Losing weight

[memi]

My chihuahua is 11 years old. He has Cushing disease and was diagnosed 5 years ago when he was still healthy. He was eating a lot and he weighed 22 pounds. He started on a low-fat diet and takes trilostane daily at 10 mg. He is losing weight rapidly down to only 10.2 pounds. I can feel bone and see his rib cage. Does anyone know what is causing this rapid weight loss? Is he losing muscle? He is relatively happy and getting along well. He goes for his walks outdoors and does not seem to be ill.

A few months ago he got into some large muffins and ate the whole box. He had acute pancreatitis. Something similar happened months earlier around a major Holiday. Both times I went to the emergency vet who treated him.

[lulusmom]

Hi and welcome to you and your little Chi.

We have had reports of cushdogs experiencing unexplained weight loss on Vetoryl (trilostane) and weight loss is listed as one of the side effects of the drug. However, there is no mention as to whether weight loss was due to anorexia caused by overdosing or other causes. Have you had a recent blood chemistry and cbc done? If not, I would suggest that you consider having those labs done now. When was the last acth stimulation test done and can you share the results with us? Has his appetite changed at all since the onset of his sudden weight loss?

I'm glad you found us and congratulations on successfully treating your boy for five years.

Glynda

[labblab]

Hello and welcome to you and your little boy! I am sorry he is losing weight, and we'll do our best to try to help you figure out what may be going on. First and most importantly, has he had any recent blood tests performed to measure his cortisol level? It sounds as though he has been taking 10 mg. of trilostane all this time, without any dosing changes at all? During the course of these past five years, I am hoping that your vet has periodically performed ACTH stimulation tests in order to make sure that his cortisol level is neither too high nor too low. Can you tell us if this is the case, and if so, it will be great if you will give us the most recent results.

Also, I am also hoping that he has also had periodic blood tests in order to identify any abnormalities in his blood cells and his blood chemistries. Trilostane can have other effects on the body in addition to just lowering cortisol levels. So it's very important to regularly test to make sure that the dog's blood chemistries have not become unbalanced.

So those are the two things that I am wondering about the most. In addition, can you tell us more about the symptoms that originally led your vet to suspect Cushing's and also the diagnostic testing that was done to confirm the diagnosis? You mention that he was still healthy at the time he was diagnosed, so that does make me wonder a bit as to what abnormalities prompted the the testing in the first place. You mention a big appetite -- how about any other classic Cushing's symptoms such as excessive thirst/urination, panting, pot belly, skin and coat problems.

I know I've asked you a lot of questions, so I hope I am not overwhelming you. You can tackle them a bit at a time. But all the information you can share with us will be a big help in terms of trying to figure out what is going on now.

And once again, welcome!
Marianne

[molly muffin]

Hello and welcome from me too. Glynda and Marianne have gotten you off to a good start with their questions. I think the one about any recent bloodwork is really important. Kidney values, and other things can change over time and affect weight. Pancreatis is also really hard on their bodies, was that when the weight loss started to occur?