nothing wrong with spine or hips, and the doc said liver was slightly enlarged. I don't think his hind legs were x-rayed, but she did a neurologic test on them and she said it was nothing neurologic. Wants to begin meds for hypothyroid and Vetoryl 60mg. Frisco is 68 pounds. I am terrified to start either one, and am hoping for reassurance I guess.
And that's my story. Now for questions...
1. Based on Frisco's lab results, does anyone feel one problem should be worked out before the other (cushings vs. hypothyroid)? Does it even look as though he has true hypothyroidism, or do you think the results are that way because of the cushings?
2. Because he is in such bad shape right now, should I even give him Vetoryl? I was under the impression that the meds get the whole peeing, drinking, eating and hair loss issues under control (which Frisco doesn't even have, except the eating), but do little for hind leg weakness, which is his biggest, if not only, concern right now. I would absolutely hate to put him on a medication that may make him feel horrible for nothing.
I know I'll have more to ask and contribute along my journey, but I'll leave it as this for now. Thanks for listening!!
Will post only lab work that came up abnormal.
1/15/2014:
T4 Result: 0.7 Range: 1.0-4.0
ALKP Result: 242 Range: 5-160
ALT Result: 212 Range: 18-121
TSH Result: 1.33 Range: 0.05-0.42
1/14/2015:
ALKP Result: 378 Range: 5-160
ALT Result: 170 Range: 18-121
ABS Lymphs Result: 1047 Range: 1060-4950
UCCR Result: 88 greater than 34=cushings possible
1/22/2015
LDDS
Result: pre--8.8, 4 hrs. post--0.8, 8 hrs. post--4.1
Range: 4 hrs. post was less than 1 and within normal range
8 hrs. post-less than 1 is normal, 1.0-1.5 is inconclusive,
greater than 1.5 and greater than 50% of baseline is
consistent with cushings
9/9/2015
T4 Result: 0.6 Range: 1.0-4.0
TSH Result: 0.42 Range: 0.05-0.42
5/6/2016
T4 Result: 0.8 Range: 1.0-4.0
TSH Result: 0.74 Range: 0.05-0.42
ALKP Result: 459 Range: 23-212
ALT Result: 123 this was actually in the average
range this time 10-125
PLT Result: 507 Range: 148-484
Lymphs Result: 0.86 Range: 1.05-5.10
ACTH Pre: 5.8 Post: 36.0
(normal pre) (greater than 22 consistent
with cushings)
Whew! Done, sorry for the incredibly long post!