Miss Millie Mayhem (Eng Bulldog) - NEW Dx: Cushings PDH and AWFUL Calcinosis Cutis

Well - I would not be even close to knowledgeable without all of you!!! You bring up a great thing to think about phenobarb, but, she has been on it a LONG time – I would guess 6-7 years.

P.S. Noticed we are in the same state too! Hope your puppy is doing well!

Hi Kerry,
Just popping in to tell you that you're doing a great job! :)I warned you in my welcome that there would be lots of questions!;) Yes, Marianne asks a ton of questions, but you can really learn a lot from her! I certainly continue to do so.;) My life is so much richer since I found this wonderful group of angels. Hugs to you and a belly rub for Millie.
Kathy

Hello there

How you both doing today? hope she hasn't been at her face again and that you are having a good day today

Big hug, belly rubs to Miss Mayhem

Mel
Xxxx

She loves all her hugs, belly rubs and kisses coming her way. She’ll be most excited I am sure when one day we can actually tickle her back, neck and face. So the update on calls today – We have a GP, Dermatologist and IMS that have all looked at her (IMS did ultrasound and I asked Dermatologist to consult with him as well on other test results and Trilostane dosage). All three vets are in unison with the 60mg to start, so hoping we are on the right path! Dermatologist wants my local GP to treat the Cushings as determined and monitor through testing (ACTH is scheduled a week for tomorrow – 11 days after initial Trilostane was started), and she will follow treatment of Calcinosis Cutis – stating they will work in coordination. Do you all feel like this sounds like a good plan? I also asked Dermatologist about possibility of Atypical Cushings and she was very fluent as to her response as to why it would not be that (although I really need to call her back and clarify as I was not in the right state of mind to listen to her answer).

I also asked her about the possibility of using Sudocrem or Manuka honey. She asked me to stay the course and said no to the Sudocrem and said honey did cross her mind, but given the extent of the problem, thought it would be an unbelievable mess – which I probably can concur with – although it would smell a heck of a lot better than the rotten garlic smell of DMSO…I will never get garlic on pizza again! When I say stay the course, she is a little too difficult to bathe right now and makes her so uncomfortable, so we are using an antibacterial mousse (once a day on all lesions: face, neck, trunk) – It is DUOXA Chlorhexidine + Climbazole Mousse with phytoshingosine. She is not thrilled when this goes on her face cheeks and I feel it may be hurting her – anyone have experience with this? She also gave us Comfort Spray by Animal Pharmaceuticals which she recommended spraying on face 2-3 per day. Millie will have nothing to do with a spray bottle coming at her face, so she recommended soaking a paper towel and dabbing. We tried this and felt like she was irritated by this as well –again, anyone have experience with this?

Love to all of you kind souls. How blessed I am to have you on my side – looking forward to getting to know your puppies better. I feel like all you are doing is taking care me right now and I know you all have many things you are dealing with as well!

Xoxox,
Kerry

Hey, I should have added that Tia didn't have open sores when we used the sudocream so it may still be an option once you have got to the stage where it dries up as it will, then scab then those scabs should fall off and eventually I really hope you will see hair and that's such a great feeling...

I have to say that I would watch Millie like a hawk for change in behaviour and if she refused food, seems off or whatever hold her vetoryl, get her in for the ACTH as her cortisol wasn't raging on her tests. Read the vetoryl insert and make yourself familiar with what to look out for. I don't want to scare you just want to help

Diarreah is also another sign that the cortisol is low

Big hug, hoping Mille can get kisses soon

Mel
Xxxxx

And ask here any time if you are worried. We have awesome people like Marianne Glynda Lori Leslie Debbie Sharlene Addy and John who have way more knowledge than me. There is always usually someone who will help :)

Thanks Mel - yes, watching her like a hawk! I am fortunate enough that my office is out of my home. All signs are good thus far, but I am looking for any of those signs which would show low cortisol as you mentioned. I've been reading more and have seen info on Cortisol:Creatine Ratio - any idea if this is something done during a urinalysis - I cannot find this in any tests that were done for Millie (or maybe vet just did not give to me). I guess I would be interested to see if that was relatively normal - If so it should have ruled out cushings...I guess my new motto is question everything!

I know she has all the signs, I just worry, worry, worry!

P.S. she is lerthargic, but for the past year she has done alot of lounging around and since the weakness in legs, she is not very active...not sure how I would tell if she gets MORE lethargic.

xoxoxo

In answer to your question about the UCCR ( urine cortisol: creatinine ratio), it is not part of a routine urinalysis. You have to request this test separately. It is a screening test for Cushing's, negative means you ARE NOT dealing with Cushing's, positive simply means that Cushing's is a possibility, further testing required. IMO, since you have started trilo, I think you are past the point of a UCCR providing useful information. Let's see what other members have to say.

Debbie

Hi Kerry,

It looks as though you have had some good advice and feedback since the lady from down under is able to get back online (ie me from NZ). I have not used DSMO (not available in NZ) but I would just note a word of warning with the use when I did research it that they do not recommend to use it on more than a certain percentage of the body. For the life of me I am not able to recall what it is but just wanted to give you a heads up just in case your vet did not enlighten you on this. You may find that Millie's areas are well within this.

You are doing a fantastic job in educating yourself ... well done!

Angela

Morning Kerry

I forgot we also used a topical steroid spray called cortavance to dry up her scabs when they were bad. That might be an option. Same rules as Angela mentioned though only can use on a certain % of the body

Tia was a lazy mare too, so I always used to say not sure how I could measure that!

Big hug

Mel
Xxxx