Re: Ginger-16 yo Poochon (Bichon Poodle mix)
Welcome back Kim!
Welcome, but I am sorry you have need to be here again. We never want to start this journey again but these dogs just seem to know who they can count on for the best care.
Ginger is absolutely adorable! Had I been asked, I would have said she was a Pom/Pom mix! I would have never guess Bichon and Poodle. What a lovely mix! I have to say I laughed at loud at this comment - "...she doesn't like being called a Bichipoo her ears drop backwards but keeps them forward with Poochon". I think I would be on the same wave link tho I have been called a name similar to "Bichipoo". In fact, I am going to try to remember that one for future use.
While some of her lab results are seen with Cushing's the number aren't what we usually see with the liver enzymes. ALP is often in the 1000's. Ginger's is mildly elevated in comparison. Something to keep in mind - in some studies with humans, CBD oil has caused changes in liver enzymes, even liver damage. This product is not regulated so unless we make our own OR purchase from an individual we trust we can never be sure exactly what is in the oil. Just food for thought. What concerns me most are the kidneys. The PHOS, CPK, and BUN elevations along with the finding on the ultrasound would cause me to want to focus on the kidneys first and foremost to rule out any thing with them that could skew the Cushing's tests. A tumor on any other organ can cause the cortisol to rise naturally and skew the tests to return a false-positive. So in your shoes I wouldn't waste money on tests for Cushing's just yet but rather have an indepth check of the kidneys. Remember - Cushing's is a very slowly progressing condition so there is rarely need to rush into treatment. We want to be as sure as we possibly can that our baby does indeed have Cushing's and not something that could cause elevated cortisol like a tumor or other illness before we start these powerful treatments.
As for Lysodren, it is my personal drug of choice for treating Cushing's. Lyso is given in two phases - the load, or induction, phase in which the drug is given twice a day until signs are seen that the load has been achieved. Then an ACTH is give to be sure the cortisol is in the desired range. If the numbers come back indicating the load has been achieved then the maintenance phase begins. During this phase the Lyso is given 2-4 times a week usually a the same dose used for the load, just spread out over a week VS daily. The typical dose is 50mg/kg/daily divided AM and PM for the load then the same formula divided into 2-4 doses over a week. So if she loaded on 250mg/day then in maintenance she would take 250mg/week - 125mg/twice a week, 62.5mg/4x a week, etc. Since Lyso only comes in 500mg tablets to get doses that aren't easily divided a compounded form can be used. (If you do need to compound we direct you to some reliable pharmacies for this). Here is a link from the Helpful Resource section on Lysodren tips:
https://www.k9cushings.com/forum/sho...d-related-tips
Again, welcome back! I am sure others will be along soon to chat with you as well.
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.