Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 26

Thread: Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    12

    Default Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

    Hey Everyone,

    My dog, Sadie, was just diagnosed with Cushings a few weeks ago and was prescribed 30 mg of Vetoryl daily. She has been peeing in the house and drinking a ton of water since New Year's which was about a week after her being put under to have a benign growth removed. After reading some of the posts on your website I had my vet switch her to 20 mg of Vetoryl. She is about 22 lbs. She has had diarrhea since she started on Vetoryl and is usually a bit sleepy/lethargic for a few hours after taking it. After her ACTH test (pre cortisol she was 1.0 and post cortisol she was 4.0) last Friday my vet said to give her 10 mg in the morning and 10 mg in the evening. Her diarrhea seems better and she she still seems sleepy about an hour after taking it but not as much as before. For a few days after the ACTH test Sadie's breathing was fast and shallow at times and a bit irregular. My vet says that that is because of the cortisol they gave her. I have many questions but my main concern is that Dechra says that lethargy and diarrhea are common side effects but to contact my vet if Sadie has diarrhea or lethargy. My vet is not concerned about Sadie's side effects. Sadie has not peed in the bed or the house since starting on Vetoryl and is drinking about 3 to four cups less of water a day so I know that the Vetoryl is helping. I want to make sure that Sadie is getting the best care that is possible as she truly is the love of my life. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I would attach Sadie's medical records for you to view but apparently I am not allowed to.

    Thank you for your help! Ali

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    15,292

    Default Re: Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

    Hello and welcome to you and Sadie! Literally, I have only a minute to post right now, but I want you to know that I've moved your thread to our main Questions/Discussion forum so that more of our members will have a chance to read it and offer their thoughts.

    I'm really glad you've joined us!
    Marianne

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    12

    Default Re: Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

    Thank you Marianne! I look forward to meeting all of you!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    16,150

    Default Re: Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

    Hello, I just have a minute too, but 4.0 is a good post. Be sure to retest and make sure she doesn't drop too much further though in a couple weeks after the last test.

    How long did she take the 30mg for before going to 20mg? 10mg/10mg is a good dose for her according to weight.

    However, we don't like diarrhea, so try a bit of pumpkin, like a tablespoon maybe to start and add in a probiotic. That would be pure canned pumpkin, not pie filling. It is very helpful for diarrhea.

    That isn't abnormal to be a bit sleepy lethargic right after taking the meds.
    But if she was wobbly, couldn't stand, wouldn't get up, stopped eating, vomiting and yes diarrhea can be signs of over dose, but with her post being 4.0, that is a good post. So no overdose at this point. The 30mg though might have played havoc on her system is my thought.
    Sharlene and the late great diva - Molly muffin (always missed and never forgotten)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    York, PA.
    Posts
    11,037

    Default Re: Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

    Hi Ali,

    Welcome to you and Sadie from me as well!

    Could you get copies of all tests that were done on Sadie and post those results here? With respect to the blood chemistry and CBC, you need only post the highs and lows and please include the normal reference ranges. What diagnostic tests were performed on Sadie, and could you post those results too? Does Sadie have the pituitary or adrenal form of Cushing's? Is she taking any other herbs/supplements/medications? Does she have any other underlying illness? Did the vet tell you that Vetoryl has to be given with a meal and that the monitoring ACTH stimulation tests have to be performed 4-6 hours post pill?

    Vetoryl is known to cause gastric upset and some members give their dog pepcid ac 20-30 minutes before the Vetoryl dose is administered.

    And, yep, some dogs have side effects from the stimulating agent used in the ACTH stim test but this usually last only a day or two.

    Sorry for the reasons that brought you here but sure glad you found us and we will help in any way we can.

    Hugs, Lori

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    1,452

    Default Re: Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

    Hi and welcome to you and Sadie! You have received excellent guidance already. I give my Abbie, who weighs about the same as Sadie, pepcid original about twenty minutes before each meal after which she gets Vetoryl. Abbie is prone to diarrhea and the addition of pumpkin to her meals has helped a lot. If you have not given Sadie pumpkin before, I would suggest you start very conservatively and gradually increase. If you give too much, it can increase diarrhea. I now give Abbie about 1/2 teaspoon with each meal (she eats 3x a day). I also give her Forti-flora probiotics mixed into one meal.

    Are you giving Sadie the Vetoryl 12 hours apart? I had to adjust Abbie's mealtimes in order to do that, splitting her mid-afternoon meal into two portions.
    Judy H. (Always "Maggie and Abbie's Mom" & now "Sadie Sue's Mom")
    Venice, FL

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    12

    Default Re: Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

    Thanks Sharlene and Lori!

    Sharlene, Sadie only took the 30 mg for 3 or 4 days before I switched her to 20 mg thanks to you guys. I just recently bought her canned plain pumpkin so I will try to give her some tomorrow. Do you know how long canned pumpkin stays good for once it is opened?

    Lori, my vet believes Sadie has adrenal cushings but is not sure and does not want to an aspirates of her liver because she said the test is always inconclusive? The only other supplements that she is taking are Marin liver supplements and Dasaquin and yes I always give Sadie her Vetoryl with about a 1/2 cup of cooked chicken or turkey with rice. Within the past 3 months she has had an ultrasound, ACTH, Dexamethasone Suppression Test, Blood Count Test, T4, 2 Urinalysis tests, Superchem and Ova & Parasites WI Test. I have 6 pages of results and have no idea how to interpret them. Is there no way that I can attach them?

    The conclusions of Sadie's ultrasound on 2/20/16 prior to her testing positive for Cushings are as follows:
    "Mildly enlarged, diffusely heterogeneous liver may be due to endocrine disease, drup hepatopathy, hepatitis or other infiltrative pricess. Fine needle aspirates of the liver could be performed for further evaluation.
    Mild left adrenomegaly. Hyperplasia is considered most likely. Hyperadrenocorticism may be possible.
    Hyperechoic, non-shadowing regions in the kidneys bilaterally is likely due to fat deposition.
    Hyperechoic splenic nodule is consistent with a lipoma."

    On the Blood Count Test:
    High Platelet Count = 415 10^3/ul
    High Neutrophlls = 80%
    Low Lymphocytes = 11%

    T4 Test:
    Low = 0.6 ug/dl

    Urinalysis:
    Low Specific Gravity = 1.004
    High pH = 7.5

    Superchem:
    High ALT (SGPT) = 121 U/L
    High Alk Phosphatase = 242 U/L
    High Calcium = 11.7 mg/dL
    High Triglycerides = 986 mg/dL
    High PrecisionPSL = 540 U/L

    Thank you both so much for all your pointers and reassuring me that gastric upset is a semi normal side effect from vetoryl. I really appreciate it!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    12

    Default Re: Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

    Hey Judy,

    Thank you so much for your help! I do give Sadie the Vetoryl 12 hours apart. Thank you so much for the pointers and I will have to try the probiotics. My mom was actually just telling me a few weeks ago that I should try them as well.

    How much do you feed Abbie a day? Sadie has always snacked on her dog food throughout the day and she loves people food. So basically, I am trying to get her on a regular feeding schedule for the 1st time in 14 years. Because she won't eat too much dog food at one time I have been making her ground turkey or chicken with rice so that she has food in her system when she takes her Vetoryl but I have no idea how much I should be feeding her a day. Thanks again for your help!

    Ali

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    1,452

    Default Re: Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

    Ali--re your question about how long to keep pumpkin, I keep it for a week covered with a dog food can cover. I don't finish it all in the week but it starts to get watery by then.

    I feed Abbie 1/4 cup of dry dog food mixed with a heaping tablespoon of canned food and a small cut-up piece of cooked chicken (plus pumpkin and omega3 oil) in the morning. She gets her Vetoryl along with other meds rolled up in a piece of cheese topped with a bit of kitten food! I give her the same meal at 3:00, minus the Vetoryl. Then at 7:30 she gets a repeat of the morning regimen. The chicken is a new addition--she is recovering from spinal surgery (herniated disc in her neck) and she wouldn't eat anything but chicken after the surgery. I gradually added back in her food but wouldn't eat if there was no chicken in it. You can see who the boss is in my house! If I am going out I give Abbie a piece of a Blue stix. Abhor lost three pounds since she hurt her neck and had surgery. Am trying to keep it off!

    One other thought for you re the Vetoryl--reports are that it is absorbed better when given with something fatty. Abbie does not like peanut butter so we ended up with a small piece of American cheese. There are still days when she balks at taking her pills, even when disguised.
    Judy H. (Always "Maggie and Abbie's Mom" & now "Sadie Sue's Mom")
    Venice, FL

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    12

    Default Re: Sadie, my 14 year old American Eskimo

    Thank you so much for all the information Judy! I am glad to hear that Abbie is recovering from her spinal surgery. That must have been scary! And I know just what you mean about being a picky eater. Sadie does not prefer peanut butter or American cheese but she loves feta cheese so maybe I can try that. My vet told me not to give her any cottage cheese but it did seem to work in the past she did say that I could give her plain yogurt or pumpkin. Sadie does like chicken so maybe I'll try to add that in to her normal meal plan. I have some cat treats that I feed the feral cats but I don't think I should give that to her. I also just discovered another growth on Sadie's front right paw. She's had about 5 removed in the past 3 years and the Vets don't want to do any more surgeries on her and I don't want them to either. She keeps licking it so she is stuck in her purple turtleneck with long sleeves until I can figure out another option. Thank you again so much for all of your help!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •