My girl pug (confirmed Cushings & confirmed calcinosis cutis) / Tobey has passed

[Renee]

Hi Lori, Tobey has only been on prednisone the last six days, so it's definitely not the cause of her symptoms. She's never been on it before either.

We definitely will be exploring her kidneys more when we do an ultrasound.

[Renee]

Just updating here and asking for advice.

My girl finishes her pred this week, and we are scheduled for a vet appt on Friday to discuss the next steps.

We will most likely start with the ACTH test, but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on exploring the possible kidney disease, other than just an ultrasound? Bloodwork comes back normal, but as someone said, the disease has to be pretty far progressed before the bloodwork will reflect any abnormality.

Is it possible kidney disease could account for her issues? I don't understand how it could cause the calcinosis cutis?

I am also concerned that her liver function is normal, even though elevated liver function appears to be a cushings indicator.

Thank you everyone!

[molly muffin]

Well cc, is normally the result of high cortisol from what I understand as to cause and effect.

You could have a thorough urinalysis, to check protein, etc levels. Other than an ultrasound, if the blood work is not showing any problems yet, I don't know what else you would do. Maybe some of the others have some thoughts as we do have some pups on here that are being watched closely for kidney issues. Addy's Zoe, Tina's Jasper and Trish's Flynn, just off the top of my head.

I would do the ACTH and ultrasound if it was within my means to do so I think.

Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Dawn Anderson]

Hello Renee,
Welcome to our family, and god bless you for all your hard work as a rescuer. I'm sorry that your baby is ill I can totally relate to the CC, my girl Buttercup has a sever case of it. She was diag with the CC on 11/02/13 her vet went straight to the LDDS test first due to her having experience with Cushing's and it came back positive.
What I have been using on Buttercups CC is hibistat wipes to keep the areas that are weepy with blood or clear fluids clean and since the real bad spots she can not reach to lick at I use neosporin on them as well , which her vet did approve of. I can only find the Hibistat at walgreens. They have been working well to keep the open areas from getting infected.
If your little one scratches her self up and makes a bloody mess of her self(hopefully she won't) like Buttercup did, of course clean as best as possible with clean cool water then apply the neosporin and put a cold wet compress on the area, do not use anything warm, then put a ice pack on it, wrap a bag of frozen peas or corn and put it on top of the wet compress then place a towel over her, the cold pack will cool the skin and reduce the pain and inflammation,
for the other areas chamomile and green tea compresses are good for the skin.
Butters likes the warmth of the compresses and hopefully your girl will to.

You are on the right track, keep up the good work and know that you are a part of a very special family, we are here to help in any way we can, I do not know what I would have done with out all these wonderful people the last 30 days.

Dawn & Buttercup

[Renee]

Dawn, thank you so much for the great tips on the CC!! So far, the lesions are isolated to her back, so she cannot reach them to scratch, but it seems like they do itch, because I catch her trying to run along the couch sometimes. I will try the cool compresses to help sooth them.

[goldengirl88]

Thank God that is one problem Tipper does not have. I thought it would be too from her allergic past. It must be awful for these babies to have CC. Do you wear a T shirt on her? Tipper does have the small hard lumps like calcium deposits. She has chewed the one at times, but has mostly left it alone as it is on her foot. Hope you find something that works as I know many on here have that problem, and I see how many things they try to get rid of it. Blessings
Patti

[Renee]

Thank God that is one problem Tipper does not have. I thought it would be too from her allergic past. It must be awful for these babies to have CC. Do you wear a T shirt on her? Tipper does have the small hard lumps like calcium deposits. She has chewed the one at times, but has mostly left it alone as it is on her foot. Hope you find something that works as I know many on here have that problem, and I see how many things they try to get rid of it. Blessings
Patti

Thanks Patti. Fortunately, she cannot get to the lesions, as they are on her back. No tshirts yet. I have been using DMSO on them and it seems like some parts are starting to peel up? It's weird. My kids think she's turning into a zombie, lol.

[thecoz]

Renee: we've been using the DMSO on Cosmo's CC as well. It does seem to go through many gross stages along the way.
KJ & Cosmo

[Renee]

Renee: we've been using the DMSO on Cosmo's CC as well. It does seem to go through many gross stages along the way.
KJ & Cosmo

Could this stuff smell any worse?? Ughhhh. We've been putting the DMSO on daily.

A huge part of one of her CC lesions peeled off today. The skin underneath looks like burn patient skin. I am hoping maybe with the big hard scab off that it feels better though.

[thecoz]

yes, that stuff is very strong and we aren't supposed to let our other dogs near Cosmo for an hour after applying...because you can't let them touch it. When Cosmo's lesion peeled, the skin underneath looked very pink. I wouldn't say it looked burnt though. Our vet suggested dividing Cosmo's body into thirds, so each day only one-third of his cc area is getting an application of the DMSO. Therefore, each area/spot is getting the med only once every three days. It's slow going, but it's working.