Cairo, 8 year old staffordshire bull terrier just diagnosed

[Alison]

Quick update. We thought he was getting baseline cortisol but she decided to do a stim test to see how his adrenals were working, so he's had first bloods and synacthen injection and we've to go back for 1.30 for second blood draw.

She says she's not putting him back on vetoryl because 60mg is a tiny dose for a dog of his size and he's not coping with it. I asked her about a smaller dose twice a day but she said no.

Obviously his blood results are going to have an impact on where we go next but we can't leave him with untreated cushings so if the symptoms do come back, we have to see another vet, one that will work with us.

She did say about a referral to Glasgow vet school - that's an option.

[goldengirl88]

If it were me I would not listen to this vet. She has given you so much bad information. I would go to the vet school or to another vet. Hope it all works out so Cairo can resume feeling better. Blessing
Patti

[My sweet Ginger]

Take the referral and run! She not only doesn't sound like a team player but also stubborn and not up to date. Get all the copies.

[Alison]

sort of a result!!

His baseline cortisol was 96 nmol (3.5ug I think). She's away to run his next blood to see what he stimmed to and then phone us.

She said she's going to phone the cushing's expert at the vet school and ask his advice. She says that her concern is that putting him back on vetoryl may damage the adrenal cortex which is why she's hesitant but she's going to seek expert advice. I said me and my mum had been talking and wondered if 20mg in the morning and 20mg in the evening might be the way to give a lower dose and more stable result. She said that could well be the way to go but she's going to speak to the experts at the vet school.

[My sweet Ginger]

Now that sounds a lot better than what was said in your previous post. Getting an expert's guidance is always the way to go if you are now sure so I feel a lot better with this approach.

[Alison]

It's much better - she only suggested it when we went back for the second blood draw. My first message was after the first blood draw and we were in a bit of a panic at the thought of him not getting any treatment at all.

[My sweet Ginger]

It's good that she's changing her tone but we still have to keep on eye on her with every decision she makes to keep Cairo safe.

[Alison]

I know. But I'll be checking every suggestion on here first!!

[My sweet Ginger]

Yeah, unfortunately that's what we have to do with so many incompetent and inexperienced vets with cushings these days.
I'm so thankful that these expert angels are watching over us for our fur babies 24/7. Bless them for their constant dedication. With many thanks.

[Alison]

I'm still waiting on her phoning back with his stim results. I guess she's still trying to get a hold of the guy at the vet school.

We did confess that we hadn't given him the 20mg pred per day as he was fine on the 10 and she was fine with that. Said not to worry because he obviously had done fine on the 10mg and it made it easier to wean him off it.