14 year-old Shih Tzu With Recent Cushing's Diagnosis

My thoughts and prayers are with you Julie. Fingers crossed for good news.

-Susan

Hi Julie
So sorry to read about Hannah's skin problems, I hope some of these suggestions work for her and she get's some relief.
Trish xx

Thanks for all the replies. I am feeling slightly better today. Actually, when I talked to my primary vet last night, she suggested Hannah see a derm vet, just like a few of you have suggested. She said that this woman may be able to steer us in the right direction, whether she thinks it is a thyroid test we need, if she thinks it is Cushing's related, and what she thinks we can do about the yeast if we can't use the oral medication. I have an appointment next Saturday at noon. It definitely won't be cheap, but at this point, my main concern is what symptoms are manifesting themselves, and outwardly her liver doesn't seem to be causing problems; it's the itching that makes her uncomfortable. Sharlene, I also read on that holistic site and was curious about some things. I also read somewhere about how after bathing a dog with the yeast shampoo they can seem even more itchy (which happened last weekend) and it is something about drawing the yeast out.

The one problem is that Hannah is on the Royal Canin Urinary SO food because of having struvite crystals years ago. She's been on it for about 7 years. We did do a short trial once several years ago (only about a month) to see if there was a difference in her itching, and at that point there wasn't. I don't know if the food could be it or not. And I'm not sure what we do if it is the food, since apparently she needs it. I will say, though, that since I've read posts from others who have their dogs on the same food, that now that I realize the food makes them drink and urinate more, I also wonder if that is why she drinks a little more than the average dog (but still not buckets). It's such a mystery.

I tend to do better when there's a plan, and at least now I have a plan: see the derm vet to help with her skin. The other vet (holistic-traditional) told me that if it were her dog, she'd do the ultrasound. (This was before the derm vet idea came up). I think that will be my next step, but I'm not sure when yet.

I did find out the other elevated liver enzyme was GGT. Normal is 0-6 and hers was 13. The ALT did drop from 254 to 186 and ALKP is about 900. Her cholesterol was normal, as are white blood cells, etc. Bilirubin was also normal, as well as hemoglobin and hematocrit. Platelets are still elevated, but have been for at least a few years. The primary vet said there is obviously something going on, but she is glad her bilirubin is normal and that means her liver is functioning. She said if I don't do an ultrasound, I can either retest when I feel like it, or wait to see if she becomes symptomatic. She is very good about understanding that I am not trying to "fix" something I can't fix in my 13 1/2 year-old dog, but just want to keep her comfortable and happy.

Hannah got a bath today and hopefully will get her haircut tomorrow, if the weather cooperates. We are on the edge of a winter storm warning, with possibly up to 8 inches of snow. I'm going to cross my fingers that this is one of the many times the meteorologists are wrong!

If you have any other thoughts, pass them my way. Thanks for all the ideas. I really appreciate it, and I feel even better when I have similar suggestions from here and my vet. :)

Julie & Hannah

Hi Julie,

I understand completely about the SO food as Molly is on the same thing for the same reason. I've noticed that every time I've tried to get her off of it, she goes back to drinking even less water and then of course if she doesn't drink as much as she should, the crystals form. I can tell a difference even if I take her off it for one day. That day she drinks less. Of course I have been monitoring her water intake every since we had that scare with the crystals quite a few years ago, so I that is probably why I notice. That makes it hard to get them off it. It does make them drink and pee more though, and that is what they need to do and we want them to do in our cases.
I think the derm vet is an excellent idea. I really hope that they can give you some answers. I read that too about drawing the yeast out and causing it to itch more.

I really hope you don't get the storm.

hugs,
Sharlene

Julie,
I just got caught up on your thread and am so sorry Hannah is having such trouble. As I was reading I was thinking about a derm vet, so I am glad you have something sheduled. I understand that Hannah can't take the oral medication recommended due to her liver issues, but I just keep wondering if there isn't something topical that you can apply to her skin in the meantime. And what about Benadryl to help with the itching? Is that something that might help?

I have the Vikings game on and see that it is snowing pretty hard there. Are you able to get Hannah to her grooming appt?

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper

We're under a freezing rain warning here (after the snow and before it switches to rain) looks like it's coming from a really big system, dumping snow MN, WI, Michigan, hope you guys are okay and that you got Hannah in and back home before it got to you.
If not just stay in and stay safe and dry. We even elected not to go the mall today (not that I ever really Want to go to a mall around the holidays and any excuse is a good one not to) We'll be the ones out there on Christmas eve trying to get our last minute shopping done. LOL (procrastination at it's best!)

Have a good day
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Just saw that a snow emergency has been declared for Minneapolis, the clip they showed looked pretty bad. Hope you and Hannah are warm and safe.

Tina and Jasper

Thanks for checking on us! We did not go to the groomer. It's pretty ugly here. We probably have 6 inches already and it is supposed to continue all night. The groomer even called me this morning and said it was really slippery by her house. She is going to do it Tues. night for us, which is great. Such a relief! We are expecting up to 10 or 15 inches when it is done, and then it's supposed to get cold and windy--so we'll have below zero windchills tonight and tomorrow.:eek: Ugh. I have shoveled off about a 10 X 10 foot area of my yard so Hannah can get around...luckily we know our neighbors well, and they know Hannah, so they don't think I've gone totally nuts! :D This morning before I had a chance to do that, I took them out to potty and Hannah came in with what looked like four HUGE snowballs for feet. Her hair is fairly long and the snow is really wet and heavy so it doesn't take long to stick! Now I just hope it doesn't freeze too much because then she can't seem to walk on it at all. That was horrible last winter.

Tina, to answer your questions, I do have ketoconazole wipes for Hannah's neck and the vet said I can use 1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water and wipe or soak itchy areas. We do that a couple of times per day. (I get up 30 min. early to take care of her these days)! She was on Hydroxyzine for itching, but I decided to take her off yesterday, since it is so cold and since it wasn't working anyway. I don't notice any difference. Also, if the derm vet happens to want to allergy test, she has to be off of antihistamines for a week.

Thanks again for checking on us! I've got Christmas music on, banana bread in the oven, and I'm grading my students' math tests. We are warm and safe! :)

Julie & Hannah

Hi Julie,
Glad your grooming appt was rescheduled, what a relief! I didn't know that ketoconazole was available in wipes, I hope that is helping her. Poor thing, that itching can be miserable. And I know what you mean about the snowballs for feet, the same thing happens to Jasper and his sister. The snow just sticks to their fur something terrible. One time in a particularly heavy and wet snow a few years ago, Jasper came to the door and his body and head looked like 2 big snowballs, on top of 4 snowballs for legs. He was standing perfectly still, I think he was afraid to move. The only thing I could see was some movement of snow on his face when he blinked. It was pretty funny. He went directly into a tub of warm water. Not much else you can do when it is that bad. I usually shovel a patch in the yard also! :) We are lucky here, we have dodged the snow for today. Maybe you won't have school tomorrow Julie... :)

Banana bread sounds good. I am going to be baking some pumpkin bread in a bit.

I am a HUGE Vikings fan, and they managed to win the game today (Yay!), so now I better get something done around here! :rolleyes: I hope you are able to get some answers from the derm vet.

Hugs from me and Jasper

Snow rain mix here now. :( YUK. So far we're staying in and I'm accomplishing nothing. LOL Must decide, head to MN for banana bread or NB for pumpkin bread. You guys make it hard on a girl!

Yay for a groomer who will reschedule and fit Hannah into her very busy schedule.

Glad everyone is staying in tonight and being safe and cozy.

I decided to give Molly a good brushing to distract her from the sleet hitting the windows. She wasn't thrilled but she did endure. I think that had more to do with the treats on hand than my brushing techniques though.

hugs,
Sharlene and the Molly Muffin