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Thread: GSD with Cushing's - Kaiser has passed

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    26

    Default Re: GSD with Cushing's

    Quote Originally Posted by molly muffin View Post
    Hi! sorry i've been absent and didn't see your question till now, but I agree with Marianne, i would stay the course for now and since he seems to be making great improvements, I wouldn't change anything unless necessary.
    Thanks Sharlene! Yes, I will continue on with the current dosage. I was happy to see it on sale at Valley Vet Supply, as my vet's office charges over $70 for a 30 day supply...

    I'm thrilled that the chiropractor says Kaiser's muscle tone is a little better along his back and hind quarters. I have to give him a pep talk to keep him moving without lying down when we walk the little hill in the yard. Slowly but surely, we will get there...!! He's being a real trooper!

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    16,150

    Default Re: GSD with Cushing's

    Even a bit of the small hills can help with the muscles, tendons and ligaments.

    good job!!

    It is definitely worth checking out pricing online vs the vets as I always found the vets higher.
    Sharlene and the late great diva - Molly muffin (always missed and never forgotten)

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    rural central ARK
    Posts
    14,549

    Default Re: GSD with Cushing's

    Nice to hear things are improving! Keep up the good work, Mom!
    "May you know that absence is full of tender presence and that nothing is ever lost or forgotten." John O'Donahue, "Eternal Echoes"

    Death is not a changing of worlds as most imagine, as much as the walls of this world infinitely expanding.

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Posts
    9

    Default Re: GSD with Cushing's

    Wishing you and Kaiser the best. Hope he is doing well.

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    26

    Default Re: GSD with Cushing's

    Quote Originally Posted by Urses View Post
    Wishing you and Kaiser the best. Hope he is doing well.
    Thanks so much! I'm hoping you find a diagnosis soon for your girl!!

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    26

    Default Re: GSD with Cushing's

    Just a small update on Kaiser's progress:
    We are now just over 5 months on Trilostane 30 mg per day (Kaiser weighs about 97 lbs). His skin issues seem to have nearly resolved, and his fur has all grown back in much thicker than it has ever been! I have spent the past few months working on regaining his muscle and endurance, which has been very slow and frustrating to say the least. I am happy to report that as of Sunday night, he was able to actually make it down the block to the main corner and back without laying down and refusing to walk! We did it again Monday night with success! I am feeling hopeful, as his chiropractor last month stressed the importanace of building up muscle. Of note, due to his regular vet making me get monthly re-authorizations for his Vetoryl, rather than pre- approving refills, we had run out for a few days (when they failed to respond to the Pharmacy's refill request) before he had the breakthrough on his walks. I still suspect that the Vetoryl has held him back from being able to walk any distance. Now that he is back on his regular dosage, it will be interesting to see if I am correct or not in that assumption... All the same, I am thrilled at his "breakthrough", and hope this forward momentum continues. I am planning on his next ACTH in a couple of weeks to see where the numbers are now.
    Theresa
    Last edited by Junebugs; 01-17-2018 at 02:05 AM.

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    rural central ARK
    Posts
    14,549

    Default Re: GSD with Cushing's

    What a wonderful update! YAY!! I hope the trend continues!
    "May you know that absence is full of tender presence and that nothing is ever lost or forgotten." John O'Donahue, "Eternal Echoes"

    Death is not a changing of worlds as most imagine, as much as the walls of this world infinitely expanding.

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    16,150

    Default Re: GSD with Cushing's

    What a fabulous update!!! yay!
    Sharlene and the late great diva - Molly muffin (always missed and never forgotten)

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    26

    Red face Kaiser's Latest Results

    Kaiser had his next ACTH test to monitor his response to the last few months on 30mg Vetoryl once a day. Here is the result, along with his last 2 results for comparison:

    12/23/17
    Cortisol Pre ACTH 0.6 ug/dL
    Post ACTH 1.5 ug/dL

    8/17/17 Pre ACTH 0.6 ug/dL
    Post ACTH 3.0 ug/dL

    7/18/17 Pre ACTH 0.8 ug/dL
    Post ACTH 2.5 ug/dL

    The vet suggested we drop down from 30mg daily to 20mg, but wanted to consult with Dechra's IM Specialist. Once he was able to consult with her, they went over all of the results. She suggested we give a 2 week break from dosing to give his adrenals time to settle, then restart at 20mg daily split morning and evening due to his consistently low Pre ACTH numbers. We are almost at the 2 week mark now, and I do see Kaiser starting to get restless again in the night, as well as panting starting to return. I am thrilled that he can go down in dosage, although buying 2 packs of 10mg is significantly more expensive than 1 pack of 30. But I feel much better about a lower dosage, which I did not expect at all. He has been much more receptive to taking the stairs since he's been off the Vetoryl, so lowering the dosage, and splitting it sounds like maybe it will help overall...?

    I do have a question: Does he need another test before restarting the Vetoryl next week, or is it ok to just start the lower dose? Also, would he need another ACTH 2 weeks after starting this lower dosage? I will be calling the vet on Friday to arrange the restart of meds.
    Thanks,
    Theresa

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    York, PA.
    Posts
    11,037

    Default Re: GSD with Cushing's

    Were his electrolytes checked? If not, I would want to verify that those electrolyte levels (mainly sodium and potassium) are normal because Vetoryl has the ability to lower aldosterone, the adrenal hormone that controls the balance of sodium and potassium.

    I believe it is important to have an ACTH stimulation test performed before restarting the Vetoryl to confirm that the adrenal glands are producing enough cortisol. Has he been drinking and urinating more? How is his appetite, any diarrhea episodes?

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