Hi.
I have some questions about my recently diagnosed Roxy.

-Almost 10 years old
-Boxer, German Shepard mix
-135lbs (yeeesss...I do know this is very large. This however is not the biggest shes been sadly)

I always knew something was wrong with her around age 3 or 4. She always had a pot belly and prone to skin infections, ear infections and uti's since she was a puppy. She also developed dark skin on her bellt that would go away with antibiotics. I wasted A LOT of money at vet clinics that never listened. Took me 7 years to find one an hour away that did. Cheapest vet around that said they would fix a very bad ear hematoma for 300 dollars. I brought up my concerns with her weight (literally ever other vet I brought her to said I was over feeding her or someone in my home was feeding her scraps without my knowledge which was so irritating because I knew this wasn't true and if anything she looked/looks bloated in a sick way rather than obese. One vet told me the next time I saw her he wanted to see her ribs, meaning starve her. Thats ridiculous). This new vet I found suspected hypothyroidism. Test confirmed and meds helped for a short while. I saw a huge different and she lost a fair amount of weight. When symptoms came back and she ended up with a skin infection that turned staph within a week or so time (looked like her skin was burnt on her belly down to her privates and patches of hair were all over, looked like she had mange), we waited 2 weeks for strong antibiotics to work and scheduled her for a test 2 weeks ago. Positive for cushings. I must say, its bitter sweet but also some what a relief to know there is treatment we can try to at least see if her quality of life is possible because I KNEW something was wrong with my baby for years. She hardly moves around really anymore and breaks my heart because she's SUCHA good girl!

Anyways, the doctor started her out super low and I'm happy about that. 60mg Vetoryl pill once a morning for her size and she started Thursday. We are on day 6 now and I swear by day 4 all 3 of us in my household saw a difference and we all kept quiet thinking we were just wishful thinking until I noticed her get up from her bed not struggling at all! Normally she slides around until I jump up to help push her up but she's been doing it on her own. The loss of muscle strength in all 4 legs let alone her weight really has been a struggle so this made me so happy! The other thing we all noticed by day 4 was her neck looks much thinner, she doesn't feel so bloated, her fur feels much softer and not so brittle and her eyes look more lively. My boyfriend also noticed usually she whines a lot of excitment but it turns into anxious whinning whenever he bends down to pet and love on her but lately she just wags her tail with excitement instead of whinning. She doesn't smell musty
That was another big thing due to skin infections even when she was treated and bathing hardly helped. Her appetite is fine. She still has been drinking more than she should but I also have the wood stove on which probably contributes to all my dogs drinking more than usual. Her BM actually look better than they did before the medication.

I still have been keeping a close eye on her and told everyone where the emergency meds are with vet numbers if she ends up super sick due to any reaction but so far so good. Her next test is on the 13th and I can tell you I already know her weight has gone down.


My question:
- Do I always need to keep an eye out for possible side effects from vetoryl even after a week? A month? 6? I know if/when dosage is upped again of course but if she's tolerating it ok by day 6 so far, should I still be concerned?
- Also, the meds can work this fast right? No way are we all imagining this because shes just ran super fast like a lightening bolt chasing birds in my yard and I haven't seen her do that in at least a year or more!


Thank you!