Intro - 6 yo American Eskimo Dog Diagnosed with Cushings Last Week

[FrostysMom]

Hello,
I'm Denise and my six year old 22 lb. American Eskimo Dog was diagnosed with Cushings less than a week ago. We seem to have caught it early on. I am very concerned because he has a heart murmur and an enlarged heart. He is on Enalapril and Lasix for his heart and is to start Vetoryl 30 mg tomorrow. I am worried about the medications having an adverse reaction, but want to get him the treatment he needs. The vet says we'll do bloodwork in 10 days after starting the Vetoryl and again in 30 days and then every 3 months (barring any complications). Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi Denise,

Welcome to you and your boy! We so love details and the more information you can share about your sweet boy the better our feedback will be, ok? And the way we gather this information is in asking a zillion questions, so here goes some of mine

Could you get copies of all tests that were done on your boy 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 for Cushing's were performed on your boy, and could you post those results too? Does he have the pituitary or adrenal form of Cushing's? Besides the Enalapril and Lasix is he taking any other herbs/supplements/medications? Does he have any other underlying illnesses? 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?

Dechra, the makers of Vetoryl, recommend a starting dose of 1 mg per pound of the dog's weight, so with your boy weighing in at 22 lbs a starting dose of 22 mg is what is recommended, since you are using the brand-name Vetoryl you could start your boy at 20 mg instead, which is what I would feel more comfortable doing if he were my dog but I'm a huge worrywart

In Dechra's product insert they state:

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors should be used with caution with VETORYL Capsules, as both drugs have aldosterone-lowering
effects...

with your boy taking the Enalapril I just wanted to make you aware of this. Here's a link to Dechra's product insert: Dechra's U.S. Product Insert

I am also providing a link to our Resource forum which has a wealth of information regarding Cushing's and also includes articles written by some of the most renown veterinarians that specialize in endocrinology http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=10

Please know we are here to help in any way we can, and do not hesitate to ask all the questions you want.

Hugs, Lori

[molly muffin]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I agree with Lori, I'd want to start around 20mg too.
My vet too wanted to start my dog who as 18.7 lbs at the time on 30mg and the Internal Medicine Specialist nixed that. So we started at the lower range.

I just think it is safer. My dog is on benazepril which is basically what we use up here in Canada instead of Enalapril. You can get the ACTH test checked for Aldersterone levels from time to time.

So glad you found us.

[FrostysMom]

Thanks for replying! I will get the thorough results to post. His liver values (at this point one of them) was up to 618 and had been steadily climbing, even after two rounds of Denamarin and LipoForm. The blood tests (which I was told were for Cushings and were $150) showed a number of 22.1 (I was told 22 was the number that indicated Cushings. He had to fast for 12 hours prior to the test and then remain fasting for two more hours and have blood drawn again. I will have to get a more detailed report. I have just been floored by this after just learning of the heart condition a couple of months ago. My vet said we could check for Cushings because I was so concerned about the liver values and had noticed a marked increase in water consumption and urination (he's an Eskie, so sheds a LOT anyway- I have another Eskie as well).

The Enalapril and Lasix are the only prescribed Rx meds. I also give him Heart Tonic and Waterfall from Pawhealer.com (Chinese Herbs). These were highly recommended by several friends who have dogs with the same heart issues (I volunteer for several rescue groups and many of the rescues have health issues).

I've had Frosty since he was three months old and even though he came from a puppy mill, these are the first time we have encountered serious health issues (at 6 years of age). I am terrified that he might not get adequate or incorrect treatment.

Thanks for your help.

[FrostysMom]

I have read the inserts and haven't given him the Vetoryl until my vet gets back to me te dosage and taking along with his current heart meds.

[Harley PoMMom]

Thanks for replying! I will get the thorough results to post. His liver values (at this point one of them) was up to 618 and had been steadily climbing, even after two rounds of Denamarin and LipoForm.

It's probably the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) that is elevated. We've seen some pretty high ALP numbers in cushdogs on the forum some were in the 2000's.

The blood tests (which I was told were for Cushings and were $150) showed a number of 22.1 (I was told 22 was the number that indicated Cushings. He had to fast for 12 hours prior to the test and then remain fasting for two more hours and have blood drawn again. I will have to get a more detailed report.

Sounds like this may have been the ACTH stimulation test, 2 blood draws are needed for this test, a pre/resting blood draw and a post blood draw. If the time between the 2 draws was 2 hours than the vet is using Acthar gel which has fallen out of favor and now cosyntropin or Cortrosyn has taken its place. For diagnostic purposes a dog can be fasted for the ACTH stimulation test, however for the monitoring treatment of Vetoryl it is required that the dog have a meal with the Vetoryl capsule.

I have just been floored by this after just learning of the heart condition a couple of months ago. My vet said we could check for Cushings because I was so concerned about the liver values and had noticed a marked increase in water consumption and urination (he's an Eskie, so sheds a LOT anyway- I have another Eskie as well).

We completely understand that overwhelming feeling, felt that way my self when my boy was first diagnosed with Cushing's. Cushing's can be a scary and confusing disease to treat, but trust me, once you become more educated about this disease the less scary and confusing it is. And we are here to help too, we are some of the best hand holders

Hugs, Lori