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Jhura
03-02-2017, 11:02 PM
I am mom to 12 year old American Bulldog, Dozer. He has been generally healthy, until 2011 after Rabies booster shots (never again!)

That started his downward spiral, specifically with lameness and trouble walking.

He also developed interdigital pyoderma after a round of antibiotics from a tooth abscess (which was weird because I brush his teeth regularly).

Then because of the pyoderma, he was put on prednisone, which skyrocketed his panting and drinking and peeing. It was not sustainable, so we stopped. Well fast forward a year these symptoms never went away, after stopping the pred. Pyoderma returned too.

As his walking got worse, last Sept we went to orthopedic, who referred us to a vet neurologist who said Dozer has poly neuropathy, along with an enlarged heart.

Then this past December, he was diagnosed with Cushings from STIM test after dealing with excessive panting, drinking, peeing, hair loss and distended belly. He was put on compounded Trilostane, at first .6 ml then .8.

Symptoms quieted, then upticked in mid January which revealed cortisol high again from STIM test. At that point he was raised to 1.2 of the med. He totally tanked and we thought we were going to lose him. Doc said take him off, which he got a little better. Now doc is checking thyroid/free t4, because thyroid was low on senior wellness panel two days ago I can post these too.

I'm so scared. We have no money for this disease and all its diagnostics, but he is my baby boy and I want to help him. He's been on an organic raw meat and grain free kibble diet, with lots of veggies and chicken broth, along with high quality supplements such as salmon oil, a senior multi and probiotics. We've tris Chinese herbs from a holistic vet, glandulars from Standard Process, and amino acids for cellular health, to name a few other things.

Not sure what is going on, since he has so much going on! Docs are stumped too. Not sure what to do...Thanks for listening!

DoxieMama
03-03-2017, 08:55 AM
Hi Jhura, welcome to you and Dozer. If you have the results of the tests that were done for diagnosis, as well as the ACTH test, those would be helpful to post. As far as blood work is concerned, we only need to see the values that are considered abnormal along with the normal reference ranges listed.

If I'm understanding correctly, the Trilostane you are giving him is a liquid. Can you tell us how much of the med is in it? (I think it should show this per ml) That way we know just how much med is in the .6, .8 and 1.2 you're giving him. Hope that makes sense.

Are you now not giving him the Trilostane at all? I'm not disagreeing with that, just want to be clear. :)

I'll be interested in following along and learning more about Dozer!

Harley PoMMom
03-03-2017, 11:56 AM
Hi Jhura,

Welcome to you and Dozer from me as well! As Shana mentioned, posting those ACTH stimulation test results along with the timelines and dosages would be very helpful. Also, how much does Dozer weigh?

Please know we are here to help in any way we can, and don't hesitate to ask all the questions you want.

Hugs, Lori

judymaggie
03-04-2017, 04:04 PM
Hi, Jhura -- I wanted to add my "welcome" to you and Dozer! Hopefully, once we know a bit more about Dozer, we can help you sort things out. Hang in there!

molly muffin
03-05-2017, 08:50 PM
Hello and welcome from me too.

I just wanted to check and see if he has been completely off the prednisone for quite awhile prior to the ACTH being done? As itrogenic cushings is caused by use of prednisone or other steroids which mimic the cortisol levels and can cause the same symptoms as if he had regular cushings. So we want to verify that.

Also as mentioned, what does it say on the bottle of trilostane as far as how much a ml is. (1 ml = X mg)
the dosage should be no more than 1mg/1lb.
However if predisone or other steroid was a factor and cause then the treatment is to remove them from the steroid and the symptoms of cushings usually goes away, rather than treatment for the cushings.

I hope that made sense.