Vetoryl / Cushings Disease - Dear Penny has passed

[Cyn719]

so should i give it to her? why did this vet say she doesnt need it - she screwed up and knows it if no other vet will talk to me from that office!! so do i give it and once or???

[frijole]

I would NOT give 20 mgs as the emergency dosing is slightly under 10. I would give 1/2 of a pill.

I am trying to grasp the symptoms you are describing. Normally a dog that has too much trilostane will be very lethargic, sometimes struggle to be able to stand, sit, hold their head up - people think their dogs are dying. They don't eat. Sometimes shaking.

Panting, drinking and up and down sound like too high of cortisol and that has me scratching my head. I find it hard to believe that if two days ago you were at .8 you could now be too high so if it were my dog I would give the prednisone. kim

[Cyn719]

She sleeps alot - eats less - have to put roast beef in to make her eat - pants every second she is awake - gets up slightly better - but when awake she doesnt know what to do with herself - she goes in every room lays down gets up goes somewhere else - she did this for an hour now she came in basement and dug - paced and finally layed now and now is out like a light!! Ok I just called her name and she opened her eyes -- I dont get this neither???? But most of June she was lifeless - so tired - had to help her off floor - looked like she was so weak -- Could her tumor be so big she is now acting strange??

[StarDeb55]

Give the pred, it will not hurt her. The drinking may be due to her electrolytes being messed up. If there is too much drug given, it can not only affect the cortisol but the aldosterone which is made by the adrenals. Aldosterone is extremely important as it controls the electrolyte balance in the body which is the sodium & potassium. Another easy way to check to see if there is an electrolyte issue is to offer Penny a pinch of salt in your hand or even a bite or two of saltine crackers. If she eats either of them, this is usually a clear indication of an electrolyte imbalance, & she needs to be seen by a vet TONIGHT! Severe electrolyte imbalances may be life threatening. I don't want to scare the daylights out of you, but Penny's situation is nothing to fool around with.

Debbie

[frijole]

I am assuming your dog has a pituitary (not adrenal) tumor because 85% of cushing's dog have pituitary tumors. These are tiny tiny little tumors that very very rarely cause issues with the brain. I would bet money that for the last month your dog's dose was just plain too high and so the appetite was reduced and the dog was just 'off'. Low cortisol will do that. You were right to push for an acth.

My guess is the vet just doesn't have alot of experience treating cushings - we see it alot so you aren't alone. Happened to me too. I agree with Deb. After we get thru this episode the key is to find an internal med specialist if at all possible to help you moving forward.

Where do you live? (We can look for you or maybe someone has a vet they'd recommend)

Hang in there - Kim

[Cyn719]

I live in North Providence RI - I will give her 10 mg and see how she does and I will call the office at 8am - I think she said the electrolytes were ok - I got the blood work today and they forgot to give me the work up only gave me the ACHT results - I will get them tomorrow - just something else they screwed up!!

[StarDeb55]

If she doesn't improve within about 2 hours, I'm afraid this can't wait until you can call your vet's office in the morning. The thing that concerns me is that it's a long holiday weekend, is your vet's office even open?

Debbie

[frijole]

OK, give the prednisone - force it down if you have to. Did you do the salt test? Sorry but I'm not trusting your vet a whole lot. You could run out and get some pedialyte which contains electrolytes and put it in her water. That said, as Deb said if the electrolytes go low dogs can die. Typically they would put her on an IV and keep her at least over night if they are low. You are going to have to go by how she is acting. I would not worry about going to the same vet but rather an emergency hospital and just tell them what the last acth test results were and that you gave prednisone.

I'll look to see if there is a specialist in Providence.

[Cyn719]

Yes Kim I pushed and pushed and it took 3 - 4 weeks - She should of listened to me - I am with this dog everyday - I know when she is not right!! I should of gone to a specialist then!! And I had her at Tuffs like the 3rd week of May - she had 4 teeth pulled - one being her upper K9 - she did very good - I guess I should of had them take care of her Cushings too!!! So could the surgery of caused any problems

[Cyn719]

She does not want the salt - so that is good??? I thought she said electors were ok my husband had bloodwork hes at work - the 2 numbers were 0.8 and 0.9 on the ACTH test thats all he had right now