Down the Cushings Road Again -- Abbie, 15 year old beagle is now at peace

Sharlene--thanks for checking on Abbie. I gave her tramadol (3 doses of 25 mg.) yesterday and today in addition to the meloxicam. She is feeling much better on the meds (although she snapped at the neighbor's min pin who tried to hump her ...). I left a message for the vet to call but didn't hear back--know he must be swamped after being out a week. I am going to cut back the tramadol to two doses tomorrow and see how she does.

Allergies seem much better on the zyrtec--not nearly as nasally and snoring decreased. We have piles of oak pollen all over--the landscapers come tomorrow which should help (both of us!).

Hi, all! Question: any thoughts on having Abbie on a very low dose of prednisone (concurrent with Lysodren dose) to alleviate arthritic pain/inflammation?

Abbie's vet is encouraging me to try a trial of this combination to try and find that balance between controlling the Cushing's symptoms and making her more comfortable. Abbie is still quite stiff in the mornings and gradually is better as the day goes on. Her last dose of meloxicam is tomorrow. The vet and I agreed, for now, to continue her on one dose of tramadol in the mornings. Abbie's Cushing's symptoms are completely controlled at this point (in spite of ACTH numbers to the contrary).

I know of a couple dogs who have been on the combinations and I currently know one person who is on this regiment.

It isn't the normal maybe, but it has possibilities. I can find out some further information. I think it is a very low dose of prednisone.

hugs

Okay I checked in with Wendy and her Katie is 11lbs on lysodren and gets 1/2 mg of pred. Dr. Peterson told her 1/2 to 1mg. So it is a very small dose, but has worked well for them so far. Katie is 16 years. :)

Sharlene--thanks so much for your feedback. Abbie's vet was suggesting 2 mg. so that is consistent with Katie's dose as Abbie weighs 24 lbs. I am assuming that Katie's vet is "the" Dr. Peterson and that is very reassuring.

Yes it is The Dr. Peterson. Sounds about right and I don't think it will hurt to try it. We all thought it was wonky at the time but she has done well. He does tend to think outside the box I guess and go with what he thinks is best for the animals. I doubt she is the only one he has done this with.

My vet is very much a "quality of life" type of vet so is much like Dr. Peterson in that respect. He and I had so many of those discussions about Maggie as her health deteriorated--I am totally confident that he has Abbie's best interests in mind.

Abbie gets Lysodren every other day. Do you happen to know (or could ask Wendy) if Katie gets the pred every day or just on the days she gets Lysodren?

To me it just seems counterintuitive to give a cushdog prednisone. Maybe letting her cortisol run a bit higher would be enough, because mainly that is somewhat the same as giving pred? :confused: Some members do use adequan for arthritis, and I've read where fish oil can help too.

Lori--my reaction was the same as yours. That's why I didn't agree to the pred at this point. I was surprised that Dr. Peterson has used this approach for Wendy's Katie and that has caused me to give it more weight. One of my concerns about the pred is that, on the rare occasions when Abbie had to have some, she had an exaggerated reaction to it with regard to thirst and urinating. Now that her Cushing's symptoms are controlled, I would hate to go backwards. From noon on Abbie is alert and active -- it is the morning hours when she has a dull affect and has no interest in moving, not even to pee/poop.

I had forgotten about the Adequan. Maggie responded really well to her shots; she only needed three shots and no subsequent booster shots. The vet asked me to call him on Monday and I will mention the Adequan to him. Today was her last dose of meloxicam so she will have five days of once a day tramadol which will be a good trial. I don't have too much confidence that it will help as she has been on it along with the meloxicam and is still having rough mornings.

Because of Abbie's many months of diarrhea/soft stools, I am hesitant to try fish oil. I am almost done with weaning her off of the flagyl and her stools remain normal.

Arggh, I thought i had posted but looks like I didn't, Katie gets her pred every day.

Yes, Abbie has a profound reaction to pred, then not sure you want to go this route, but it is an option.

I know Lori and you can bet, we all questioned it, but Katie has done well on it.

I'd try the shots though Judy! Easy enough to see if that will work and won't have to mess with cortisol levels to do it.