11 year old Doxie with tumor on Adrenal - Bondo has crossed the rainbow bridge

[molly muffin]

Thinking of you both, hope the trip and visit went well.

Hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Trese]

Good Evening everyone.....and a good evening it is.
Thank you ALL for your support and words of hope. OK....here is the scope

Yesterday, we had Bondo's ultra-sound done at VCA hospital. This hospital is really good with top Vets there. Our appointment was for 9:45 and we were in a room by 10:00 talking with Dr. Moore. Thanks to tons of research on the net and ALL OF YOU....I was really ready with all of my questions. Dr. Moore said this K9 Cushings is a great forum and he recommends it highly to his patients. Anyway......the ultra-sound showed Bondo's Cushings is in his pituitary gland NOT his adrenal which, actually, make me feel better because now the decision for surgery is not an option. Here is what the preliminary report said

"Both kidneys are normal size and shape with norml renal pelvices. The spleen is normal..both adrenal glands are enlarged. There is no evidence for invasion into surrounding tissues. The liver is enlarged and heterogeneous. The gallbladder is enlarged and has a small amount of sediment. The GI is normal. The bladder is normal. The prostate is normal. There are no enlarged LNS or masses observed"

This report makes me feel a little better. Dr. Moore said he did not see any masses or anything that would be cancer.

Tomorrow morning, I have a 9:00 AM appointmnet with my vet and we will be starting on the Trilo. I would like to start Bondo on the lowest dosage I can. He weighs 21.5 lbs and, I believe, it is 1mg. for each pound.

To leave you all with a little laughter....on the way down to the hospital, we stopped at a park so Bondo could go potty as all of you know....they drink alot and pee alot (smile). He was a good boy and off to the hospital we went.

After our appointment, the vet told us his bladder was very full so we walked him outside...and walked him...and walked him but it was a no go. SO, we had to drive to the park we had stopped at before the appointment and then he went potty. Funny little dog.

Sweet Dreams to you all.

[lulusmom]

I see that we are neighbors. I live in Ontario, previously Rancho Cucamonga, and have made that drive to VCA in Fountain Valley many, many times in the last seven years. Dr. Moore is my Lulu's specialist and was my Jojo's until he passed away in June. I adore Dr. Moore and think he's one of the best specialists in So Cal so I'm really happy that Bondo was seen by him. He knows about us because I told him we are an experienced support group and I believe I even asked him to send pet owners our way if he thought we might be able to help. Apparently he's taken a look around and discovered I wasn't fibbing. Dr. Moore has seen more than a few of our k9c dogs over the years.

It's been a long day and it's tough to put two words together right now but I'll be back tomorrow to share some information with you. I'm sure others will be on before me in the morning so hopefully they'll give you some good information on Trilostane. They may even save me some time and tell you about a great way to save money on acth stimulation tests.

Glynda

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi Trese,

I am so happy to hear that your vet visit went so well.

There are two Vetoryl/Trilostane protocols to go by, one is from UC Davis which recommends a starting dose of 1mg per kg, which in Bondo's case would be around 10 mgs. Dechra's lowest starting dose is 1mg per lb, so if this is the protocol Bondo would be doing then his starting dose would be around 20 mgs.

Here is a handy link with info about Trilostane/Vetoryl: Trilostane/Vetoryl Information and Resources.

Also here is a link which covers how to save money on ACTH stim testing: How to Extend Your Supply of Cortrosyn and Lower the Cost of ACTH Stimulation Testing

Wishing you and Bondo the best of luck and please keep us updated!

Love and hugs,
Lori

[molly muffin]

I am so glad to hear that things went well and you met with a highly recommended vet. I take Glynda's recommendation pretty highly. LOL So over all I think you are in good hands now.

How funny Bondo is. I guess he just really liked that park!

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Boriss McCall]

I am so happy for you & Bondo... Now you can start treatment & be on your way to better days!

[Skye]

HORRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
isnt it cute how they need to have just the perfect place to potty!!!! lol aweee
he was having bladder shyness. lol

[Trese]

Hi to all.
Yesterday, I went to his regular vet and he has ordered the Trilo (20mg). I have another appointment next week for blood work and then we will begin. You know, I just have a strange feeling my vet (without really saying the words) feels Bondo (since he is 11 years old) should not take anything. He told me he has alot of patients that have cushings and they are just not taking any action........However I told him that when we start the Trilo and IF Bondo has alot of bad reactions, we can, always, pull him off and he agreed. I will post again next week and THANK YOU for being there for me....

[molly muffin]

It's kind of strange with the General vets. I think that quite a few of them have a sort of mind set that they have determined, that says, this is the way I want to treat this disease. End of story. If you step outside of that box, you get Very strange reactions from them.
Have a good weekend!
hugs,
Sharlene

[Harley PoMMom]

The medicines for treating a dog with Cushing's are very strong. These strong medicines are used to help abate/control the symptoms of Cushing's, they are not a cure for this dratted disease.

Some vets and even pet parents feel that if the Cushing symptoms are not that bothersome to their furbaby than no treatment is necessary, especially if severe pain from arthritis or really awful allergies are masked by the elevated cortisol.