Mira, 7yr old Husky - Cushings ruled out; liver cancer (Mira has passed)

Urine Test Results:
Cortisol 25.2
Creatinine 66.2
Cortisol/Creat Ratio 119

It's all greek to me on this one. Vet said it did not rule out cushing's. Love to hear your comments.

Mira is at the vets having the next blood test. Kira is keeping her company. I didn't get to talk to the vet and I may not get to when I pick her up either. I left him a bunch of stuff about what was said here and about that weird heart thing last night.

Janis

My brother, who has been a medical doctor (internal medicine) for a very long time looked at the two test results. He says it's not Cushing's or Addison's. He says it's an infection of the gallbatter. He wants me to get a liver ultrasound pronto. I will do that first thing tomorrow. If I live through the night! This pounding heart thing she's having scares the he'll out of me. Luckily it doesn't seem to bother her.

Only got a minute to post here but you are going to cancel the testing scheduled for tomorrow? Sounds like it was to be the Low Dose Dexamethasone Test (if it was to take all day/8 hours). If Mira is sick already (and it sounds completely consistent with a glugged up and/or infected gallbladder) and especially if she gets stressed out at the vets then it is almost certain that she will test "positive" for Cushing's on that test - even though she almost certainly doesn't have Cushing's.

Although Cushing's typically increases ALP (sometimes ALT is a little elevated too) the elevations in the other enzymes suggest very strongly that something else is going on.

I agree an ultrasound sounds like it is in order. You may find you need to be referred to specialist or university facility for this. Most vets' ultrasound machines are not at all high resolution and for complex diagnoses a high resolution machine is necessary - and the opinion of someone very practiced in reading u/s scans is good to have too.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Alison

I swear I detect ANGELS floating around this forum in the form of Members and Administrators!

I have already talked to a place near by that says they can do the ultrasound no problem. And they will be happy to use the test results that were just done. Critical Care place with all capabilities you can imagine. Our Kodi had a MRI done there. Our Kira had TTA knee surgery done in the same complex. It's very expensive but that's ok. Thanks ever so much for telling me you agree with my brother!

I am glad you have somewhere state-of-the-art to go for the ultrasound.

I think gallbladder problems are a distinct possibility although how that would be connected to lameness I'm not sure, nor the coughing and sneezing and heart pounding you are seeing. (We've seen more than a few gallbladder dogs here and I've never heard of those symptoms.) I'm wondering if she hasn't got some sort of unusual infection - maybe something insect or tick-born as Saskia suggested? If it was my dog I would certainly be wanting to have an u/s done as the next step - those liver numbers mean that the liver, gallbladder and pancreas need to be checked out.

If nothing really conclusive comes up in the u/s (like an inflamed and heavily sludged-up gallbladder) I would think that getting into an IMS vet as Glynda suggested would be a very, very good idea. Probably wouldn't be a bad move even if the gallbladder does turn out to be the problem and the only problem.

It sounds like something fairly complex could be at play here and an IMS is best placed to help - and will almost certainly work out cheaper in the long run.

Alison

PS: The reason that people wondered about Addison's was the low sodium/potassium ratio. I presume Mira isn't on any medications? What sort of food does she eat? Is it possible she could have eaten something something she shouldn't have - like someone's medication?

"AlisonandMia; I am glad you have somewhere state-of-the-art to go for the ultrasound.
I think gallbladder problems are a distinct possibility although how that would be connected to lameness I'm not sure,"

Well we were running the streets recently she could have pulled something. It's just one leg.

"nor the coughing and sneezing"

She's been coughing and gagging. At the same time. I saw a video of a dog siad to have Kennel Cough. It looks exactly like that. I mentioned that to the vet and she agreed it could be but never went anywhere with it. She (they) are more concerned with the cushings thing.


"and heart pounding you are seeing."

That one has really got me. Even now her pulse is 98 bpm. Our other husky is at 50 bpm. Mira's breathing is twice as fast too. 40 vs 20. My brother said this was happening becasue she is sick. And is likely not good. Good resaon to rush.


"(We've seen more than a few gallbladder dogs here and I've never heard of those symptoms.)"

Maybe they aren't related, that's what the vet is saying about the cough and the limp anyway. I'm also certain she has this Zinc problem too. Thats a lot of stuff to have not related. A lot of stuff to happen all at once. Maybe she lacks the ability to fight stuff off.

I admit none of her symtoms point to gallbladder problems. Jondice (sp?) and whatever the others were I forget. My brother, I don't recall if I sent him my symptoms list. But I don't think he mentioned them. He's just desifering the blood and urine tests. And said this is the best way to go. The liver ultrasound. Everything points more to the liver then anything else and I agree.

"If it was my dog I would certainly be wanting to have an u/s done as the next step - those liver numbers mean that the liver, gallbladder and pancreas need to be checked out."

Yes I will be asking to have eveything possible looked at. Pancreas is mentioned a lot.


"If nothing really conclusive comes up in the u/s (like an inflamed and heavily sludged-up gallbladder) I would think that getting into an IMS vet as Glynda suggested would be a very, very good idea. Probably wouldn't be a bad move even if the gallbladder does turn out to be the problem and the only problem.
It sounds like something fairly complex could be at play here and an IMS is best placed to help - and will almost certainly work out cheaper in the long run.
Alison
PS: The reason that people wondered about Addison's was the low sodium/potassium ratio. I presume Mira isn't on any medications?"

She was taking Predisone which we know can trigger cushings but it's been over a year and she only took it for a week or two for itchy skin. I gave her Dasuquin very recently cus Kira was taking it. For maybe two weeks. But I stopped. Too expensive. It's my understanding that is harmless.

"What sort of food does she eat?"

Science Diet Light canned and dry mixed with lots of water cus she had anal sac problems from not drinking enough water.

"Is it possible she could have eaten something something she shouldn't have - "

That IS very possible. Mira eats odd things. She loves kleenex and paper towels. And manages to get into the trash for it often. In my sewing room she loves to eat tiny scrapes of fabric that falls on the floor. I told the vet about that too. The coughing I have wondered if something is stuck in her throat. But I thought the vet would deduce that. Obstruction I wouldn't rule that out.


"like someone's medication?

Now that one is really frightening becase I was throwing out old doggie medicain about a month ago and she did get into the trash at that time. The meds where at least twenty years old. But I would think the reaction would have been dire right away. Don't you think? I have no idea what they were. I could go through old records I guess.


"I'm wondering if she hasn't got some sort of unusual infection - maybe something insect or tick-born as Saskia suggested?"

Got this from the link:"A few years ago, canine leishmaniasis was discovered in hunting packs of fox hounds in many States in the USA (but none west of Kansas)."

We are in Southern California, we just don't have that many odd insects around here. When we go on outings it's to the desert. We have been to the colorado river which was said to have some sort of weird organizim in the river water. We were there 6 weeks ago. I think if she had that she would be dead though. But I'll keep that in mind. It killed a human child who had been swiming underwater.

Heart Worms keep crossing my path. If it was that wouldn't it stand out?

Janis

Mira is flooped over on her back. Sleeping. Belly up at the moment. Always nice to see that!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTowgsSUCww

Heartworm could be a possibility - I gather it can affect the liver. A quick, simple in-house blood test can diagnose.

Apparently since Katrina, which resulted in many dogs being relocated throughout the US from heart-worm infested New Orleans, heartworm has been popping up in places where it was previously unknown.:(

I'd get that possibility checked out ASAP!

Alison

I'm going now. I have a whole page of notes.

Mira has liver cancer. Big masses.