Hello everyone! I am new to this forum, and am thrilled to find a place with such great support! I have a 10 year old German Shepherd (95 lbs) that recently started treatment with Vetoryl. I'm overwhelmed and confused, needing some guidance. Kaiser has had hind leg weakness issues dating back to 2012, but after imaging came back negative and pain meds did not help, I took him to a chiropractor. He had enough improvement that all seemed well for quite a while. His low back and pelvis needed adjustment. During a dental visit, his Alk Phos was found to be elevated (758), but the vet did not think it was concerning at the time. It started spiking dramatically over the past year, so tests for dilute urine were performed twice, but negative. This winter he started looking really old and slowing down. His front legs became a problem, stumbling, walking with a "hitch"... Imaging did not reveal anything, and laser therapy did not make any difference. Neither did Adequan. Then came the balding pot belly, constant panting, insomnia, ravenous appetite, thirst, hard and flaky bumps all over his back.
I scheduled the Low Dose Dexa test, and Pituitary Dependent Cushing's was confirmed. His regular vet started him on 60mg Vetoryl once a day on July 1st. I wanted to do split dose am and pm, but was told that was not protocol, and would skew test results... Well, the evening after the 4th dose, Kaiser had trouble getting up, and was like a drunken sailor... I called the vet first thing in the morning, and did not administer another dose. Was called back at the end of the day, and we decided to hold off a few days and restart 60mg every other day. That went well, except that Kaiser can no longer go for our daily walk. He stops to lay down after just a short distance. ACTH results were "good" so we agreed to do 30mg every day. Second ACTH is also good, and he has grown fur back on his belly, no longer ravenous appetite, time at the water bowl has decreased, and he finally sleeps! Vet still will not agree to twice a day dosing, and I was wondering what would be an indication for twice a day. Last night Kaiser chose to lie down in the grass to try and defecate, rather than stand. I am also worried about his exercise intolerance, and the chiropractor suggests I may need an Internal Medicine specialist.
Here are some test results:
4/18/17
Glucose 120 (63-114)
ALT 136 (18-121)
ALP 6,763 (5-160)
GGT 25 (0-13)
Cholesterol 444 (131-345)
IDEXX SDMA 12 (0-14)
6/13/17
All thyroid normal range (Total T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3, cTSH, Thyroglobulin Autoantibody, T4, T3 Autoantibody.)
LDDS
Pre Dex 5.0 (1.0 - 6.0 ug/dl)
4 hr post Dex 5.5 ug/dl
8 hr post Dex 6.9 ug/dl
7/17/17
ACTH
Pre ACTH 0.8 ug/dl (2-6)
1 hr post ACTH 2.5 ug/dl (6-18)
8/16/17
ACTH
Pre ACTH 0.6 ug/dl (2-6)
1 hr post ACTH 3.0 ug/dl (6-18)
I currently have him on dasaquin w/ MSM, milk thistle, melatonin, lignans, CBD oil. He just finished a second round of antibiotics for his skin lesions, which were crusty and open before. I spent an hour combing out skin flakes today... So much to remove! At least they are no longer open, but he is still very lumpy with countless dark spots where the bumps are. I am just so heartbroken to see him declining so much! Am I just impatient with the treatment, or do I have something totally unrelated going on with his legs? Thanks so much for any input you can offer!!