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

Oddly enough, chamomile tea does help with itchiness. Although it only helps temporarily, it can be used repeatedly without any side effects. Buddy is a highly allergenic dog. I always keep some of it in the refrigerator, because I never know what is going to get him started itching. I brew one tea bag with about 6 ounces of water and let it cool. Then I pour it into a small spray bottle. I use it cold from the refrigerator. That helps soothe the itching even more. I also clean Buddy's eyes with it. It has Anti-inflammatory and Antibiotic properties. Each batch lasts about three or four days in the refrigerator. Just a thought....

Hey Julie

I noticed we haven't heard from you in a while, hope you are all doing ok?

Big hug, kisses to the furlets

Mel
Xxxxxx

How is Hanna doing on the steroid? Has her itching decreased? It's horrible to have to coned for so long! Sending tons tons of hugs and healing energy.:)
Kathy

Hi Mel and Kathy,

Thanks for checking on us. Hannah is on the steroid, and is doing fine in terms of side effects. After about a week, she actually had three or four days with no cone!!!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D

Unfortunately, the past couple of days she has been really itchy again--almost like she is at her worst. I'm not sure what's going on. She's been back in the cone because she is otherwise scratching her chin, licking her feet, or licking her crotch. The derm vet emailed me on Sun. and said to add in Benadryl to see if it helps. Apparently Hannah is on a "medium" dose, at 4 mg of methylprednisolone every other day. I'm thinking we might have to increase to daily again for a little while, depending on what the doctor says.

I certainly don't want to give her too much because that's when we have to worry more about side effects, but my whole goal here was to make her comfortable.

Hannah got groomed on Sun. and has no ill effects from that....so far. Last time after her groom she had her worst episode with walking/back issues, so I'm crossing my fingers that she remains okay. We were just talking with the groomer about how great her coat is. It's no longer greasy at all (she must've had a yeast issue for long time because since we figured that out her coat is sooo much better) and it is soft and full. She has no issues whatsoever with growing hair, that's for sure. She was a wooly girl before her cut.

Aside from the itching returning, and the fact that she is now waking me up a few times in the middle of the night whining (I'm not sure why--thinking maybe she's begging for food), she is doing well. I'm hopeful the derm vet will get back to me soon and let me know where we go from here if the itching doesn't resolve with the added Benadryl.

Julie & Hannah

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she must've had a yeast issue for long time because since we figured that out her coat is sooo much better) and it is soft and full. She has no issues whatsoever with growing hair, that's for sure. She was a wooly girl before her cut.

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Zoe too, which is why I am so peeved at her vet. Zoe did not have to lose all the hair she lost and I kept asking is this yeast?:ee

It sounds like you are on the right track, Julie. Maybe it is just a matter of tweaking the dose. I am so glad she came back from the groomers with no injury. That is a blessing indeed.

I have been thinking about you a lot, I know you have your hands full and I hope Izzy is behaving as well. I hope you have a trip planned for the summer.

I'm going to have to pick your brain about Zoe's leg. I know you like the lazer treatment. I need to see where I am with her cortisol and kidney issues at the end of the month first.

You have taken such good good care of Hannah, Julie. I know how hard you work at it.

Hi Julie! Glad to hear that Hannah is doing well and her coat looks good. Really sorry that itchiness has come back though. How very aggravating that is.
I hope you are having a good start to the summer.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Julie, Mary Beth posted about Alivia.

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/show...d=1#post112239

Maybe the two of you can compare notes:):):)

Hi, Julie.

Addy told me about poor Hannah and her constant itching. Alivia was continuously licking her butt and feet. Her butt was furless, raw, red, swollen and seeping. She was miserable and I was questioning the quality of her life more so from this than her Cushing's symptoms. We tried Benydryl and every topical treatment, supplement, shampoo, antibiotic - both over the counter and prescription, with little to no improvement. I was desperate. Her vet and I agreed we had to try Prednisone and went FULL out with it - the high dose and then tapering down. Initially, the Cushing's symptoms got a little worse and I worried (a lot), but at the same time her skin was improving and so we stuck with it. It stopped her itching/licking and she is not exhibiting Cushing's symptoms anymore, either! :) Is Hannah on the full prednisone course that a dog without Cushing's would be on? I really hope she gets the same good results Ali got!

Just re-read your post..."every other day". With Ali we did the typical non-Cushing's dog dosing. I can't remember the exact dosage, but it was every day, something like 5 days at a high dose and then tapering off for another 5 days, I think. Scared me half to death. Maybe the every other day is not allowing the improvement to "hold"? Just a thought...

Hello!

Thanks for the info., Mary Beth, and thanks Addy for alerting me to her post.

Here's the update on Hannah:

I talked to the derm vet again yesterday because Hannah had not shown improvement with the added antihistamines after 5 days. The vet decided she wanted to switch Hannah to another steroid. So now we will try Triamcinolone. This is what Hannah actually took years ago in the summer to help with her allergies. I'm going to start it today.

I guess I'm not sure on what protocol we're following. I think all of Hannah's vets (gosh, it's sad how many there are!) are with me in the "maybe she has Cushing's, maybe she doesn't" boat. I know the derm vet, who prescribed the steroid, and I talked a lot about the negative side effects we could see, and what we could do about it. From what she said, I don't think she started Hannah on a different dose than what she would do for another dog.

We will start this one with the high dose (1.5 mg of Triamcinolone) for 7 days, then taper to one pill every other day. She said Hannah's body might absorb this drug better. I hate the fact that I have to start all over with this with yet another drug, but again, I have to remind myself what I want: Hannah to be comfortable. I sure hope we will continue to do okay without any horrible side effects. Cross your fingers for us.

Julie & Hannah