New to the forum

[Theresa]

My Cassie, an 11 year old 10 lb Yorkie was just diagnosed with the pituitary cushings. She is supposed to start vetoryl on Monday at 10 mg twice a day. I'm in the information gathering stage which is why I joined. Any advice or comments are appreciated.

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi and welcome to you and Cassie! :)

The new recommended starting dose for Vetoryl is 1mg per pound so at 10lbs, Cassie should start with 10mg/day. You can ask your vet to call Dechra and verify this information if they wish. We have seen over and over and over that starting low is the best thing with this drug - much less risk of the cortisol dropping too low. So I would let the vet know Cassie will be taking 10mg a day not 20mg a day. Increasing the dose is easy, overdosing is also easy so start low and take it slow with any increases. ;)

Can you tell us more about your sweet girl? What signs prompted you to test for Cushing's? Do you mind posting all the test results that were used to diagnose the Cushing's? We are interested in any labs that show things like BUN, CHOL, ALP, ALT, T-4 and so on PLUS any LDDS, ACTH or ultrasound information. Does she have any other health issues? Is she taking any other meds, supplements, or herbs and if so what for? This will help us give you more meaningful feedback.

I'm glad you found us and look forward to learning more as time passes. More folk will be by to chat in time but bear in mind this is a holiday in the US for many so we are short-staffed today. Btw - Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Hugs
Leslie and the gang

[lulusmom]

Hi Theresa.

I am so glad you made the jump from fb to us and I know you will be glad you did. Leslie has already gotten you off to a great start and I agree with her about the starting dose. If Cassie were mine, I would start with 10mg once a day (always in am) and make adjustments from there if necessary. It's always much better to go low and slow. Leslie has asked the same questions I had so I'll just say welcome to you and Cassie for now. I'll be staying tuned for a lot more information on your precious girl.

Glynda

[molly muffin]

Hello and welcome to the forum from me too.

I also would start at no more than 10mg per day. That is just safer starting dose and it may be that in time the dose is adjusted up or down, but you don't know starting out how her body will react to the meds so this is the safer route and is what I'd do.

Welcome again!!

[Theresa]

Here are her results:
BUN -15 Reference - 9-31
ALT - 46 Reference 18-121
ALP - 187 Reference 5-160 (in April this was 78)
Lipase - 792 Reference 138-755
Her protein in her urine was 3+ (300-500 mg/dl)
T-4 - 1.4 Reference 1-4

Her results from the Dexamethasone Supression:
Cortisol - Pre Dex - 9.8 Reference 1-6
4 hr Post Dex - .6
8 hr Post Dex - 2

Low-Dose Dexamethasone Diagnostic Intervals (Canine)
4 hours 8 hours Interpretation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
<1 <1 Normal

1.0-1.5 1.0-1.5 Inconclusive
>1.5 and >50% >1.5 and >50% Consistent with hyperadrenocorticism
of baseline of baseline Further testing required to differentiate adrenal tumor from pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH)

<1.5 or <50% >1.5 and >50% Consistent with pituitary-dependent
of baseline of baseline hyperadrenocorticism (PDH)

<1.5 or <50% >1.5 and <50% Consistent with pituitary-dependent
of baseline of baseline hyperadrenocorticism (PDH)

>1.5 or >50% >1.5 and <50% Consistent with pituitary-dependent
of baseline of baseline hyperadrenocorticism (PDH)

High-Dose Dexamethasone Diagnostic Intervals (Canine)
4 hour 8 hour Interpretation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
<1.5 or <50% >1.5 and >50% Consistent with pituitary-dependent
of baseline of baseline hyperadrenocorticism (PDH)

>1.5 and >50% <1.5 or <50% Consistent with pituitary-dependent
of baseline of baseline hyperadrenocorticism (PDH)

<1.5 or <50% <1.5 or <50% Consistent with pituitary-dependent
of baseline of baseline hyperadrenocorticism (PDH)

>1.5 and >50% >1.5 and >50% Further testing required to
of baseline of baseline differentiate PDH from adrenal tumor.

Hopefully this information posts correctly.

I took Cassie into the vet because she was drinking and urinating excessively. I have had her since she was 3 months old so I know immediately when something is different with her. For a Yorkie, she has been extremely healthy her entire life. A couple of years ago, they were concerned about her glucose level as it was elevated. We changed her diet and that came down and has been consistent ever since. I don't give her any supplements and she doesn't take any other kinds of medication.

I have her full blood panel if you need any of the other results. I went through kidney failure 3 years ago with one of my other Yorkies, so I learned very quickly how important it is for me to have copies of all of my dogs test results. They did not do an ultrasound on her since the test showed it was pituitary based instead of adrenal based.

Thanks,
Theresa