Re: Murphy, 13 year old Yorkie newly diagnosed
Hi Cindy and welcome to you and Murphy!
I, too, would advise you to take it slow right now and be sure that what you are dealing with is pituitary Cushing's, PDH. Since you are considering Trilo, I strongly recommend Murphy have the UTK panel done before starting any treatments.
Let me tell you my Squirt's story, short form. She was diagnosed with PDH in 3/08 via the LDDS (the test Murphy has had) and that diagnosis was confirmed with the HDDS, ultrasound and an ACTH. Just to be on the safe side I had the UTK panel done and sure enough she is Atypical, too, so Trilo was no longer an option for us. On the treatment sheet from UTK, Dr O recommended another ultrasound, which we did. A tumor was on her spleen! The tumor and part of her spleen were removed in 9/08. Her cortisol has returned to normal since the tumor was removed, leading her docs to now say that the initial diagnosis of PDH is "highly questionable." Squirt is now being treated only for the Atypical, a much easier condition to treat as well as less expensive.
So even with every test supporting a diagnosis of Cushing's, it is still possible for those tests to be an indication of a problem NOT related to Cushing's with elevated cortisol (PDH).
Squirt's is just one story of just how difficult and complex Cushing's can be to accurately diagnose. This is why we cringe when we see someone starting treatment based on one test. Lysodren and Trilostane are powerful and not to be used lightly as they can result in permanent damage. Once the treatments have started, further testing is difficult as the meds will skew the test results unless there has been at least a 30 day wash-out period. So not only would you have spent extra money on meds you may not even be able to use, Murphy could suffer longer and/or sustain injury to the adrenals.
We don't say these things to cause you extra worry or to down-grade your vet. We caution you because we care, because we have been where you are, because we have seen pups suffer needlessly, because we know first-hand how complex Cushing's is. We say these things because we want the very best outcome for Murphy and you.
Take your time to learn all you can, ask lots of questions and we will do our best to help you along. You don't have to take this journey alone.
Hang in there!
Hugs,
Leslie and the girls
"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.