Aloha,
I'm Ada and my dogger is Ely.
Ely is almost 11yrs, @ 40 lb "poi dog" Corgi/Shepard looking mix.
I have suspected Cushings for about a year or so and finally got the $ together and found a vet who was willing to work with me to do the testing and labs. We are on the Big Island of Hawaii and 2 hrs from the Vet I'm working with. Sigh.
I found this site a couple months ago and have been reading and learning a lot, thank you. I still have so many questions and concerns. (Also, I’ve been trying to figure this site out. I already wrote this whole post and lost it as the site signed me out, humbug!)
I figure I will start with Ely’s labs. I have them in an album called “Ely’s Labs” I just have to figure out how to add them to this post, or perhaps they are already available to view?
Ely has all the Cushing symptoms, some are more pronounced than others. His first symptoms were the muscle weakness and arthritis, slowing him down, then bot-belly, then skin issues, then increased thirst and urination, then the hunger, then the licking of this paws. More hair loss and weakened immune system.
Increased Anxiety
Mood changes - stubborn and insubordinate little dude now.
Lethargy & Depression
Increased thirst and urination - strong
Increased hunger – he is revonous!
Panting – off and on
Pot-bellied appearance to abdomen
Recurrent infections of skin, ears, eyes,
Hair loss and very slow regrowth
Licking his paws – strong impulse
Muscle weakness back lags and now front too.
Thin skin, dark pigmentation spots, black dirty skin under his chin, black bumps or nodules appearing here and there, white scaly patches, hard calcium deposits on his skin on the bald patches. The hair loss is mostly under his arm pits and flank.
He has had an abdominal ultra sound, no sign of a tumor but his liver is enlarged and unhappy. Wondering if that is from Cushings or something else. He has a heart murmur but cardiologist said that won't be the end of him, I think implying the liver and possible Cushings might take him first.
I will start with this post and then add another post with my questions and update on what is happening with Ely and where we are at. As next steps is where I’m looking for some guidance.
Thank you in advance for all your time and energy. From what I’ve read so far you all are so knowledgeable, supportive and kind. Please be patient as I learn how to post on this forum.
Warmly,
Ada & Ely