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Thread: Dog Diagnosed and feeling unsure about diagnosis and treatment

  1. #21
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    Default Re: Dog Diagnosed and feeling unsure about diagnosis and treatment

    Also, remember that Vetoryl (Trilostane) has a very short life in the body - leaving the system in 2-12 hours. So even if there were issues, simply stopping the med and giving Winston a few hours should set thing right again. This is the good thing about Trilo. Short life, easy to stop and restart if needed. So try to take a deep breath and believe in you. You are doing a great job of educating yourself and that is half the battle in canine Cushing's!

    Hugs,
    Leslie
    "May you know that absence is full of tender presence and that nothing is ever lost or forgotten." John O'Donahue, "Eternal Echoes"

    Death is not a changing of worlds as most imagine, as much as the walls of this world infinitely expanding.

  2. #22
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    Default Re: Dog Diagnosed and feeling unsure about diagnosis and treatment

    Quote Originally Posted by Winston's Mom View Post
    Lori - thank you for clearing that up!

    I guess we'll go with once a day to start based on the specialist recommendation. Today I read a PDF of all the fine print information (ALL OF IT) for Vetoryl describing how to dose, testing stages, etc. and adverse effects including information regarding the studies that were done on the dogs and how many died and suffered from various adverse effects. Reading that gave me anxiety and continued worry. My dog's biggest obvious symptom is a ravenous appetite and lethargy which is pretty bad right now. That being said, one of the adverse effects is decreased activity and decreased appetite and if that happens to my dog how will I know that it's not a serious side effect and I need to stop the medication or if it means it's working?

    Also curious if anyone can tell me from experience when I can expect to see improvement of his current symptoms like depression, large loss of muscle mass and increased appetite?

    Very nervous about how he will react to Vetoryl - Winston is my entire life, we don't have kids, so he is even more so truly my baby - the thought of him getting worse or losing him due to the medication pains me beyond belief.
    By most accounts, and from other pet owners I have spoken to, Vetoryl is a very good drug and safer than many/most of the older Cushings treatments. Just observe him carefully during the first week or so. Any adverse events/behaviors, you would stop dosing and contact your vet. good luck!

  3. #23
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    Default Re: Dog Diagnosed and feeling unsure about diagnosis and treatment

    Vetoryl is actually no safer than Lysodren. It simply has a shorter life in the body so if there is an issues it leaves the system much sooner than Lyso. Both have the exact same side effects up to and including death. Both require an experienced vet and an educated, diligent pet parent. Neither one is safe but both are life savers WHEN used correctly.
    Last edited by Squirt's Mom; 01-15-2019 at 04:36 PM.
    "May you know that absence is full of tender presence and that nothing is ever lost or forgotten." John O'Donahue, "Eternal Echoes"

    Death is not a changing of worlds as most imagine, as much as the walls of this world infinitely expanding.

  4. #24

    Default Re: Dog Diagnosed and feeling unsure about diagnosis and treatment

    Update on Winston

    Yesterday we had Winston's first ACTH test since starting Vetoryl 12 days ago. Vet left a voicemail and said his pre level was 1.4 and his post was just over 2. She didn't email me the lab results yet but she said he's in normal range for excellent control of Cushing's. Well I'm a little perplexed that the levels are that low after only 11 days. Is this normal, especially since his dosage is very low for his weight. He's 45 lbs and takes 10mg 2x a day. If his levels continue to go down within the first 30 days should I be worried about them going too low before the 30 days is up and now I'm beginning to wonder if he's even Cushing's and simply just hypothyroid?? When he had the initial ACTH test to diagnose the disease his post level was just shy over the borderline that is considered likely to be Cushing's.
    Last edited by Winston's Mom; 01-23-2019 at 04:29 PM.

  5. #25
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    Default Re: Dog Diagnosed and feeling unsure about diagnosis and treatment

    Although those ACTH results are within the therapeutic ranges they do make me a bit uneasy too, because, as you mentioned, that it has been only 12 days since treatment began and cortisol can continue to drift downward during the first 30 days of treatment. I'd really keep an eagle eye on him, look for any signs that his cortisol is dropping too low such as diarrhea, lethargy, inappetence, or Winston simply just not acting himself, if any one of those symptoms are observed stop the Vetoryl. Since Vetoryl has such a short half-life ceasing the Vetoryl should be enough, however, if those ill effects would last an ACTH stimulation test is required.

  6. #26

    Default Re: Dog Diagnosed and feeling unsure about diagnosis and treatment

    I am home most of the time so I've been very eagle eye on him. So far since starting trilostane he had one bout of diarrhea several days ago and it was a one-time occurrence. I attribute that to trying out a new brand of food on him. His bowel has been normal after that. His appetite is still very good but honestly, he is lethargic even before starting treatment and that is actually his biggest symptom other than hunger so it's a little hard to gauge him based on energy level unfortunately. Considering his low level of cortisol I haven't really seen much improvement in his clinical signs so far.

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