Cushings Disease

[Nicola]

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Stanley, my mini schnauzer, has suspected Cushings disease. The diagnosis hasn't yet been confirmed but he is about to undergo tests. I understand it isn't the easiest illness to diagnose, so I hope the forthcoming tests aren't going to be too long haul.

He's currently drinking loads of water and peeing a lot. Recent blood tests revealed high alkaline phosphate levels and urine tests showed higher than normal protein levels (but no sugar, so no diabetes and no infections either, despite having recently recovered from a kidney infection).

He's due a scan tomorrow at the vets just to check if anything else might be causing his problems, but I can't help feeling it's Cushings. Has anyone else's dog suffered this disease and how did you get on with the tests, medication and stabilisation?

I am worried about him, and I'm also so tired as he's needs to be let out at least 2-3 times a night for a wee. He is 9.5 years old...so although not old...not the youngest of dogs either. This is on top of having an elderly whippet who has recently had to be prescribed heart medication for a bad heart murmer and diuretics to increase his water excretion. It never rains, but when it pours.....

 

[spooksnscout]

I've only come across Cushings in horses before, never dogs, so I can't offer any constructive advice I'm afraid.

Just wanted to send hugs to Stan and you, and of course to the lovely Fred :huggles:

Hope the scan goes ok tomorrow, and that you get some answers :luck: :luck: :luck:

 

[meddling]

Oh Nicola, what a pain, I hope the vet can give you some answwers and Stan a cure

I had a boxer bitch with it, she lost hair along her flanks but died from a brain tumour (unrelated) not long after diagnosis

 

[Trish]

So sorry to hear this nicola, dont know anything about cushings but the only thing i can relate to is our molly drank loads and peed loads too and that was her liver that caused it , stans blood tests must have come back ok for his liver function so hope his problem can be dealt with quickly .

 

[~Sarah~]

So sorry to hear you are having problems with little Stan, as well as coping with elderly Fred too. I can't offer any advice I'm afraid Nicola, but I do hope you can get a diagnosis soon so that Stan begins to improve. :luck: :luck: Sending hugs to you, Stan and Fred. :huggles: :huggles:

 

[FeeFee]

We've had several Oldies foster dogs over the years who have developed Cushings.

It can take a bit of trial and error at first to get them on the correct dose of Vetoryl, but the good thing is that once they are on the right dose their symptoms have been very effectively controlled and they have come on in leaps and bounds, so the outlook for your boy if it is Cushings is good.

The only note of caution is that we had one little dog who went through all the tests, was diagnosed as having Cushings and started medication but who became worse rather than better. He was taken off the medication and re-tested and the next time round the tests were negative, so the tests don't seem to be 100% accurate and can be misinterpreted.

 

[eve]

Poor Stan (and poor you)

Big hugs for the boys :huggles: :huggles: & :flowers: for you

 

[haycroft]

ive been doing abit of research on cushings..mainly in horses as our li ttle simba, we think has cushings or IR...so cant be that help to you as havent any any experiance with dogs with cushings

we were going to go down the drug route but are so many side effects like liver damage so we trying herbs

maybe slightly diff in equine but the symtpoms are roughly the same,weeing and drinkings which is when the pituitary gland is not producing the right hormones

Despite demonstrating obvious abnormalities of clinical appearance, both the dog and the pony (Plates 1 & 2) are suffering from the same condition; Cushing's Syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism). Hyperadrenocorticism produces the opposite changes in hair coat in the two species. In equines this condition is usually secondary to an adenoma, or hyperplasia, of the pars intermedia of the pituitary gland whereas in the dog the syndrome may be primarily of adrenal origin

you could try giving chaste tree berry which is for the mental state,

also try'ainsworth' for homepathic

its such a complex condition

good luck

ps,some can become diabetic..read that' chinese cinnimon' can help

also brewers yeast

 

[Nicola]

Thanks for your words of support. Yes, the vet warned me that the results for Cushings can be false and re-tests may have to be done. I'm banking on having Stanley around for a good few years yet, so am really hoping it can be stabilized with medication. I'll let you know how it goes with his tests. I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go the homeopathic route ....but thanks for your information.

 

[Janimal]

So sorry to hear about Stanley, Nicola...I do hope you get some answers soon. Hugs for all of you :flowers: :luck:

 

[JAX]

Sorry to hear about Stanley , at the vets we had several dogs with Cushings and as already said , once they get the meds right they can go on for a good few years . regular blood tests must be done however to make sure the dose is correct . Of cousre weight gain and hair lose are 2 of the drawbacks

 

[Nicola]

A quick update - it turned out it wasn't cushings afterall. I can't bring myself to go into too much detail at present, but the news wasn't good. Thanks for all your contributions to the thread above.

 

[meddling]

oh no Nicola, I'm keeping everything crossed for your little man xxx

 

[Janimal]

:luck: Same here Nicola... :luck: why do our precious dogs have to get old....

 

[~Sarah~]

Thinking of you Nicola. Hugs to Stan and Fred. :huggles: :huggles:

 

[pippywhippet]

So sorry you had bad news :luck: for Stanley

 

[JAX]

Sorry to hear that

jackie