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

Hi! My Abbie weighs 24 lbs. and I give her 10 mg. once a day. In order to save some money, I get the generic (cetirizine) at Sam's. My vet and I thought that Abbie had become resistant to benedryl after being on for a long time. I would definitely discuss the change and dosing with your vet but, hopefully, this info will help.

Okay Thank you very much. It just seems the Benedryl never did much for her. So I will talk to them and see. I just hate to see her so uncomfortable. Also is there anyone else out there that their pups have gone from Cushings to Addison's? If so I was wondering if you have had issues with them eating their food? Ginger will eat treats, bones, anything she finds outside(I know, gross) and some of the meat that we have, but not always. She just does not seem interested in her own food. I wouldn't care if I did not have to get her medicine in her twice a day, she could stand to loose a little, but not like this. The vet used her Fludrocortisone and I thought that would help, it seemed to the first few days, but a lot of days she just does not want her breakfast. No matter what I offer her. eventually she will eat, and does better in the evening. Thanks again.

Does anyone here also have a dog that has gone from Cushings to Addisons?
Am having some trouble with Ginger and just need some advice.
I have tried to find another forum like this, but do not see one. Thank you.

What are you seeing that makes you thing she may be Addison's? I know she's had appetite issues but are there now other signs of the cortisol being too low - loose stool/diarrhea, lethargy, nausea/vomiting?

And is she still taking meds for treating Cushing's? If so and you truly think she may have gone too low, stop giving the med and call for an ACTH asap.

She has had the ACTH test and she was at a 1. They stopped the Lysodren about 6 months ago and she is now on Fludrocortisone. I have had her in 3 times to test electrolytes. So this is what they started her on. She had been doing pretty well, but the last 3-4 days she has not want to eat except a few bones,(Milk bones) and is even turning her nose up at boiled chicken and roast beef. She has started drinking more water and vomiting it back up. Some diarrhea. She has wanted to still walk and has energy to do that. But no appetite. I barely got one does of her medicine in her yesterday. And she vomited them up about 3 hours later. Took her to the vet this am. Did a blood panel, Everything was okay except her electrolytes were very,very low. So they gave her 2 shots to bring them back up and get her to eat and increased her medication from .1 threes times a day to .1 six times a day.(3 pills twice a day unless they come in a stronger dose.). So I have had her tested and yes, she is Addison.

I just did a quick reading on Addison's and they all seem to say it's a straightforward kind of treatment once it's been diagnosed. Looks like for some reason Ginger's is not being controlled despite the increased dose of fludrocortisone which sounds very difficult to administer as she is inappetence. I know how frustrating and a huge challenge that is from our own experience with my Ginger.
I came across this while reading through the articles and thought it could be something to consider for your Ginger. If I remember correctly our Jasper was getting these monthly percorten-V shots (every 25 days) along with steroid which I don't remember which one.

- A newer option in the treatment of Addison's disease is a drug called DOCP. The injection is long acting and only needs to be given once every 25 days. DOCP has been intensively tested and been shown to provide better electrolyte regulation than Florinef. Some animals on DOCP may also need to be placed on a low maintenance dose of prednisone. -

I think she still need to take daily prednisone but maybe once a day and not three pills twice a day. Sounds easier than what you have to go through now if this option works out for her.

Is she on appetite stimulant for her inappetence? If not how about it? My Ginger's been on Cyproheptadine for the longest time and I know it helps her.

I just wanted to throw this out there for a consideration and I hope there's a solution for her very soon so she can go back to enjoying her life again. Hugs, Song.

Oh My Sweet Ginger has some good options there. She has been down this road with her Ginger and did a bunch of research on it, so those are things that you can talk to your vet about.

How is she doing now with the dose increase?

She is not on prednisone at all other than what my head and heart have told me to do. I have some left over from when my former vet had prescribed it for her allergies. So I have on my own given her some. She is only on the Fludrocortisone right now. That is what they have upped her dosage of. From 1 and 1/2 pills twice a day to 3 pills twice a day. I will see how tomorrow goes and make a note of your suggestions. Thanks so very much

I think the way I understood from reading some of the articles today was that fludrocortisone is for both glucocorticoids and mineralcorticoids therefore the dog doesn't need additional steroid. Whether or not she needs extra steroid, that's something you should talk to your vet or specialist about.
It could be possible that you will see a difference in her if she needs more since she's got some tonight but please consult with your vets first.