Trixie - Schnauzer being treated with Vetoryl - Trixie has crossed The Bridge

Hi..I am new here and amazed at all the information that is on this site. It has been most helpful as I am someone who feels a bit less nervous if I have some knowledge. My mini schnauzer Trixie is almost 9 and during a "senior" check up was found to have high liver levels. She was put on Denamarin for 30 days. We did do a recheck blood test after about 10 days and the levels began to get lower but in the meantime the classic Cushing's symptoms were becoming noticeable. After more bloodwork after she was off the Denamarin for about 8 days she was found with levels back up.
ALT: 246
ALK-P: 1295
GGTP: 39
She has been in great shape, gets a lot of exercise and seems pretty much fine except for the hunger issue. She is very hungry.
On Monday she will have both an ultrasound and the 8 hour test (can't recall the name but have been reading about it here). My Vet is good and has worked with many Cushing's dogs. I tried to get an appt. with Dr. Mark Peterson as he is a endochrine specialist and located where I live here in New York City. I didn't realized I would need to be referred to him after my own vet does all the diagnostics ...then he would do a exam fo my dog, work-up and treatment plan, I was so hoping to go right to him but guess it doesn't work that way. Meanwhile I do have faith in my vet practice and it is just a walk across the street for Trixie and me. Anyway I am just shaken up by having all this happen so quickly but will be happy to have some of the test work over by Monday afternoon. I am distressed that my pup has to spend 8 hours at the vet and I know this will stress her...I'm already stressed by it. The fact that she can't eat anything Monday morning is also going to be a tough one. She has been so hungry. She stands and stares at me which is the sign for "give me something-anything!". The whole medication aspect is also giving me anxiety. My dog has such a sensitive tummy and it doesn't take much for a bout of the runs and the vomits, so the meds make me nervous. My vet assures me it will all be okay and he said he doesn't see too many problems with Lysodren--did I get the name right. Anyway I am so happy to have this site and all of your advice and experience to help me through. Can I expect that once on the drugs she will be kind of okay? Even with her liver strained and the food/water/peeing issues she is still happy and lively and walked for an hour in Central Park this morning. Can I expect she will most likely get through this without too much distress? Oh-and same question goes for me too??

Hi and Welcome,

I am so glad you found us. Cushings is easier with a good support team.:):):)

You can find information on Lysodren here:

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181

Lysodren has been used to treat Cushings for many years. It is important that proper protocol is followed and that your vet has experience with the drugs and you watch your pup like a hawk as the loading phase is critical and pups can get into trouble. Signs of loading can me slight, even so much as a 5 second pause in eating. It is important to have prednisone on hand as well.

But we need to get the proper diagnosis first so Monday is an important day for you and Trixie.

I had a telephone consultation with Dr. Peterson after my Zoe was diagnosed. She has IBD (at the time we thought it colitis). He did not feel Lysodren was right for her so we went with Trilostane/Vetoryl. With Trilostane, you can start and stop the drug and although gastro upset is a side effect, gastro upset with Lysodren is a big side effect.

That is not to discourage you from using it. Many of our members have used it successfully with good results.

Glad you found us. I am sure others will be by to say hello and give you feedback.

In the meantime, keep reading our Resource section:):)

Thank you so much for your response Addy. Believe me, I am really going to question my vet about which medication would be best for Trixie and her very sensitive tummy. That worries me so much because I have had bouts with her digestive system in the past and she is miserable when that happens. Since my dog has been pretty healthy I have not gotten all that close with the 3 vets in the practice. They all have pretty good credentials, the one who will handle Trixie now is the head of the practice. Luckily this site has been extremely helpful in providing information and I am going to keep all your advice and suggestions in a book which I will take with me so I don't forget what i want to ask.
I wanted to work with Dr. Peterson in the worst way and maybe I still will if I don't feel comfortable with the protocol my vet comes up with. As I mentioned in my first post, it was more complicated than just making an appt. to see him.
I was hoping so badly that the symptoms I started to notice were nothing and then I could not ignore the fact that Trixie had almost every one on the list. Not wanting to jump on the couch was the one that really made me realize she was headed towards having Cushings. I so wish it hadn't gone this way. Just can't shake this jittery feeling I have about it all.

Hello. I agree that if your dog has tummy issues you might consider trilostane over lysodren. It has to do with the way the drugs work. Hard to load with lysodren as you are looking for tummy issues as a sign of loading.

Also - other than hunger what are your dog's cushings' signs? It is often misdiagnosed and it could be something as simple as hypothyroidism. Schnauzers are prone to it more so than cushing's. I would test the thyroid if you haven't already. The 8 hr test is the 'golden standard' for cushings however if anything else is going on it can have false positives. So even if it comes back positive I would have an ultrasound or the acth test done to confirm the diagnosis.

There is NO rush to treat cushings so that you know. If your dog is walking that much you have caught it early or there isn't cushings. Just don't want you to feel rushed. Kim

Hi and welcome to you and Trixie from me as well!

Cushing's is a slow progressing disease so one does have the time to get a confirmed diagnosis for their furbaby. A Cushing savvy vet will not initiate any treatment without strong symptoms and a proper diagnosis. Since other non-adrenal illnesses, such as diabetes and thyroid problems, share some of the same symptoms of Cushing's it can be one the most difficult diseases to get a confirmed diagnosis, plus not one test is 100% accurate at diagnosing Cushing's.

Hopefully your vet will do the LDDS test before performing the ultrasound on Trixie because even severe stress can create false positive results on all tests for Cushing's.

Cushing’s is a treatable disease. Delivery of competent and humane medical care by a skilled GP and/or specialist experienced in the diagnosis and management of Cushing’s has a significant impact on patient survival and well-being. With proper medical management, close monitoring and owner observation, most Cushingoid pets can live to their full life expectancy, with complete or partial resolution of clinical signs, and good quality of life!

Please know we will help in any way we can so do not hesitate to ask any and all questions.

Love and hugs,
Lori

Hello and welcome from me too. So glad you found us. :)
The more you know the less nervous you will be. The less nervous you are, the better that Trixie will do too.
Having a vet who will work with you to figure out exactly what is going on and what the best treatment plan is, really is essential. One that will talk to you is quite helpful as a back and forth dialogue I think is really important to your peace of mind.

I think you are on the right track, getting the tests done, etc. Make sure you get copies of all tests and start keeping your own file. You'll want that for a number of reasons, not least because we'll ask all the time, what the last results or previous results of this or that test where. (nosy little mother hens here :) )
It also helps if you end up ever having to make an ER trip. We've done that a few times, Nothing to do with Cushings, just life. I go in with my folder ready. That notebook to keep track of any changes you might notice is helpful to have too.

Again, welcome. I don't want to totally overwhelm you all in one go. :)

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

I thank you all for responding. It is such a relief to read your words of wisdom and to be able to "talk" about all this.
Trixie's symptoms so far- drinking more, major, major hunger, urinating more (result of the drinking more), stalls before jumping up on the couch (and looks for one of us to lift her), doing most of her sleeping on the cool floor, though she's in our bed at night. I may be noticing a slight thinning of the coat on her belly and she is a tiny bit bloated-maybe from the liver issue, but no real pot belly yet. Those are the symptoms we have so far, but yes, she is walking with her usual spunk and walked quite a bit today, though she zonked out now. Last night was the first night she woke up at 2am..I figured she needed to pee but it was water she wanted. She has been holding her urine all night from her last walk 10-11pm until about the 8am.
She is going to be so stressed going to the vet on Monday. I was the one who opted to do both the ultrasound and the 8 hour test on the same day so she (we) can get it all over with and get home. I think she'll be stressed no matter what, I am dreading it but want it over with.
When I have to see them take her away from me at that vet for the whole day...ugh...I am going to be counting the minutes until I can pick her up. I don't even like leaving her at the groomers.
Thanks again to everyone here. Barbara

oh..I forgot to add panting to the list...once in awhile there has been unexplained panting.
Thanks again for welcoming me and easing my nerves.

Hi welcome to the group! I am glad you are still able to take descent walks with Trixie. The same thing happened to me my 8 year almost 9 at the time dog Boriss was doing the routine senior check when his levels came back not good.
He has been on Trilostane since last Sept 2012 & things have been going really smooth for the most part.
I will still hope for you & Trixie that this is something else & not cushings. ;) something minor.. fingers crossed.

It is definitely not the end of the world like I felt when Boriss was first diagnosed. Until I found all the wonderful people here I was a scared sad mess. :eek:
He has pretty much gone back to his normal self once he got balanced out on the medication. He has had to have a few tweeks in his meds & it has taken a while to get to his right dose.

I am glad you found this sight. Everyone here will help you along the way & give you really good advice. Just from watching & reading seems like a lot of these people know more than a large number of vets.

Good luck on Monday. Try not to stress too much & enjoy your weekend.
hugs,
Amy

Thank you Amy. I'm sure I will have many questions, especially after the tests on Monday. I hope you all have a great weekend too...and of course all the doggies too. I really appreciate all the support.

Have the notebook and pen ready Barbara. You will learn a lot!
I don't know where Daisy and I would be without this group.

I'm not quite such a mess since joining and learning more everyday about what we're facing.

So here it goes already--do you notice a wax and wane of symptoms? Today Trixie is not being so obvious in her list of symtoms. Again she took a long morning walk, had off leash time in the park, plenty of energy, came home and drank water but not a crazy amount considering all the outdoor time she had. Usual crazy hunger is still quite apparent though. She just hopped up on the couch and did not hesitate making the jump as she has been doing all week. Also quite a bit less bloated than a day or two ago.
The other thing to note is that she is now on day 4 of getting the Denamarin. Her liver levels are high and I believe this drug works great for her. She was on it in Feb, when high levels were first discovered and before I began to really notice possible Cushing's symptoms. Levels climbed right back up after completing the round of meds and then the symptoms were more pronounced.
I don't doubt the behavior and symptoms I have seen the last couple of weeks...but then today it's all much less. Then on Monday I am putting her through this day of testing?
If her liver levels were not so high I would not rush into the testing and possible medication if Cushing's is positive..but it can't be good to have levels that are 10 x the norm, right?
Can the Denamarin have an effect on the Cushing's symtoms? I don't know how that drug would effect anything but the liver.
Any feedback thoroughly appreciated! Barbara

Was an urinalysis done on Trixie as well? If so could you post the findings such as her urine specific gravity (USG), the color, PH, and if any thing was found in her urine, like crystals, cast, etc. Thanks!

No urine test was done at the original check up...probably should have been. The blood test does not show any high levels other than the liver and cholesterol. She eats a low fat diet since she was a puppy and has done great. She has weighed between 12-13 pounds pretty much her whole adult life. She did weigh in at 14 when she was weighed last month as she has been so hungry and I hate to deny her but she is still in great shape...not at all over-weight. She had a pancreatic panel done too and that also came back normal.
Just as I began to second guess myself about her symptoms today, Trixie went back to a busy of afternoon of drinking and a lot and peeing. This was all more controlled in the morning, perhaps because she outside so much, I don't know.
Just starting to feel unnerved about Monday's tests and the thought of her cooped up at the vets all day. Sundays I have to take care of my 92 year old mother...Trixie comes out to her house with me and my husband. I will have to bring puppy pads along, looks like we'll need them. She has already had a few accidents at my mothers which is when I began to notice all this. I'm lucky she knows how to use the pads.
When the late afternoon comes all the worrying gets worse for me.
Do you find out the results of this 8 hour test right after it's over or do things get sent off to labs? I forgot to ask the vet---but I know you all will know about this.
I guess like all of you I hate the thought of this active and happy dog becoming sick, but I'm going to try and stay positive that she will do okay and we'll get through this. Thanks for listening everybody! :)

Hi Trixie,:)
Welcome to the forum. I am new to the group, I only joined a little over a month ago. I just had the dreaded 8 hour test done for Buddy a few weeks ago. I didn't do both the eight hour test and ultrasound on the same day. To answer your question, Buddy's test results for that test had to be read at the lab. I didn't find out the results until late the next day. Having said that, my vet's instructions have had a few errors and I'm trying to get those cleared up. My name is Kathy. I am known as Budster's Mom on the panel. I have recently done all the things that you are about to do. You can find my thread under the new posts. It's entitled, "it's 3:55 AM and I haven't slept, please help". You might be able to get some information there. Please bear in mind that I'm a newcomer and everyone knows more than I do. I hope all goes well tomorrow. I know how worried you are! This Forum has saved my sanity. I found support when I had none.
They will be here for you too.

Kathy and Buddy:)
Budster's Mom

Hi, yes Kathy is correct, you find the results out after they go to the lab and how quickly you get the results depends on what lab is used by your vet.

Cortisol naturally has higher and lower points during the day. It could be that the time that you don't see Trixie drinking a lot, it is not As high as it is at other times. One of the things that the medicine would do is keep the cortisol at a even level during the day so you wouldn't see those types of spikes once Trixie is controlled.

It never hurts to have a urine panel done, just to check things out. You'll want to know if the urine is dilute at all and what the specific gravity is. If it is dilute, then you will always need a culture done to check for any UTI's as they won't show up correctly in dilute urine.

I know you are nervous about leaving Trixie on Monday. It can be a long day for both of you, but ask them to make sure they give her some special attention in between during the test. My vet does doggy day care now too and so I get them to play with molly any time she has to be at the vets for any length of time. This has actually made her not as nervous about going into the vets as she use to be. Sure she still isn't thrilled to go off into the back without me, but she does run up the steps to the door ready to go in and automatically goes over and gets on the scale to get weighed. (something that happens every vet visit). Maybe they can do something like that with Trixie too.

We all get through these things together. It's one of the things that make this forum so wonderful is that you do have support. You actually have probably more support than you know as not everyone can always answer ever post, but I know that for instance, our administrators and moderators, do try to read every post whether they can answer or not, to keep an eye on everything. We try at least. :)

Hang in there. You're doing great. A big bonus that Trixie will use pee pads.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Many thanks--Valerie, Lori, Kathy, and Sharlene--and all from yesterday too,
It just feels so much better having everyone's support.:p
My husband and I keep picking up Trixie and giving her lots of hugs and kisses...though nothing unusual there. :D Our daughters are both away at school so Trixie is getting all the attention...my girls say it's always like that anyway. haha
I will ask about a urine test and the UTI possibility. I know the ultrasound and the test are a lot in one day...thought that would be less stress on both of us, not having to return for one or the other the same week. They are going to do the ultrasound in between. Funny thing is the vet is really right around the corner from me-we walk by all the time. They told me they will walk Trixie during the day and I told them that worries me because she will try very hard to get home! She knows the way.
I think it could be a bad idea for me to go and walk her. I am going to remind them to walk her in the opposite direction if possible because she has her own mind and she will think they are taking her home. Ahhh so much worrying..would love to make it stop. In the meantime a good night to all of you and many thanks for all the good thoughts. Barbara

When performing a LDDS test it is very important for the dog to be as calm as possible. I really don't think doing the ultrasound in between is a good idea because the ultrasound will likely cause Trixie to stress out and this could skew the results of the LDDS test.

Sorry Barbara, I called you Trixie OOPS!! :eek:

I'd like to tell you that your worrying will ease up eventually. With help from this forum, I'm sure it will. Mine hasn't as of yet. It has become more manageable since stumbling across the wonderful group of dog lovers known as K9Cushings. Sending blessings and love your way. Trixie is very lucky to have pet parents who love her so much! I'll be thinking of you and Trixie tomorrow.

Kathy and Buddy:)

Welcome Barbara and Trixie, so glad you found this forum. I think we were all hot messes when we first found out our fur babies had cushings, but with learning about it on this site, we can finally breathe a little easier...just knowing you are not alone is amazing..take care we are here for you and Trixie too!

Lori- I believe you on this and will speak to the vet on Monday morning regarding the sono timing and Trixie's stress level and maybe making a different plan. Trixie is high strung as it is. She is ok walking in the vet's office because there are treats upon entry..then she tries desperately to get out the door. And this time she won't even be able to get the treat. :(
No problem Kathy, I am always calling my kids Trixie or Trixie my kids names! Funny thing is I didn't even notice.
Thank you Letti-yes..it's a world of difference having this board to come to. A relief for sure!

Also - 'lots' of water is relative term. :) A dog drinks on average an ounce for every pound so in your case 14 ounces a day, just under 2 cups. measure it and tell us what your dog is drinking. Kim

Hi Barbara,

Some of us have taken our babies out of the clinic between draws to help them stay calmer. Sitting in the car, taking a walk, going for a ride....something to help their stress level stay as low as possible. So if it's possible for you to take that time, ask your vet if you can take Trixie out of the clinic between blood draws. Most don't mind. ;)

You said she can't have a treat this time....is she being fasted for the Cushing's test?

And I agree with Lori about the US in the middle of a cush test 110%. :)

Hang in there! You're doing a great job, Mom!
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

;)Hi Barbara,
Buddy was stressed when he came back from his Ultrasound

Note for Clinician:
4:30 PM
Back from AUS. Initially vocalizing and appears stressed in cage but quiets down.

That doesn't mean that Trixie will be. Buddy was very ill at the time and doctors had been poking at him for more than 10 hours. My point being, that there's no way Buddy would've been calm enough to do another blood drawn for the Low Dose 8 hour test after his Ultrasound. I understand that you want to get both tests done and I probably know less than anybody on the panel, but if it were me I would do them separately. I don't think doing it all in one day will be easier on Trixie, but you know your furbaby. Sending happy, healing thoughts your way,

Kathy and Buddy:)

Reading all your newest comments late...just back from my day caring for my mother.
I am going to the vet between 8 and 8:30am and I will speak to them about the day and what I think would work best for Trixie. I would definitely like to see her during the day and do anything possible to ease her stress, sit with her or whatever. I'm so nervous about everything tonight. Feel like I will fall asleep and then wake up after an hour or two with a total panic attack.

Leslie-they told me she had to be fasted for the ultrasound. I think they were planning on that first.

Kim- I will measure her intake of water...was doing it the other day and I think I ended up between 18 and 20 oz.

My reason for trying to get to these tests quickly is really because of her high liver levels. She is on the Denamarin now but it's can't be good to have the levels remain high for long. I don't want her liver to get damaged. Well I was just thinking the ultrasound should come first right? In case they would see something obvious that would rule out Cushing's..(if that's possible) because then the test would not be needed, though I think she really covers all the classic symptoms.
I will most certainly talk to the vet about the stress level and the effect that will have on the test. I just keep thinking that if we have the ultrasound tomorrow and then have to go back during the week for the 8 hour test she really won't want to go near the place. I feel like she will be even more stressed to go back there. I don't know what's right. I feel worried and mixed up right now. I won't do anything tomorrow that I don't feel is right for Trixie. :(

Hi, checking in to see how it went with Trixie today! Hope she wasn't too stressed out. Hope you weren't either.

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

You are Three hours ahead of me, so Trixie should be home by now. I hope all went well. Try to get some rest and let us know how it went when you get a chance.

Kathy and Buddy:)

Hey Sharlene and Kathy..yes we are home!! yay! Everything went well. Trixie was actually at the vet all day long from 8:30am-6:30pm. I think she did better than my husband and I did waiting for her. ;) She had a dog she knows from our block there with her...he had to get an EKG.
Ok..well she had the low dose test and then when everything was over they did the sonogram. I did decide to let them do the sono today, but it was decided it would be better done at the end as to not skew the test with added stress. I really felt strongly about getting it all over with-for both of us. I wanted to bring her home knowing we did not have to go back this week for anything. Her little belly is all shaved. I think she probably likes it-now when she's on the cool floor she's can really get cool.
They told me she was actually pretty mellow all day. Hard to believe because believe me this is not a mellow dog, but I don't care now that she's back. Trixie wouldn't eat there even though they offered her usual food. So- she flew into the house ready to eat and drink. Now she is zonked out on the couch, I'm sure she didn't lay down at all in the cage.
The vet was great and wasn't rushing our questions even though many dogs were checking out and it was getting late and just seemed busier than I've ever seen it there.
So I will post all the info I get. He will probably call me with results but I will ask for a copy of this test so I have the numbers. I am so happy that at least this part is over. I know there is more to come but I hope all goes smoothly. Still nervous about coping with this but now that this part is over I am feeling better. Looking forward to getting her to the park in the morning...it's finally warmer here in NY.

sorry wrote this earlier in the evening but got a little bogged down with stuff. I will have questions about Trilostane once there are official test results and discussions with the vet. Thanks again everyone for all the support!!:)

Yay, I'm glad it is all over for today. I bet you and Trixie are both happy about that!!!

Oh fun! Park day! I love when it gets warmer in the spring. Now if we could just skip the thunderstorms and get right to sunny and warm, I'd be really good! :)

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

So glad to hear it went good at the vet with Trixie, praying for good results!!!

Barbara, :)
So glad that Trixie's back home where she's loved and doted upon.:) Waiting and not knowing is the hardest part. Once you know, you'll be able to push forth with whatever you need to do. Count you blessing tonight. There is so very much to be thankful for!

Kathy and Buddy:D

thanks Kathy. Love your photo of Budster..what a cutie. I just love dogs. :D

Now I am over my happiness of having the all day vet visit over with and in nervous/upset/panic mode once again. The vet called and yes, Cushing's is confirmed. (no surprise really but the reality is awful) No Adrenal tumor and results show Pituitary.
Now meds will start and that is what is frightening me. So all those doing Trilostane--help!
Vet will prescribe low dose/2x a day which is the protocol Dr. Peterson suggests as best in his blog. Vet said he will call in at the compounding pharmacy because Trixie is in between doses. We'll start at 7mg 2x a day. Trixie is 14 pounds. I don't have the numbers from the low dose test yet because he just called me, but I'll go by and pick up the test results at some point. We will do the test to check...(I forget the letters--is in ATH?) in 7 days from the start which I think will be tomorrow.
So for those who are using this did you see tummy upset/diarrhea right away or a couple days into it or not at all? Bad lethergy? After a few days did it get worse or better? I know all dogs are different, all meds are at different levels and some may not have any side effects or have many, but I'm just trying to anticipate what to maybe expect and what happened with other dogs.
He said he has good results with the low dosage. I am so worried though. I am home so I can sit here and watch her like a hawk...have been doing this the last few weeks anyway. I may have to run out here and there on Thursday but would still be here all day...just quick errands...if the dog appears ok you can leave her for a bit right? I probably sound crazy asking questions like that. I'm just so worried now. Trixie has no other health issues, she's been very active even during all the Cushings symptoms which for her have been the drinking, the eating, the peeing, and a little hesitation before jumping up. Thanks for any advice on this. Barbara :eek:

forgot to add panting and the high liver levels to the symptoms Trixie has shown. She will stay on the Denamarin while on the Trilostane and can have a Pepcid ac to hopefully keep the tummy gurgles away.

I believe the starting dose your vet has rx'd for Trixie is great. We have seen when dogs are started at the lower end of the dosage scale do much better and usually have no adverse side effects.

Here is a link from our Resource Thread with info about Trilostane/Vetoryl: Trilostane/Vetoryl Information and Resources

Just a reminder that Trilostane has to be given with food and that the ACTH stim test has to be done 4-6 hours after the dose of Trilostane, all that info plus a whole bunch more can be found with the link I provided for you.

You will do a great job, no worries ok? ;) We are here to help, remember that. :)

Love and hugs,
Lori

Thank you Lori..feeling so weepy but happy to know you agree with the low dose. I know I do..was happy with his approach. Yes..he said most definitely will be given with food.
I'm going to check out the info on the link right now. I am hoping to start the drug tomorrow once the compounding place has it ready. They are here in the city so I think I will have it tomorrow.
Barbara

Right here with you. Well, now optimally you don't want to see lethargy and diarrhea, that is not good. So, you might see some slowing down as the cortisol drops, but hopefully it'll just go as smooth as butter with no worries. I do love it when a vet starts out low and does proper testing. I've come to appreciate that even more these days it seems.
I think you are going to be fine and yes you can run out and do errands. Just base it all on how Trixie does and how she seems.
Like Lori said, we're right here with you. :)

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

oh thank you Sharlene...these responses really help me calm down.
Yes, I am so happy with the low dose too. I feel it will be a safe beginning. I am lucky that the vet is right around the block. They are open 7 days. I can walk there in about 4 minutes once I'm out of my building. I also have the Animal Medical Center 10 minutes away so I am covered in case of an emergency day or night. I think with this nice low dose I shouldn't have a crisis but I guess you never know.
Didn't know the vet all that well before this...there are 3 in the practice and I've seen all of them for check ups and various appts. but he has been attentive and seems to know Cushing's and the treatments very well. Thank goodness! Deep breaths. Thanks again.

Hi Barbara,:)
I was sorry to get you news. Your doctor seems to know what he's doing, which is awesome! I am having a huge problem with that! Buddy did have an upset stomach for a few days while this cortisol was dropping and he had a hard time settling. He had no diarrhea or vomiting. His stomach has been fine since. Buddy's biggest issue were his allergies. They went haywire when his cortisol started dropping. Hopefully you don't have that problem! Buddy is on 20 mg of Trilostane one time per day. He weighs 16.9 pounds. That may change because he had his first ACTH monitoring test today. We should get the test results tomorrow. Every furbaby is different. Trixie might just sail through without any symptoms at all! She is starting on a very low dose which is great! She seems to be in excellent hands! It's hard to leave them when you know that they're not feeling well. Take your cues from Trixie. She's been feeling pretty well all along so that is a huge plus. I wish I could be more help.

Kathy and Buddy:)

Thank you Kathy. With each response I feel more relieved and so lucky to have first hand advice. I am sorry for Buddy's allergies, I hope they start to clear up. I guess all the extra cortisol was good for that but not much else. Are they worse than they were before the Cushings?

Wow..don't know how I would have calmed down without everyone here. Feeling relieved to hear Buddy did not have tummy trouble. I know this doesn't mean Trixie won't, but hoping it's not an issue. She is at her worst when having gastro problems.
I hope that Buddy's test results are good...I guess that would mean everything at the right level? I don't even really know..but guess I'll be learning soon. Thanks again for the support, it is really helping!! :)
Barbara