Cooper - diabetes and cushings - sweet Cooper has passed

Thanks Valerie. I'll ask her about Tylan powder when we talk on Monday. I've got quite a list of questions for her this week!

Questions are good Juli.
The Tylan is still working its magic with Daisy.
She has had normal poops since I began giving it to her. The change is truly amazing and her energy level is increasing too.

Keep is posted and good luck tomorrow!

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Originally Posted by juliwilliams

Thanks! This has been far tougher than I ever imagined! We've been so close to just giving up so many times and I must admit I'm there again. My husband thinks we should just leave him at his current doses of medicines and stop with all the testing and adjusting. But that's just because he's not the one who has to let him out twice a night when he has bladder infections! I swear it's like having a newborn in the house again!

We had a glimmer of hope for about a week where he seemed to be feeling better but the last few days he's been back to his sick self. I really wonder what sort of pain he's in and what his real quality of life is like. I feel like we keep saying he's got go turn a corner soon, but he just never does.

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hang in there if you can. Jenny was diagnosed with both in May 2011 and I was an emotional wreck until January. I had been researching so much that the vet told me until my husband just asked me what would hurt if we just went with what he said. So we did.

Granted he killed off Jenny's cortisol by overdosing her on Lysodren but she is healthier and spunkier now, 2 years later, than she was that horrible roller coaster ride of a summer.

So I totally empathize with your feelings. Hugs to you, your family & Cooper

I'm so sorry that your continuing to have such a hard time. None of this stuff is ever easy it seems. Only you can answer the quality-of-life question. That's not a question any of us ever want to think about, but eventually we get there.:( We are here to help anyway that we can. Please continue to talk with us and ask questions and and let us know how Cooper's doing.
Big hugs, and a belly rub for Cooper,
Kathy

Cooper ACTH test came back with his cortisol a little low. Pre was less than 0.7 and post was 2.7 We're cutting him back from 30mg of trilo twice a day to 30mg in the morning and 10mg at night with another test in 2 weeks.

I'm a little confused because i thought optimum control was when the post was between 1 and 9, which his is. The vet gave me the test result as post 2.7 (8-17). I know (8-17) is some sort of reference range, but I don't know what it means.

His urine culture came back positive for the same bacteria he keeps getting. Another $150 antibiotics prescription. Ugh! I'm waiting to hear from the vet about what to do with his insulin while he has the infection.

Thank you all for the support! I'm still on the fence about what to do. We can't keep on testing for and treating bladder infections on top of the insulin and trilo meds. We're past the point of breaking the bank. Every few weeks we're spending hundreds of dollars on complications on top of the hundreds of dollars we spend on medication each month. But I can't imagine just stopping because I know it's a death sentence for him.

Sending hugs and prayers for you and Cooper, just keep taking one day at a time....

I think this is a response to his pre number being a bit on the low side. His post number is good though.
I know this retesting and retesting is a money hog. :(
Cutting back should bring his pre back up a bit. You are right about what the post number should be, and he is good on that front. Maybe since it is just the pre you are concerned about at this point, a base cortisol test instead of a full ACTH would tell you what you need to know.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

After decreasing Cooper's trilo to 30mg in the morning and 10mg at night, his ACTH test came back even worse! Both pre and post were less than 0.7 The vet said that given the numbers she would consider putting him on steroids but he's not showing any real symptoms of Addison's yet. He's panting just a bit and has a bit of loose stool, but not too bad. She said to keep a real close eye on him and bring him in if he starts looking sick.

The vet did another urine culture to see if while on the antibiotics the bladder infection is actually gone. If it is, then we'll be starting a low dose daily antibiotic to try to keep him free of infections so we can finally get the diabetes under control. He's been bumped up to 34 units of insulin twice a day.

We had to go to our old vet the other day because he also has an eye infection. Nothing too bad, just needs a few drops in his eyes a few times a day. I'm just hoping his sick old body can fight it off and we don't have recurring eye infections now too. My poor guy has really been through the wringer lately, but he's tough as nails and you'd never know it by looking at him!

OK - when a dog goes as low as yours did they ARE considered Addisonian. Are you going to a specialist? (IMS) I am very concerned that you are not giving any prednisone for relief. Is Cooper able to walk, get up etc on his own?

Given those low numbers you cannot give any more trilostane until after you wait long enough for cortisol to be normal again - which may be never. The only way you will know is to wait and do another acth test.

Kim

I'be been seeing an IMS for a few months now. We're stopping the trilo indefinitely. We're not going to rush to another ACTH test. The vet said to wait until he starts getting symptomatic again, if he ever does.

He's acting completely normal! For him at least. A little big of loose stool and panting, but not bad. He had overdosed once when we were seeing our general vet and it was very obvious to me. He was weak, twitching, and fell into a wall. Right now, he's normal. But she said to rush him in if anything changes.