Re: I’m New Here; Need To Know More
Hi CeeCee,
Welcome to you and Princess!
One thing right off the bat...I would find a new vet asap. One that is both Cushing's savvy and compassionate. Your baby needs both right now.
There is no true "bottom line" when it comes to Cushing's....each pup is different - none of them read the rule book! However, barring one of the rare complications Cushing's is not a death sentence. Our cush pups can and do live out their normal life span and beyond with treatment. Treatment is a very personal choice, tho. Treatment can be expensive - both the meds and the testing, especially when using Vetoryl because it typically requires more dose changes and therefore more testing than Lysodren. But Vetoryl is the drug most used today. If you choose not to treat you will want to keep a close eye on her blood pressure and kidney function as time passes.
First let's start with the signs you are seeing that might indicate Cushing's. I say "might" because Cushing's is one of, if not THE, most difficult canine condition to correctly diagnose because so many other things cause the same signs and can cause false positives on the tests for Cushing's. The most common signs of Cushing's are:
increased thirst
increased urination
increased appetite
reduced activity
excessive panting
thin or fragile skin
hair loss
recurrent skin infections
enlargement of the abdomen, resulting in a "potbellied" appearance
What of these signs are you seeing? What prompted the testing for Cushing's in the first place? Why does her vet think she has it?
There are two types of naturally occurring Cushing's - pituitary dependent, meaning a tumor on the pituitary gland in the skull, and adrenal dependent, meaning a tumor on one or both of the adrenal glands. In rare cases the dog can have a combination. If the pup has been exposed to or on steroids there is another type called Iatrogenic Cushing's which is "cure" by removing the source of exposure or weaning the pup off the steroid if possible. Most cush pups, 85%, have the pituitary form and it is the easier of the two to control via medication.
One of the first test you will want is the UC:CR - this is a urine test that can rule out Cushing's but not diagnose it. If the results are normal the odd of Cushing's are very, very low. If the results are abnormal that simply means something is off and more testing is needed. The other tests are blood tests - the LDDS, an 8 hour test, and the ACTH, a 2 hour test. An abdominal ultrasound is very helpful not only in diagnosing but also determining which form your pup has as well as letting them get a good look at the internal organs.
Does Princess have any other health issues? Is she on any other medications? The more you can tell us about your sweet girl the more meaningful feedback we can offer. And please start getting copies of all the test results, not invoices, but actual results so you can share them with us here if you don't mind. That will help us a great deal.
I'm glad you found us and look forward to learning more about you both as time passes. Please take advantage of our Helpful Resource section where you will find some great information.
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.