Off topic ! Has anyone had a dog with cushings disease?

teresa41
teresa41 Member Posts: 471
edited March 2017 in Breast Cancer #1

my dog grant the white one in my picture  Is suspected of having cushings disease he has all the symptoms of it ! Just wondered if any one here has had a dog with it ! I joined a cushings discussion forum online not much help at all from them ! I am a 2 time breast cancer survivor April will be 8 years the first time 7 years the second time ! I thought I would try here maybe someone can tell me more ! 

Thank you 

teresa

Comments

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #2
    I have never heard of it....

    I have never heard of it....

    Denise

  • miaria9904
    miaria9904 Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2017 #3
    Yes my Maggie had Cushings

    Three years ago my beautiful Bicheon developed Cushings.  She was always hungry and couldn't get enough water.  Vet put her on this medicine that cost $45.00 per month and had to have her blood tested every 4-5  weeks at a cost of approx $100.00 each test.  I didn't care I would pay whatever for my beautiful girl.  She eventually went blind and developed a blood problem so I had to put her down.  She was.Only 8 years old.  If I had to do it over again I probably would not have put her on this daily pill.  Has your dog been tested for Cushings?

    Pat

  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    edited March 2017 #4
    Thank you so much

    yes grant is 10 will be 11 in August! he tested positive for cushings this week ! he has had symptoms for a while I just thought getting older he drinks lots of water , gobbles food always hungry pees a lot, pot belly ,very distant to me ! I became concerned when he started going outside to poop and eating it sorry but true ! his liver enzymes are elevated also in lab work ! Vet told me treatment is very expensive and some medicine is harsh ! I honestly can not afford the cost of treatment ! I am going to try natural treatment and see milk thistle is good for the liver ! I am so glad you replied to me I gave up on anyone replying  ! any other tips or words of wisdom i would appreciate this is so new to me 

    thank you 

    teresa

  • miaria9904
    miaria9904 Member Posts: 7
    #5
     if I had it to do over I

     if I had it to do over I would not have given her the pills.  I had a very hard time getting the capsules down her throat.  cushings is a disease that humans get also.  It's high levels of cortisol in the body. You can find a lot of info on the internet.  My Maggie was the most loveable, smartest dog I ever had.  two years later I came down with breast cancer and am now in chemo and starting Radiation.  Just do what you think is best for Grant and give him a lot love.  I thing those pills contributed to Maggie's short life.  By he time she was due for her expensive blood test to check her levels she had already stopped eating and her kidneys were not functioning.  I wish you many more years with Grant   Congratulations on being a cancer survival.

     

  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    edited March 2017 #6
    Thank you

     I have read sometimes the treatment is worse than the disease ! I am not going to do the vet medicine ! I wish you all the best ! You are a survivor also !

    hugs to you 

    Thank you ! 

    Teresa

  • ChwaraeTeg
    ChwaraeTeg Member Posts: 10
    edited March 2017 #7
    So sorry to hear about your

    So sorry to hear about your pup!  It's awful when they're suffering!! I had a horse  with Cushings which was totally managable. He was on something called Prascend, which like the drug  for dogs, reduces cortisol levels. Your dog might have a tumor  on his adrenal glands (they usually ultrasound for that) which could be surgically removed, but  I think the main intervention is the drug. Regardless, my horse lived a long time, pill was easy (used to be pergolide which was NOT easy). Usually dogs can do okay but they need to be on the drug (can't remember the name but it does the same thing--reduces cortisol) for the rest of their lives and regular check-ups. There was an older drug (off label for dogs) they used to prescribe which had some side effects, but the new(er) one I think is better tolerated. Wish I could remember the name.

    Anyway, good luck to you and a big pat for your puppy!

  • miaria9904
    miaria9904 Member Posts: 7
    #8
    ChwaraeTeg said:

    So sorry to hear about your

    So sorry to hear about your pup!  It's awful when they're suffering!! I had a horse  with Cushings which was totally managable. He was on something called Prascend, which like the drug  for dogs, reduces cortisol levels. Your dog might have a tumor  on his adrenal glands (they usually ultrasound for that) which could be surgically removed, but  I think the main intervention is the drug. Regardless, my horse lived a long time, pill was easy (used to be pergolide which was NOT easy). Usually dogs can do okay but they need to be on the drug (can't remember the name but it does the same thing--reduces cortisol) for the rest of their lives and regular check-ups. There was an older drug (off label for dogs) they used to prescribe which had some side effects, but the new(er) one I think is better tolerated. Wish I could remember the name.

    Anyway, good luck to you and a big pat for your puppy!

    Veteroler drug

    My dog was on Veterol, I think it comes from Germany.  It cost approx. $65.00 for 30 pills.  There was never a change in her from the pill. she had a special blood test every 4-6 weeks to check her levels.  Dont know what happened but her last test showed fatal results.  She needed to be put on fluids for two days to try to clear her kidneys  and if it worked (vet didn't think so) she would then have to be on very strong meds the rest of her life.  Maybe the  other drugs work but 3years ago there was nothing else.  Good luck to all with dogs that suffer from this disease.  I still miss my sweet girl.

    Pat

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