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

[Trixie]

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??

[addy]

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

[Trixie]

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.

[frijole]

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

[Harley PoMMom]

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

[molly muffin]

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

[Trixie]

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

[Trixie]

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.

[Boriss McCall]

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.
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

[Trixie]

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.