lexiandkiely
05-10-2017, 06:45 AM
Hi all! My name is Lexi, I'm new here. I wish I'd found this forum back when my beloved 11-year-old hound mix, Kiely, was diagnosed with Cushing's! The stuff I've read elsewhere on the internet hasn't been too helpful and led me to think that not treating her Cushing's might be best. Thus far, I have only had her on Proin to manage her incontinence issues. When she was diagnosed, the vet said she could be treated (can't remember if she suggested a particular medication) and monitored with stim tests, but that it might get expensive and may not help that much.
Kiely had pancreatitis when she was 7, which was precipitated by eating a hunk of styrofoam (she's a chowhound and has always eaten things she shouldn't!) and at the time I thought that was the cause. Thinking back, though, I'm pretty sure she already had Cushing's at that point, since pancreatitis kind of goes hand-in-hand with Cushing's. She wasn't officially diagnosed until the fall of 2015, when she was 9, almost 10, after having issues with sleep incontinence that were chalked up to several other causes first--bladder infections and hormonal/thyroid problems. She's had hair loss on her hind legs, tail, and chest since about age 8 or 9 as well, though a lot of her chest and parts of her legs have filled in over the past year. She also has the typical thirst and excessive panting.
The past six or eight months, Kiely has shown increasing weakness in her back legs. She's still very active mentally, but physically she's gone from being able to hike mountainous terrain to becoming tired on much shorter walks around my neighborhood. She shuffles her back feet when she walks, and doesn't seem to put much weight on them. It doesn't seem like she's in pain--just weak. She's also developed a few cysts, and sometimes has blood in her stool. The blood is always very bright red and fresh looking, and usually a bit mucusy--sorry to be gross, lol! I was living in LA when I first noticed the blood in early October last year, and consulted a vet about it. He ran some tests on a stool sample (nothing came up) but didn't seem too concerned about it or the cysts. I haven't had her in to see her old vet now that I've moved back to my home state but I'll be taking her in soon for her annual heartworm test. I trust her old vet more than the one we saw in LA, since Kiely has been seeing the one here (in Wisconsin) since she was 3 months old, but her vet here is also the one who didn't seem too enthused about treating the Cushing's when Kiely was first diagnosed.
I'd love to hear thoughts and opinions from you experienced Cushing's doggy owners on treatment options, prognosis, and on Kiely's symptoms! I so, so appreciate any advice, thoughts, or insight on treatment (should I or shouldn't I?) and what to expect in the coming years. The blood in her stool is the thing that nags at me the most--it just doesn't seem like something that should happen on a regular basis. I guess my biggest question is, what should I ask my vet, since she seemed not so eager to treat? Is treatment a good idea at Kiely's age, or is she too old now and too advanced for it to make much of a difference? Thanks so much for reading :D
Here are a few quick facts about Kiely:
11 years and 6 months old
55 pounds (she's medium sized, healthy weight)
Diet is Iams large breed adult (haven't switched her to senior since she has a fast metabolism and seems to need the calories)
She's had Cushing's since about age 7, possibly earlier.
And a picture of Kiely hiking in Griffith Park in LA last summer, because I'm a proud momma :o
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12795412_10103191581736678_3390341891496050177_n.j pg?oh=4d685b408bb273997035733e03c1fc67&oe=59747180
Kiely had pancreatitis when she was 7, which was precipitated by eating a hunk of styrofoam (she's a chowhound and has always eaten things she shouldn't!) and at the time I thought that was the cause. Thinking back, though, I'm pretty sure she already had Cushing's at that point, since pancreatitis kind of goes hand-in-hand with Cushing's. She wasn't officially diagnosed until the fall of 2015, when she was 9, almost 10, after having issues with sleep incontinence that were chalked up to several other causes first--bladder infections and hormonal/thyroid problems. She's had hair loss on her hind legs, tail, and chest since about age 8 or 9 as well, though a lot of her chest and parts of her legs have filled in over the past year. She also has the typical thirst and excessive panting.
The past six or eight months, Kiely has shown increasing weakness in her back legs. She's still very active mentally, but physically she's gone from being able to hike mountainous terrain to becoming tired on much shorter walks around my neighborhood. She shuffles her back feet when she walks, and doesn't seem to put much weight on them. It doesn't seem like she's in pain--just weak. She's also developed a few cysts, and sometimes has blood in her stool. The blood is always very bright red and fresh looking, and usually a bit mucusy--sorry to be gross, lol! I was living in LA when I first noticed the blood in early October last year, and consulted a vet about it. He ran some tests on a stool sample (nothing came up) but didn't seem too concerned about it or the cysts. I haven't had her in to see her old vet now that I've moved back to my home state but I'll be taking her in soon for her annual heartworm test. I trust her old vet more than the one we saw in LA, since Kiely has been seeing the one here (in Wisconsin) since she was 3 months old, but her vet here is also the one who didn't seem too enthused about treating the Cushing's when Kiely was first diagnosed.
I'd love to hear thoughts and opinions from you experienced Cushing's doggy owners on treatment options, prognosis, and on Kiely's symptoms! I so, so appreciate any advice, thoughts, or insight on treatment (should I or shouldn't I?) and what to expect in the coming years. The blood in her stool is the thing that nags at me the most--it just doesn't seem like something that should happen on a regular basis. I guess my biggest question is, what should I ask my vet, since she seemed not so eager to treat? Is treatment a good idea at Kiely's age, or is she too old now and too advanced for it to make much of a difference? Thanks so much for reading :D
Here are a few quick facts about Kiely:
11 years and 6 months old
55 pounds (she's medium sized, healthy weight)
Diet is Iams large breed adult (haven't switched her to senior since she has a fast metabolism and seems to need the calories)
She's had Cushing's since about age 7, possibly earlier.
And a picture of Kiely hiking in Griffith Park in LA last summer, because I'm a proud momma :o
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12795412_10103191581736678_3390341891496050177_n.j pg?oh=4d685b408bb273997035733e03c1fc67&oe=59747180