Still has excessive panting help please

[Nmartin]

My dog has been on vetoryl for almost a year now yet he still has bouts of excessive panting. Will this go away? Is there anything i can do to ease his discomfort. It hurts me to see him like that. Thank you.

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi and welcome to you and your boy!

Panting is a common symptom with Cushing's. In cushdogs, it is believed to be caused by a combination of muscle wasting, redistribution of fat to the thoracic area and a general sensitivity to heat. It can also be caused by obesity, is your sweet boy overweight?

Is your boy showing any signs of high cortisol levels? Elevated cortisol may cause this too, when was his last ACTH stimulation test done and was your boy's cortisol within the therapeutic ranges? If he is a senior fella than maybe arthritis is setting in which can be painful and make him pant.

My boy used to pant so I would spritz the bottom of his paws and keep the house real cold which seemed to help.

So glad you found us and we will help in any way we can.

Hugs, Lori

[Nmartin]

Thank you Lori. He is a senior. He is within his normal expectant range. I believe its been about 3 months since his last ACTH test. He is also on medication for arthritis. I'm going to try the spritzing the paws idea. I just don't know what he needs when he gets that way. Sometimes its food, sometimes it just panting. I feel powerless in helping him.

[Nmartin]

I do keep the house cool. I have a fan for him as well, but he doesn't seek that which confuses me.

[labblab]

Hello and welcome from me, too! I'm surely sorry your boy is being troubled by these panting episodes. As Lori has said, one of the possibilities may be that his cortisol level is running a bit higher. In order to rule that out as the issue, can you tell us the exact numbers for his most recent monitoring ACTH test? Also, how much does he weigh and what dose of Vetoryl is he taking?

Last but not least, does he have any other remaining Cushing's symptoms, or have the rest of his symptoms pretty much all resolved?

Thanks so much for this additional info when you are able to post it.

Marianne

[molly muffin]

hello and welcome from me too.

What medication is he on for his arthritis? Is it a pain med? Is his blood work all within normal range?