10 year old female beagle just diagnosed with Cushings - Ginger has passed

How is Ginger acting? Eating, drinking, pooping, playing/interacting ok? Those numbers look pretty good to me but the post is getting down there so keep an eye on her for any signs the cortisol is getting too low. Things like loose stool, loss of appetite, loss of energy - if you see those things, do not give any more Lyso and have the pred ready to go just in case. Call the vet and let him know what you have observed and when her last dose was given. If her behavior is good I wouldn't be overly concerned, just aware. ;) And you know we are always here anytime you have a question or concern....or just want to chat.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

I always worry when I don't see any stimulation between pre and post numbers because that means there is no reserve especially at the very low end at 1.4 & 1.5 as one pill could make a difference. Yes, watch her very closely.

Okay. Thank you both so much. I just want to make sure I do the very best for her everyday. I don't want to over look anything. I want to be sure I ask all that I can, even if it seems silly or unimportant, I would rather ask now... then wished I had when it might be too late.
Have a great weekend.

I want to go back and read all of your thread but wanted to say "hi"--I also have an 11 year old beagle, Abbie. We are just starting week 4 of maintenance on Lysodren with the one month ACTH set for next Friday. Abbie's pre and post numbers at the end of loading were also quite low (1.8 & 1.9) so our pups paths are very similar. I do wish Abbie would get back to 24 lbs.--her last weight was 26. Like Ginger, Abbie is shedding quite a bit which is not typical for this time of year in Florida.

Just wanted to alert both you gals that it is pretty common for Cushpups to start shedding fairly voluminously once their cortisol levels are controlled. We think this is because the hair regrowth cycle starts normalizing again after having been negatively affected by the Cushing's. Once the new hair starts filling back in, some folks have noted changes in the color or nature of the new growth. But overall, the fact that new hair is regrowing is generally a welcome sight (although your vacuum cleaner may be overworked in the meantime!).

Marianne

Okay all. Hope your Christmas and New Years were wonderful.
Just wanted to touch base. I had called the vet last week to see about reducing Ginger's Lysodren down from 4 days a week to 3 (1/4 pill of 500 mg.) I had noticed she was not finishing her food. I thought maybe she didn't like it anymore so I slowly switched her to a different brand. The first few times I feed her she ate it all. Then she slowly started not finishing it either. So I placed the call to the vet. They finally called me back and said they wanted to leave her on the 1/4 pill 4 times a week because that was what was keeping her numbers in check and that by her not finishing her food meant it was working. So yesterday and today I couldn't get her to eat hardly at all. Yesterday she ate just enough breakfast that I got her Lysodren in her. Then we went for a ride. We went to a town about 30 minutes south of us and she got out and walked around and pottyed. I always take plenty of water with us when we go. I put her in the car and then went into the store for about 5 minutes. Then I came back out and took her in the store with me. It is one she loves walking around in. she gets to see the bunnies in cages and sometimes baby chicks during certain times of year. So she did okay. Then we stopped and got some lunch. I just went in and bought 2 hamburgers plain and took them back to the car. Usually Ginger is right up between us whining for a bite, but she just smelled the air a bit. She did eat a bite to 2 but that was all. So we came back home and she just laid in her bed. The trips she usually enjoys and they do wear her out, but she just acted like she didn't feel that well. So I fixed her some supper after we had been home about 3 hours. She smelled of it, but didn't eat any. She did eat her goodnight small Milk Bone before bed. This morning I fixed her some rice and canned chicken. She ate 2 bites of the chicken and that was all. Not enough where I felt comfortable giving her her Lysodren. So I talked to the vet and they said to get some fresh chicken breasts and boil them. The canned chicken has too many additives. They said if she won't eat to call and bring her in. SO I went ahead and made an appt. for Wed. afternoon just in case I need to take her. They said if she eats and I need to cancel I could do that. I just did not want to wait and then they were booked up. So I went to the store, bought some fresh chicken and boiled her some. She did eat a nice portion of it and then I gave her her Lysodren. She has done okay, no diarrhea, no vomiting, she drinks a little more than her normal amount of water, but we have had the heater running pretty regularly. she goes for a walk willingly and sometimes asks to go out. She did not act too interested in our food, which is unusual, but she did eat her chicken and some rice for supper. She did not want her treat which she always has wanted in the past. And she still once in a while shivers like she is cold which she has done off and on since the Cushing's started. Okay, now that I have run on so and I apologize,I just want to make sure I cover everything, Are there days that our pups will have "off" days? Does Cushing's change their tastes where what they used to like, they do not? Do they hit different stages where they do not eat much and then they level out? She has about the same amount of energy as before. So any feedback is much appreciated. I am keeping an eye on her and log as to what she is eating and drinking and how much. So much right now, I feel overwhelmed at times. Husband has surgery tomorrow also so my plate is full and I am just trying not to overlook anything with either of them. Thank you all so much. Hope this finds you well!

I would keep an ACTH test to see where her numbers are at right now. Could be she is going to low for her.

Okay Thank you. I wondered about that and thought by perhaps dropping one day off of the Lysodren that that would help, but the vet said no. I do not want her numbers to go too low where we a whole other problem to deal with. I will keep you posted and let you know how she is and what is going on. Thank you so much.

All dogs are different and react differently to the same medication, the same goes for the ACTH stimulation test numbers. What may be good for one dog may not be good for another. Those ACTH stim numbers are really just a gauge, the actual determination for the cortisol is how the dog is feeling. Ginger may need her ACTH stim numbers to run a bit higher. When a dog doesn't want to eat, to me that is a red flag that something is going on. I think going down to 3 days of week for the Lysodren instead of the 4 might be a good decision.

Keep us updated. ;)

Hugs, Lori

I think you are on the mark and I would be thinking the same thing - that dose needs to be cut back by one day. We have to gauge our babies behavior and meld that with the numbers for the whole picture. YOU are the expert on her behavior. ;) So I would insist an ACTH be done now if for no other reason that to establish at what number she isn't feeling her best and then try to keep her cortisol a bit higher and see if that doesn't improve things. If not and the signs start to come back, you can always increase the maintenance dose again.