Miss Peaches (aka Peach Pie!) 10 y.o. miniature poodle, diabetes & Cushing's

Well, hello everyone! Here I am back again – almost 1 year from the day we lost Miss Chloe (our cush girl). Miss Chloe was with me through many good times and bad times during her 15 years. She never left my side. I could not have survived without her when our 28 y.o. son died suddenly 2 ½ years ago from pneumonia. She stayed with me as long as she could but it came to the point I couldn’t let her suffer anymore and with a kiss and much love I sent her to be with Ari.
Now, on to the rest of the story.
I have been involved in animal rescue and fostering so my Facebook page is filled with pleas for help for animals during their last days in a high-kill shelter. One night, shortly after Miss Chloe passed away, I spotted a posted picture of the cutest little apricot girl poodle that I had ever seen. There were pleas for foster or adopter for her but time went on and no one would step up to recue her as she was 8 y.o. and diabetic. Next thing I know, I am getting messages to me directly – “Would I take her?” I said that if no one else would take her and if they could get her to me, I would take her. I told my husband, “Here comes another foster!”
The very next morning this scraggly, sad, inderweight little soul arrived at my door accompanied by a filthy cooler with insulin, syringes and a baggy of kibble. The transporter handed her to me along with adoption papers! Peaches was here to stay.
I told my husband to throw the cooler and its contents in the garbage (she was on the wrong insulin, for 1 thing). I started her on my Sparky’s insulin and made an appointment with my vet. Then came many surprises:
Miss Peaches age was more like 10 rather than 8
Her diabetes had not been kept under control
She has beginning cataracts
Her 2 back legs have the patellae turned in to the inside of her legs so she walks stiff-legged
Her front left leg bows out and the knee subluxes (probably an old injury or congenital deformity).
The vet said he would not do surgery as she is not in pain and runs and jumps with the her canine brothers but that, of course, we would work on regulating her diabetes.
We have been doing well but, shortly after she arrived, I have felt there was something else. Yup – Cushing’s. So now I start down the same path I was on with Chloe plus diabetes! We have just started on this journey and I am gathering the values from all the tests and will post them soon. She will have another curve done tomorrow, the first since starting Trilostane. This is a new experience for me as Miss Chloe did so well on Melatonin and ground flax hulls for her whole life. I have dealt with these 2 diseases for many years but never the two in the same dog. :(
Miss Peaches is a dainty, loving little dog and I would not give her up now for anything. She is funny. She is smart. She is our Princess. I truly believe either Chloe or Ari (or both!) sent her to be with me.
Oh, and BTW, she has ALL of Miss Chloe’s quirks, personality and tricks. Everyone is truly amazed at how one dog can be a clone of the other. :)
I am glad to have the benefit of this forum and the support of new friends as well as the oldie but goodies (you know who you are!!). As for me, I guess it is never to late to teach an old dog new tricks!

Here is my beautiful Miss Peaches!

So I see this new thread and opened it and did a double take when I saw your "handle" :)

Welcome back!

What a delight to have such a precious little girl join your wonderful family and what a sweet heart you are for saying, yes, I'll save her.

It isn't particularly uncommon to have both diabetes and cushings and as you know the symptoms can often be the same. I assume the diabetes is under control now? Having the cortisol levels normal will also help keep the diabetes under better control.

You stopped by over to k9diabetes yet?

With trilostane it is start low and go slow, so 1mg/1lb is the current dosage recommendation. Give with food, and ACTH test 4 - 6 hours after the dosage, at the 12 - 14 day mark, at the 30 day mark, then follow up if controlled at 3 months.

Don't adjust dosage up at the 2 week mark, unless very very high still, as it will continue to come down for sometimes over 30 days. With trilostane if the symptoms are controlled and she is doing well, then you can be up to 9.0ug on the post ACTH draw, if not controlled, go down to under 5.0ug

Important note, with diabetic dogs, it is recommended by Dr. Peterson, the cushings expert to spilt the trilostane dosage, and give 1/2 in morning and 1/2 in evening to keep the cortisol at even levels all day with no spikes. We don't want spiking with diabetic dogs, it makes it harder to control the glucose.

How much does Miss Peaches weigh? Say she weights 8lbs, you'd give her 4mg in the am and 4mg in the pm, if following the 1mg/1lb recommendations.

Great to see you on the forum, rather sorry you have both diabetes and cushings to handle.

Hi Sharlene!
Yes, Miss Peaches is good on her curves. She weighs 11 lbs. Doc says he is conservative and started her on 5 mg every 12 hrs along with a reduction in insulin (Novolin) from 4u to 2u twice a day. She is acting like a "normal" happy dog except for pot belly and slight hair loss on her back. I made the same promise to her that I made to Miss Chloe and Grover and Sparky (diabetic/blind) who are still with us: I will do everything in my power to give them a long, healthy life. So, we're off and running! Thanks for your great advice!
Carrol & Miss Peaches

An old friend stopping by to say hi, Carol.:)
Peaches is one beautiful and lucky girl. I love your new avatar and am glad to read about your new best girl. I know she is in good hands.
Sharlene has given you good advice and I dont think I can add to her post at the moment. I did want to stop and send hugs when I saw your post.

Oh great, your vet obviously knows what he is doing with the trilostane and diabetes. That makes me feel so much better. Miss Peaches is gorgeous btw. Just a doll. I love that hair cut on her.

Addy, it is soooooo great to hear from you! (((HUGS))! I will do my best for her. :) Doc says, all things considered, she looks good and acts even better!
Sharlene, I love this doc. He is very gentle, conservative and has other Diabetic/Cush patients. When Miss Chloe passed away, he stroked her gently and said "Go to Ari". Need I say more? Yup, love the man!

OMG!

Quote:

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When Miss Chloe passed away, he stroked her gently and said "Go to Ari". Need I say more? Yup, love the man!

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Nope, no need to say another word. I love him too!

He is a keeper for sure, a good vet is hard to find and it sounds like he is on the right track so far.

Keeping our fingers crossed Peaches cortisol comes down in to range and all goes well.

When does Peach Pie have her next ACTH test?

Peaches started her Trilostane 2 1/2 weeks ago and had an ACTH stim yesterday. Doc is now doing a glucose curve on her tomorrow. Then we can see how to proceed. He says another ACTH in a month$$$$$$$ :)