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Thread: My dog has had Cushings for over a year...high dosage...would love information!

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Georgia
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    15,292

    Default Re: My dog has had Cushings for over a year...high dosage...would love information!

    Jennifer, I do think that’s a good plan. Upon seeing all of Jet’s stim results, it does seem significant that his cortisol level suddenly dropped significantly while remaining on the same dose during this last 90-day period. So I’m in agreement with both the dosing decrease and the test schedule. I’ll certainly be hoping that this works out to be a good arrangement, and of course we’ll be very anxious to hear!

    All best wishes in the meantime,
    Marianne

  2. #22

    Default Re: My dog has had Cushings for over a year...high dosage...would love information!

    Good Morning and Happy New Year!!

    Just wanted to check in after reading through the recent thread about Frankie. Jet has his next Stim test on Wednesday since he has now been on his new dose of Vetoryl (60mg in AM and PM) for about 4 weeks. She is also going to do a urine sample - can't remember which one she called it, but I know the "free catch" sample did not work. I think this is a good idea to see if anything else is going on with his urine? I am curious as to why she wanted to do the urine test in the first place but I am looking forward to the results. His urine is usually consistently very "white" or light in color, and not "yellow", but I assume that's just from drinking and peeing so much unlike dogs who are dehydrated. Definitely can't say that for Cushings pups!

    Jet seems to be doing ok on this new dose - water intake seems to be better. Food intake is still a challenge but manageable, and he still has a few small fur patches that are missing. I am really curious to see how his numbers come out this time.

    My only concern is wondering if I should be also checking him for something else as well. It seems his bloodwork comes back normal in all other areas or I assume the vet would call is out, correct? I don't know if he was ever diagnosed with Hypothyroidism? This is something different, correct? Do most Cushpups have both?

    Other threads here show additional signs of other possible issues so I just want to make sure I am checking all angles but maybe if Jet's tests and bloodwork point to only Cushings it's just how it is for him (which is good!).

    Thanks to all

  3. #23
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    Default Re: My dog has had Cushings for over a year...high dosage...would love information!

    Hello again, and I’m sorry it’s taken so long to get back to you! I see that you’ll be heading back to the vet tomorrow for Jet’s ACTH test, so I wanted to quickly add a note beforehand. First of all, from this point forward, I encourage you to ask for actual copies of all of his labwork if you’re not already doing so. Obviously, we are hoping and assuming that our vets will point out to us any irregularities that they are noticing, but with both vets and human doctors, I’ve learned through the years that they are never going to have the same amount of time that we do to really pore over results. We surely hope they’ll see and tell us about obviously worrisome results that fall out of normal range. But it’s really helpful to have copies of those results yourself, so you’re fully aware of any lab changes that are taking place over time.

    As far as hypothyroidism, the T4 result on a blood chemistry panel is the most basic indicator of thyroid function. If the T4 reading falls within normal range and a dog is not exhibiting symptoms of hypothyroidism, then further testing probably isn’t called for. However, if the T4 is either too low or too high, then more involved thyroid testing can be done. It is possible for dogs to have Cushing’s and also to genuinely have an underperforming thyroid. However, Cushing’s is a disease that can cause low thyroid readings as a “secondary” result. In that situation, further thyroid testing can help tease out whether the low thyroid reading seems to be a genuine problem in its own right (requiring supplementation), or whether it will likely resolve on its own once the Cushing’s comes under control. So to back up, it’s Jet’s T4 reading that you would be checking in terms of hypothyroidism.

    As far as the urine sample, your vet may be wanting to check again for the presence of infection since UTIs are common among Cushpups and can cause excessive thirst and urination even when cortisol levels are adequately controlled. Your vet may also be checking for the presence of any protein in Jet’s urine, since Cushing’s can affect the kidneys in a manner that leads to protein being passed into the urine. Chronic “proteinuria” can cause damage to the kidneys, so if it’s identified, some additional medication may be added to help lower the protein leakage.

    All in all, I’m really glad he’ll be heading back in tomorrow for his repeat ACTH. At this point, I don’t know anything specific for you to ask about in advance. But definitely do ask for copies of all his the test results, whenever they are done. That way, you can track any changes and ask specific questions about any abnormal readings that are highlighted on the report.

    Good luck tomorrow!
    Marianne

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Detroit, Michigan
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    34

    Default

    This thread took me back in time, as I read it...
    Meaning, I know exactly what you (we all)are going/went thru.

    My girl started high with Veterol, and went like a roller coaster, up and down, so it seemed.
    - Thyroid was ruled out at first but did become an issue later, about 7 months later
    My daily ritual as it sounds was very similar... Vetrol, Levothyroxine, and Gallaprant.

    I dont want to say too much, as I am over 1 year removed, and may have forgot some things, but I kept EVERYTHING, record wise.
    So I will try to go back and re-read things Ive kept. And post as my memory kicks in.

    I do remember feeling (maybe advised) very strongly about trying to keep the doseage even thru the day... meaning, not one big pounding, or a large then small.
    Even split, when possible twice per day.

    -- I do remember this was not possible at one point, as maybe Veterol was not available in (example 15 mg?) one odd size I needed, which meant I had to over or underdose.
    Either way, that was eventually corrected, so you can kind of dismiss what I just said... it was an issue I faced, that fixed itself.

  5. #25

    Default Re: My dog has had Cushings for over a year...high dosage...would love information!

    Thank you Marianne - will report back with the full results...I agree and will make sure to get the full panel results this time and maybe someone here can assist me reading them. The way you explained everything is so great so thank you.

    Jonathan- thanks for your reply as well! Yes I am splitting his dose equally now in the am and pm (60 and 60) so hopeful this will remain his dose for a while, even if it means buying 2 boxes per month. Please keep me posted if you have any other Info or want to tell the story on your girl.

    Anyone know how I can post a photo of Jet on here so you all know what he looks like?

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Detroit, Michigan
    Posts
    34

    Default Re: My dog has had Cushings for over a year...high dosage...would love information!

    If you click "Settings" at the top left, then click "My Avatar" under my settings (left side of page) you can add a picture.

    Also, you can create an Album under the "My Profile" section..

  7. #27

    Default Re: My dog has had Cushings for over a year...high dosage...would love information!

    Got it thanks!

  8. #28

    Default Re: My dog has had Cushings for over a year...high dosage...would love information!

    Hello all! Thankfully Jet got a good result from his STIM test; it was:
    6 Pre
    4.2 Post

    The doctor said I can keep him on this same dose and check in another 4-5 months.

    The negative of the day was trying to get his urinalyses done. The free catch sample they took a few weeks ago was not giving a valid result. So they wanted to do a sterile one where he has to lay on his back. Well, Jet was completely freaked out and stressed and would not let them do it. He was being very difficult.
    Back to square one...they said the only way to probably get this sample is to sedate him. What would you do in my case? I am not opposed it's just a lot to deal with for a urine sample! I will check in with my regular vet and see what she says.

    Lastly, I did have them send over the full labs results of his last 2 STIMs and also his full bloodwork. Is there a way to attach those files here? I see other members listed out the bloodwork and got good responses so I thought maybe someone here could help me decipher them as I am clueless with this stuff. Most is in the normal range but a few pieces are out of range.

    Thanks for your help!
    Jennifer

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Detroit, Michigan
    Posts
    34

    Default Re: My dog has had Cushings for over a year...high dosage...would love information!

    I have been stumbling around, trying to find a way to help post the attachment/lab results.

    But I found a spot, at the bottom of my post preview (permissions) that says I do not have permission to post attachments.
    - Im guessing you are in the same situation.?
    In Loving Memory - Gigi (2006-2018)
    - Had a great quality of life as a "Cushings Dog"
    - And passed non Cushings related...

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    15,292

    Default Re: My dog has had Cushings for over a year...high dosage...would love information!

    Jennifer, thanks so much for this update. And Jonathan, thanks so much for trying to help solve the problem re: posting attachments. Unfortunately, no members have permission to post attachments other than photos. I am a computer “dummy,” but I have been told that this is a security feature of the website software so as to minimize the potential for malicious entry of hackers onto the forum. So Jennifer, the most helpful way to let us know about any abnormal lab results is simply to list them in a reply, along with the normal reference range for that particular value. You only need to list values that are marked as being abnormally high or low on the lab sheet, so hopefully there won’t be a lot that are in question.

    I’m so glad to hear that Jet’s ACTH test turned out well! The only cautionary note I would add is that the official recommendation of the makers of Vetoryl, as well as many other clinicians, is that monitoring retesting should be consistently performed every three months. So your specialist is stretching out that time frame a bit, and at this stage of Jet’s treatment, if it were me I’d probably choose to at least return at the four-month mark rather than waiting even longer.

    As far as the urine sample, I’m so sorry that the ordeal was so stressful for him. Poor boy! This is only a guess, but I’m supposing that the reason why the specialist thinks it’s important to persist in getting a clean sample is to ensure an accurate assessment of the presence or absence of a urinary tract infection. If Jet’s excessive thirst and urination persist even when his cortisol level is being well controlled, an untreated UTI would be a logical cause. So I’m guessing that’s the reason, and if so, it may be a wise idea to go ahead with the sedation if you cannot get a clean sample from a free catch at home. But definitely do discuss the issue further with your regular vet.

    OK guys, Happy New Year to you all!!
    Marianne

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