9 Year Old Maltese with Cushings

[KennyJ]

Found it in a chewable tablet for all sizes. Gives instructions on how to fit the size of the tablet for the weight of the dog. I just ordered 30 which equals 60 because I will cut it in half. I ordered this from PawsPlus for $39.99.

Denamarin does not require a prescription as far as I know. However I'm not sure it comes in a liquid form - a google search may answer that. I can't pill Squirt so I have to use things that I can add to her food, which is home cooked so it is easy to mix med into it. You might try using a little Green Tripe or a good canned feed that she likes to give pills.

[KennyJ]

I wanted to add. I took Gracie to see a Holistic Vet and just looked at their website again and noticed they have a Dr that is internal medicine. Isn't that the way I should go?? My other clinic does not have this type of doctor on board. Let me know what you think please.


http://roanokeanimalhospital.aahavet...rinarians.aspx

[Harley PoMMom]

From the bit of reading I did, this practise sounds really good and with Dr. Bridget Hickman specializing in Endocrinology, that's a huge plus!!

[Budsters Mom]

Welcome Kenny and Gracie,
I thought I'd drop in to say hello. We do that a lot around here!
You have come to the right place! There are many K9Cushing's angels standing by to help and stay with you every step of the way. They love details, test results, any information you can get your hands on. The more the better. We will do all we can to help. It does appear that Gracie seems to be a poster girl for Cushings. Do not fret. Cushing's can be controlled and there is hope. Many of our members have been doing it for years!
So again welcome to you and Gracie,

Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy

[KennyJ]

You guys have been wonderful. So glad that I found this group. A little bit about me. I am a former Virginia Tech football player and most people think of me having a Pitt Bull, German Shepard, or some other large dog. But I simply love Maltese dogs. Gracie is my only child. So I will do whatever it takes to keep her with me as long as possible. I did call my regular clinic and asked if any of their Vets specialized in internal medicine and the receptionist said she did not believe so but that all of the Vets could take care of this problem. The depressing thing I heard from this office is the Vet that was taking care of Gracie this week said her dog had Cushings and died because of it after a year of treatment. I left the office in tears. Now don't get me wrong. This Vet is a wonderful person and I have seen other Vets online that said the same thing, that dogs with Cushings can NOT live their life expectancy because of this disease. That's when I found you guys. A big guy like me has been crying all week thinking I am about to lose my little buddy. I don't want to see that happen. I still need to do the ACTH Stim test but leaning more in the direction to the clinic I took her too yesterday because of the internal medicine doctor. Sorry for the rambling.

Welcome Kenny and Gracie,
I thought I'd drop in to say hello. We do that a lot around here!
You have come to the right place! There are many K9Cushing's angels standing by to help and stay with you every step of the way. They love details, test results, any information you can get your hands on. The more the better. We will do all we can to help. It does appear that Gracie seems to be a poster girl for Cushings. Do not fret. Cushing's can be controlled and there is hope. Many of our members have been doing it for years!
So again welcome to you and Gracie,

Hugs,
Kathy and Buddy

[Harley PoMMom]

Usually a dog diagnosed with Cushing's is an elder one and most times these elder dogs go a long time before a diagnosis of Cushing's is finally arrived at and confirmed.

Many of these elder dogs with Cushing's, that are being treated, pass from a illness/disease unrelated to Cushing's.

We have many members whose dogs are/have been treated for this disease and have lived a long time with Cushing's.

[KennyJ]

Harley, is one drug safer than the other?? Also, do you agree that I should go to the Roanoke Animal Hospital that has an internal specialist on board? Or can any regular vet take care of this problem?? Gracie is only 9 so I am hoping that is to her advantage and Maltese typically live to be fairly old. And once the meds are regulated will the cost go down for the treatments?

Usually a dog diagnosed with Cushing's is an elder one and most times these elder dogs go a long time before a diagnosis of Cushing's is finally arrived at and confirmed.

Many of these elder dogs with Cushing's, that are being treated, pass from a illness/disease unrelated to Cushing's.

We have many members whose dogs are/have been treated for this disease and have lived a long time with Cushing's.

[mytil]

I sure am glad you found us! So you are a Hokiebird - well I am a Wahoo/Cavalier

I think the urban legend theme of dogs not lasting two years who are diagnosed with Cushing's is simply that - a legend. I have know dogs here who have been on treatment for well past two years - some 6 and 8 years. So please do not be discouraged. The key is treatment and being your dog's advocate and working with very experienced vets or IMS.

IMO I would set up an appt with the IMS if you are able. Yes the costs should go down once treatment starts. A good portion is the initial diagnostic testing. The costs after that are the meds and period testing to make the cortisol levels remain within the desired range.

Keep us posted
Terry

[KennyJ]

Thanks for the nice response. I hope it's not two years because I don't have any idea how long she has had this. My regular vet has never mentioned anything about her having a pot belly. Just that she was too heavy and cut back on the food. The same clinic just a different Dr was the one that said she looked like a prime candidate for Cushings with all thesymptoms. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would hear that coming from my Vet. When her ALP came back 3500 that concerned me. By the way, I ordered the Cushex thinking I could beat this without the traditional meds. It hasn't arrived yet but I heard it was waste of money. I called the company this morning and they said they would refund my money once I send it back. However, the guy laughed when I told him that people said this does not work. He said it most definitely works.

I sure am glad you found us! So you are a Hokiebird - well I am a Wahoo/Cavalier

I think the urban legend theme of dogs not lasting two years who are diagnosed with Cushing's is simply that - a legend. I have know dogs here who have been on treatment for well past two years - some 6 and 8 years. So please do not be discouraged. The key is treatment and being your dog's advocate and working with very experienced vets or IMS.

IMO I would set up an appt with the IMS if you are able. Yes the costs should go down once treatment starts. A good portion is the initial diagnostic testing. The costs after that are the meds and period testing to make the cortisol levels remain within the desired range.

Keep us posted
Terry

[Squirt's Mom]

Oh, yes! Cushex works so very well...that is why our board and others exists!

Cushex has changed its formula several times in the few years we've been around, none of which worked. One of our admins has contacted them for support of their claims other than the testimonials on their site - they can't provide any because there ain't none. The only ones to benefit from Cushex, Supraglan, and the like are those hawking the wares - not the pups. We have had members her who started with such products but realized they weren't controlling the cortisol, which is the enemy in Cushing's, which meant their dog wasn't getting better. Trust me - if these things actually had any hope of working, I would be one of the first to tell you so and be using them on my Squirt.