Ditto!! You're doing a great job!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by labblab
Printable View
Ditto!! You're doing a great job!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by labblab
Way to go! Sounds like appetite and thirst are down for sure!
I picked Gabe up after the test and he came home and drank both bowls of water (4 quarts), couldn't settle down and wound up barfing in the backyard. He's still panting and we've been home for an hour and a half. I called and they said he had a small bowl of water in the cage, which would not be enough for him, and I'm not even sure they are telling me the truth. The last time he came home and drank a lot too.
Maybe next time, I'll bring him home in between. The girl said they don't like that because they want them to rest in between. He was so excited to go out in the car, even though it was to the vet, and now I think he will just remember it as a bad experience.
Do you think that this time it's because he's on the Vetoryl and what they gave him for the test upset him like this? I feel terrible, he's so uncomfortable right now.
Some pups react negatively to the stim agent causing some discomfort for a while after the test. Maybe he threw the water up because he drank too much too soon? Bud does that all the time and it's only because he guzzles.
Lots of folk take their baby away from the vet's between draws. The very idea that a dog would be more relaxed or restful in a strange cage at a vet clinic is funny! :D Did you laugh when she said that? :D If Gabe is stressed at the vet then taking him away for a ride, a walk, even back home if it's close enough can help not only the dog but help get more accurate results since the pup isn't stressed to the max. ;)
Thanks, Leslie...it could've been too much water, too fast. He's laying down and seems okay. It's amazing how quickly the panic set in, though. I had visions of running to the Emergency clinic all over again.
Like Leslie said, some dogs are sensitive to the stimulating agent and may have a reaction such as Gabe's (Sharlene's Molly is one pup I can think of). When Harley had his ACTH test I would have them bring him out to me after they injected the stim agent. We stayed at the vet's office until it was time for the second blood draw, they had a bench outside so we would go there and sit. I would also take water and his bowl with me to his vet visits. How is Gabe doing now?
He's much better. I used to do that with Lena. She'd nap or look out the window and I would read.
Here are his test results. The vet said perfect, but why does it say low?
Sample 1: 1.3 Ref range 1.0 - 5.0
Sample 2: 7.1 (LOW) Ref range 8.0 - 17.0
The labs don't use the ranges given for the treatment drugs - they use only the range for a normal dog, a dog NOT on treatment. So while 7.1 would be low for an untreated cush pup OR a dog who does not have Cushing's (or Addison's) it is actually HIGH for a cush pup on treatment (not "perfect" ;) ). For a dog taking Vetoryl you want that post # under 5.1ug/dl. HOWEVER, that is after the first 30 days. Remember - it is not recommended to increase the dose during those first 30 days because the cortisol may well continue to drop on that same starting dose. So for now, that is good! Continue to watch him over the next few weeks to make sure there are no signs the cortisol has gone too low but other than that you are off to a great start seems to me! :cool:
Wow, your vet is right — those are really good results after the first couple of weeks! :-)))))))
The reason it says “Low” is because the range that is given on the labsheet is the normal range for the ACTH when it is being given as an initial diagnostic test for Cushing’s. Apparently your lab is not additionally listing the reference range when it is being used as a monitoring test for trilostane treatment. That can definitely be confusing, since the monitoring range is much different.
For monitoring purposes, a post-ACTH up to around 9 is acceptable if symptom resolution is satisfactory. If symptoms remain, then you would try to lower the post-ACTH value to a range between around 1.5 - 5.0. However, no dosing increases are recommended until after the thirty day mark since Gable’s cortisol may still drift down further on this same dose. So for right now, I’d leave things just as they are, especially since you think you’re seeing some symptom improvement already. It looks as though Lori may have been right on the mark as far as encouraging you to start at this lower dose. Good job all the way around!!!
Thanks to all of you!! And yes, Lori hit it just right! Thanks, Lori! I know that if I had left it up to them, they would've started him way too high. In fact the vet who called with the results (he's not the one I use that much anymore) sounded a little surprised when I told him that Gable was only on 40mg. I have a feeling he will be talking to the one I'm using about why the starting dose is that low.
Yahoo!!