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Thread: New to site - questions on holistic vs traditional treatments

  1. #21

    Default Question about baths and skin preparation for skin issues from Cushing’s

    Hi, so my 10-year-old 20 pound fox hound Chihuahua mix, Betsy, is in the process of being diagnosed. She has her Dexamethasone test August 11. She has lab work and ultrasound of the abdomen and clinical picture consistent with Cushing’s disease. My question is in the last week she has developed sores on her skin that are sort of scabby and flaky. I got an oatmeal/aloe bath for her which I gave her, not soaking but with a shower sprayer And I got some stuff that’s a salve from the natural dog company called skin soother healing balm made of essential oil‘s etc. She’s also losing fur around the sores.

    Is there any sort of generally recommended special shampoo and or salve that is recommended? I realize Cushings puts dogs at risk for skin issues and I don’t know exactly what skin issue this is I’m just wondering if there is a general recommendation I could try other than what I have tried. I emailed the Internal Medicine veterinarian who I have already spoken to on the phone when she had her UTI at the emergency hospital and he said he would take a quick glance at the sores on the skin when she comes in for her test but that I need to take her to her regular veterinarian to deal with it. Because of Covid the regular vet is backed up usually two weeks, there is curbside pick up which is stressful for the dog, I guess I had hoped that someone knows of some special shampoo that is really good for Cushings dogs. I’d rather try a few things before I take her to one more vet appointment. These areas are not itching her at all. Thanks!!
    Last edited by BetsyFoxhoundMix; 08-07-2021 at 04:34 PM.
    Thanks,

    Betsy’s Mom, Cathy

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Western Australia
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    174

    Default Re: Question about baths and skin preparation for skin issues from Cushing’s

    It does sound like it could possibly be Calcinosis Cutis. Some dogs with Cushings do get this condition and it is when the high cortisol causes mineral deposits to form under the skin. These then push their way out and cause lesions and scabs and the hair will fall out. Usually it starts around the back/neck area and even the underarms (or should that be under legs :P ). A punch biopsy will diagnose for sure. Activated charcoal baths do help, as does DMSO. Neosporin ointment is another thing that is commonly used. Shampoos that seem to help are douxo or Trizchlor (any shampoo with clorhexidine). But if it is CC then you need to get the cortisol levels down for it to resolve.

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Georgia
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    15,292

    Default Re: Question about baths and skin preparation for skin issues from Cushing’s

    Hi Cathy, and welcome back! As you can see, I’ve gone ahead and merged your new set of questions into your original thread about Betsy. We’ve found that it works best to keep all the information about any given dog consolidated in one single thread. This way, our readers will know exactly where Betsy is in terms of her Cushing’s journey, and we can easily review her entire history.

    Having said that, Laura is right on the mark in terms of what she’s written above. As you already know, Cushpups can be vulnerable to developing skin irritations or infections, in general. But probably the most serious potential skin complication is Calcinosis Cutis. The eruption of these particular lesions can really adversely affect a dog’s quality of life, and can progress pretty rapidly. As a result, I hope your internist will seriously examine these spots when you take her in. If I were you, I’d specifically ask him whether he thinks this is Calcinosis Cutis. To better prepare yourself for the conversation, here’s a link to a related informational thread here on our forum:

    https://www.k9cushings.com/forum/sho...eatment-thread

    And if you’re a Facebooker, here’s a group that’s devoted to discussion of the condition:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/988564191285009/

    You can also just Google “Calcinosis Cutis in dogs” in order to find more pictures and articles. Of course, this may not be Betsy’s problem at all. But even if not, the medicated shampoos that Laura has listed above should also be helpful with a range of other superficial skin infections, as well.

    So look this info over, and feel free to get back to us with additional questions.
    Marianne

  4. #24

    Default Re: Question about baths and skin preparation for skin issues from Cushing’s

    Thanks so much this is so helpful. If it turns out to be calcinosis cutis is it reasonable to ask the internist dealing with her Cushings to also deal with this skin problem? Or do the vet internists only usually want to deal with the drugs and tests specifically for Cushing’s? I’m getting the feeling from other things he says that he doesn’t want to deal with anything except the drug and the testing, levels etc. Thanks



    Quote Originally Posted by labblab View Post
    Hi Cathy, and welcome back! As you can see, I’ve gone ahead and merged your new set of questions into your original thread about Betsy. We’ve found that it works best to keep all the information about any given dog consolidated in one single thread. This way, our readers will know exactly where Betsy is in terms of her Cushing’s journey, and we can easily review her entire history.

    Having said that, Laura is right on the mark in terms of what she’s written above. As you already know, Cushpups can be vulnerable to developing skin irritations or infections, in general. But probably the most serious potential skin complication is Calcinosis Cutis. The eruption of these particular lesions can really adversely affect a dog’s quality of life, and can progress pretty rapidly. As a result, I hope your internist will seriously examine these spots when you take her in. If I were you, I’d specifically ask him whether he thinks this is Calcinosis Cutis. To better prepare yourself for the conversation, here’s a link to a related informational thread here on our forum:

    https://www.k9cushings.com/forum/sho...eatment-thread

    And if you’re a Facebooker, here’s a group that’s devoted to discussion of the condition:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/988564191285009/

    You can also just Google “Calcinosis Cutis in dogs” in order to find more pictures and articles. Of course, this may not be Betsy’s problem at all. But even if not, the medicated shampoos that Laura has listed above should also be helpful with a range of other superficial skin infections, as well.

    So look this info over, and feel free to get back to us with additional questions.
    Marianne
    Thanks,

    Betsy’s Mom, Cathy

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Georgia
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    15,292

    Default Re: Question about baths and skin preparation for skin issues from Cushing’s

    I think it’s certainly reasonable to ask him, but unfortunately it doesn’t sound as though he’s anxious to assume much responsibility for primary care. The degree to which we’ve seen the involvement of specialists in Cushing’s care is variable, depending on complexity of cases, the Cushing’s experience of the referring general practice vets, and I guess just the interest level of the internist. However, in terms of Calcinosis Cutis, I think you’ll find that the single most important factor is lowering the cortisol level which apparently he does intend to take charge of. Other than that, you may actually pick up as many tips about shampoos, etc. from the Facebook group, for instance.

    However, as Laura has already mentioned, CC can only be definitively diagnosed via a biopsy of the skin. If the internist thinks CC is a possibility after visually inspecting the sores, then the question is whether or not he would recommend going ahead with a biopsy. I would think he’d be the one to perform that, as opposed to your regular vet. Or if you have a veterinary dermatologist available to you, you might choose to seek that even more specialized consultation.

    I will say that if CC is confirmed, it’s pretty much a guarantee that the Cushing’s diagnosis is accurate. There are a few other underlying conditions that can occasionally cause CC, but it’s pretty much definitive for Cushing’s in a dog who exhibits other typical Cushing’s symptoms/abnormalities, as well.

    Marianne

  6. #26

    Default Re: Question about baths and skin preparation for skin issues from Cushing’s

    Thank you so much! I’ve been reading on the Facebook page and there are a few suggestions. One woman is using Botanica cleansing wash and natural herbal cream from this parkmore Irish horse imports based in Kentucky. She had used multiple things for cc with her dog prescribed by her vet which never worked for the last four months and she says in two days this is working. Her dog does not have Cushing’s but got cc from steroids. A couple veterinarians had prescribed this non-prescription wash and cream for their patients who then found it online and started ordering it. Her friend has a dog with Cushings who this is working beautifully on, who has cc from Cushings. I think I’ll spare poor Betsy the biopsy, I ordered the stuff and I’m just going to start using it. Our dexamethasone test is on the 11th. I noticed that when people say what dose of Trilostane they are on they will just say the milligrams but they won’t say whether it’s once or twice a day. Is it assumed if someone just says 10 mg that it means once a day?


    https://www.parkmoreirishhorseimport...OavgWaXWPTIsx0
    Thanks,

    Betsy’s Mom, Cathy

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    15,292

    Default Re: Question about baths and skin preparation for skin issues from Cushing’s

    I noticed that when people say what dose of Trilostane they are on they will just say the milligrams but they won’t say whether it’s once or twice a day. Is it assumed if someone just says 10 mg that it means once a day?
    I think that’s probably true. Usually, people will explicitly say if they’re dosing twice daily.

    And thanks for the info about the cleansing wash/cream. I’m not registered on Facebook myself, so I welcome any info supplied by others ;-)))).

  8. #28

    Default Re: Question about baths and skin preparation for skin issues from Cushing’s

    To stay on my thread but discuss something else I don’t know how to change the title? Anyway I thought it was on this site that I read that Carefirst Pharmacy compounding pharmacy is where people are having Trilostane compounded. . I’m in North Carolina and they are in Oklahoma and they will not ship. I just spoke to the pharmacist. Does anyone have the exact name and phone number of a pharmacy that is recommended that will ship to North Carolina who can make liquid Trilostane? Thanks so much I’m trying to get this organized before we are prescribed. Obviously I’m looking for a good price.
    Thanks,

    Betsy’s Mom, Cathy

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    15,292

    Default Re: Ordering compounded trilostane

    Cathy, I think you must be confusing two different “Carefirst” pharmacies. The pharmacy that has been referenced here in conjunction with veterinary compounding is located in New Jersey, and according to their website they do ship to N.C. Here’s a link to their web home page:

    https://www.cfspharmacy.pharmacy

    And here’s a related reference page that one of our staffers posted a while back:

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xwq...jqj1KDcp_Xbt9U

    I just checked and they still list chewable trilostane tablets on their website. You would need to inquire as to whether they will still compound a liquid suspension. Is there a particular reason why you’d prefer the liquid? I have absolutely no research evidence to back me up on this, but just from anecdotal accounts here over the years, I’ve wondered whether there may be more issues that arise over efficacy/stability when liquid preparations are used as opposed to tablets or capsules.

    As far as changing the title of any individual post, I think you can type in the title of your choice for that reply if you opt for “Go Advanced” when you’re typing out your replies. Members cannot change the overall title of their threads — only staffers can do that. But I think you do have the power to retitle any individual reply when you’re creating it. I just now did that with my own reply, and I don’t think I had to be a staffer to have that option. Just let me know, and remember you have to first select “Go Advanced” for your reply.
    Last edited by labblab; 08-09-2021 at 02:41 PM. Reason: To fix mistakes!

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Detroit, Michigan
    Posts
    34

    Default Re: Ordering compounded trilostane

    For what its worth, I had success with Cider Vinegar (I was skeptical, too, but it worked) on those little spots.
    My little girl began as Cushing, and not thyroid, which eventually turned into both, and I can assure, her life was extended from the meds... and a happy life for the most part.

    Cushings/vetoryl is like a roller coaster, so dont buy in large supply of of individual dosage, (or do) and hold onto what you dont use.
    = thats humor, because the levels will often change, you may actually be happy you have previous leftover

    I'm 3 years removed from the CushPup life, so I dont quite remember the specific science (I leave that to the WONDERFUL members who do) but I try to pass along my experiences, and can relate to the uncertainty of it all.

    Im just here to say that you are not alone, and to be a small part of the forum that helped ME get thru it.
    In Loving Memory - Gigi (2006-2018)
    - Had a great quality of life as a "Cushings Dog"
    - And passed non Cushings related...

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