I think you are right Marianne. I didn't plan to do another LDDS until I had her blood work rechecked to see what that is doing. I don't expect the ALP's to go down as they have been high for about 4 or more years. I think they went up or started to go up about the time that she started to get crystals forming and we put her on the SO formula dog food.

This last time the only thing that became different was the ALT's went up. It seemed to me that this went up after in March she had a horrible case of diarrhea (she'd never had anything like that before) and her one week of antibiotics became 2 weeks and she was on floraflora for about a month. I am thinking it might have been pancreatis, but no one mentioned this to me at the time and I was quite unaware of it until joining this forum. I did the bland food for about a week before gradually reintroducing her to her food again.

I'll try to listen to the modules this weekend if I get a chance. That does sound like what my IMS was talking about. She said it would be written up in a journal though and I've never seen it, or maybe it is Just for vets, I don't know.

Thanks for your input. I got a bit worried that dogs like Chey also had the high ACTH and normal LDDS and it turns out to be an adrenal tumor, but the ultrasound didn't sound show that.

Molly hasn't so far had any skin problems, coat problems, excessive hunger or thirst (I still have to give her the SO food or she doesn't drink enough) She periodically has had hind leg weakness but we have thought this is due to arthritis that is the result of a groove not cut deep enough for her joint and subsequent small injuries when she was younger. (verified via xrays) (this has Never stopped her jumping for a treat though) She last had a bout of the leg problem 2 years ago, which interestingly enough is also the first time they did an LDDS test. I said she yelped, so I thought it was an injury, but my vet wanted the LDDS test. (I really think she's a cushings pusher). Anyway, most of the time she is fine and a few times she is a bit ginger with it, but there hasn't been any wasting of the hind leg area that I can tell and no trembling.

I guess my worry, is that if this is not Pituitary Cushings, then what is causing the cortisol to be so very high. That is sort of scary. Liver disease or something else worries me and if anything else is going on inside her that would cause the cortisol to rise if it's been rising for a long time, then it could be affecting her adrenal glands (making them just slightly on the enlarged size as per the ultrasound).

Well, this is long enough! I have to remember, not writing a book here.

LOL we think she is pretty darn cute too, but I know we are prejudiced parents. hahaha

Thanks again,
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin



Sharlene and Molly Muffin