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

I'm so glad to hear that Ginger is feeling better. Hang in there! You are doing a great job.

You are a great Mom in trusting your instincts--so glad Ginger is feeling better!

Just a quick update on Ginger and adding some new pictures to her album.
Her electrolyte number have come up! She is still at the low end of normal. I only had to give her 1/4 of a 20mg prednisone twice. Since then she has been doing wonderfully! eating well, Playing a lot and sleeping very good at night. She has not had an off day since, for which I am very grateful! It sure puts a smile on my face when I take her outside and she just wants to run and explore!
Thank you all for everything.Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Thank you for letting us know! I am glad she's improving and pray the trend continues!

What a huge relief that your Ginger is doing so well!
I hope she continues to do well, and that you're able to keep everything at good levels.
Ginger's lucky to have such a great mom as you :)

Hello everyone. I hope your spring is going well! Allis okay here in Indiana. Just wanted to share a bit about Ginger. Since she has been on the fludrocortisone so has been doing pretty well. She has some days she doesn't want to do much, but I have to remind myself that she, like all of us, is getting older. She will be 12 this Sept. Also the heat here is more than what she is used to compared to Colorado. I try to get her out early mornings and evenings more than through the heat of the day, but unfortunately that is when the ticks like to be out also! (I am not a fan of them for sure!!). I have her treated for those with Frontline Plus. Always in doing a little reading up on things it seems that Ginger has kind of gone from Cushing's to Addison's. Am I correct in assuming this? Or at least she is following treatment as such. My question is, I sounds like it is not uncommon for her to "store" fat in her tail and around her neck. I guess this is for protection from stress since it is hard for her to manage stress. What can I be doing to help that not get out of control? I do not feed her any more than usual and she is walking more than she ever has. And with summer coming her walks will get less because of not being able to regulate body temperature. She has gained a little weight back since they found her electrolytes to be low and the medication has got her doing well. But she is still on the heavy side and I just do not want to contribute to that if at all possible. Thank you.

Well it is very hard to keep weight off with any kind of steroid whether it be cortisol making them ravenouos or steroids to keep them balanced. I think as they get older they tend to put on weight in certain areas, much like humans do. A well balanced diet, with not a lot of carbs or sugars, greenbeans and items like that for snacks, might be work for her.

Okay, Thank you. Yes, I do know any type of steroid will contribute to the weight. She does not seem ravenous, which is a good thing, and she seems fine most of the time with the amount of food I have been feeding her, which is a reduced amount. I will add some green beans and items like them to her food or possibly try to use them as snacks. She is so loving regardless of how she is feeling! I will also look at the carbs and sugars in anything I am thinking of getting her. True, the older we get the more weight we can put on in certain areas. I am living proof of that! LOL Thanks so much. Wishing you all the very best with your journeys!

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Originally Posted by gingerbread

Always in doing a little reading up on things it seems that Ginger has kind of gone from Cushing's to Addison's. Am I correct in assuming this? Or at least she is following treatment as such.

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Since she is still on the Fludrocortisone, I would also assume the vet believes she is Addison's. Has a chemistry blood panel been done recently to check her electrolytes? And how about her cortisol?

Not recently. It was in late Feb. I believe. He said if we did not have any problems or see any signs that Ginger was not doing well that he would see us in May or June. She has seemed pretty well since starting on the fludrocortisone other than gaining some weight and her tail getting thick(LOL, I have read that is a symptom). She has a good appetite, good intake and outtake of fluids and almost always is ready to go for a walk. She sleeps very well and is always ready to greet anybody we meet happily! If she is Addison's is it okay if I remain in your group? I would like to at least keep you up to date on Ginger. Thank you