AngelWhispers

Hang in there. I know the feeling of actually wanting something like Cushing's so you at least know the problem & have a way to treat it. It hurts to feel you cannot help your pup. Glad you are in contact with an endocrinologist & that you've got the ultrasound scheduled. Keep the faith. Endocrinology is a mysterious science. It could still be Cushing's or it could be something else. Even if they are thinking adrenal tumor, remember there would be good chance it was benign. Also remember that the symptoms of Cushing's & Addision's can be oddly similar sometimes. You're using a bellyband on him, right? They are very helpful. Human incontinence diapers, the ones with straps/belts, worked wonderfully well for dogs with excessive drinking. Just wrap it around their middle like a cummerbund & tape the ends together. Sending prayers. I only use a belly band while he's napping because he's like a leaky faucet and he drips. When I'm not here to let him out every 2 hours I don't use the band because his water intake is so high he pees a lake, and the band would be useless and uncomfortable for him. I have the large hospital pads down for him and most of the time he uses them...bless his heart. I'll update tomorrow evening. Keep Warlock in your thoughts and prayers. He's my rock and it hurts that he's sick.

Yes, he's raw fed and on the same diet as Flippy.

The results are in and Warlock's dexamethasone suppression test came back normal. My vet called an endocrinologist because he couldn't believe the tests were normal and the expert says it's possible to get a false negative, but he thinks Warlock should have ultrasounds done. I asked my vet if that means we're looking for tumors and/or cancer and he said yes. I lost it then! He said because Warlock is getting progressively worse daily that he needs the ultrasound done soon, so in a panic I call Dr. Carol in Nashville(she's been taking care of Flippy). She said the Dr. who does the ultrasounds would be there Mon. but she didn't know if she had any openings, but she'd see what she could do. She called a little while ago and Warlock is scheduled for Mon. morning...I think I love Dr. Carol. She normally is in surgery all day on Mondays, but she said she doesn't have any sterile surgeries scheduled so she'll have free time to go over Warlock's bloodwork and ultrasound results with me. Dr. Martin said Warlock's blood work was excellent for a 10 1/2 year old and I have copies and I have to agree. Dr. M did give me some Proin to see if it would give Warlock any relief from the incontinence and leaking, and Dr. Carol agreed with that. Hopefully Warlock can start getting thru the night without wetting the bed...I feel so bad for him because he's having accidents and he can't help it. He's never ever had accidents in the house and he looks at me with the "I'm sorry mom look" and my heart breaks. I tell him no worries, it's vinyl floor and I have extra covers for his bed. I'll gladly do the extra laundry. Please keep Warlock in your prayers. I'll update Mon. evening.

Fields also has LP and because the summers are humid here, I have a dehumidifier in the room that Fields likes to hang out in. It seems to help and I keep the house cool. He's had it for about 3 years and it's never seemed to have gotten any worse. Very interesting about the zantac and prilosec, I'd never heard of using it for LP, just the esophygeal reflux.

Today is the day I'll hopefully get some answers, but I have to tell you, all the drugs used to control Cushings scare me to death. I'm still praying this isn't Cushings and it's something else.

Per my vet the 7.5mg is waaay to much. How much does Aston weigh? I have 3 dogs on meloxicam and the 50lb dog gets 1/3 of a tablet and the vet said any dog over 68lbs can get 1/2 tablet....this is once a day and it must be given with food to avoid tummy issues. Purchase a pill splitter at the pharmacy because the pills are small and the splitter will help you get an accurate cut. I haven't had any problems with meloxicam and it sure helps keep the arthritic dogs moving and comfortable. I'm surprised the vet didn't give you dosage instructions.

Everyone is home and waiting for dinner time. Warlock's blood test results should be back on Fri. Sissy is doing much better and I received a new hint from Dr. Jean Dodd....give steamed broccoli and green beans daily mixed in meals to help build up Vit K levels pre and post surgery. The Vit K in the veggies helps with clotting. Whiskey doesn't look or act like he's had a dental or neuter and hopefully he'll stay that way tonight. Thanks everyone for the good thoughts. I'll update on Fri.

Thanks everyone! Warlock is at the vet's now and had the low dose dexa injection and draws for a full panel and a thyroid panel. I think the vet is also going to do a UA to make sure there's no UTI because that can be common with cushing dogs. So now I wait. We can use a few other good thoughts and prayers. Sissy my 22 month old foster was spayed yesterday and ended up in ER because she started bleeding and she wasn't clotting. She was given plasma and Vit K and was stable when I picked her up this morning to transport her back to my vet, but a half hour later while we were home waiting for the vet to open she started breaking out in hives. She's at vet's along with another foster who is being neutered and having a dental. Sissy is stable again and the vet will be giving her more Vit K and monitoring her today. He's also calling Jean Dodds in CA to talk to her and have Sissy entered in the data base. I have another foster and Strider on stand-by in case she needs a transfusion, we all hoping that won't be neccessary. When I left the vet's office the hives were subsiding and she was pigging out on canned AD...she hadn't eaten a thing since Mon. night. It's been a looong 24 hours and we still not done! Everyone will hopefully come home feeling much better tonight at 5pm.

Thanks Natasha! Warlock looks like a sausage and he has lost a lot of muscle, which I suspect is causing the leg weakness. The vet did say that his thyroid levels are most likely off because that's another symptom. When I first noticed about 2 months ago that he seemed off and not himself, I suspected he might be hypothyroid but then all the other symptoms started coming on. The excessive drinking just started this past week and that's when I started suspecting cushings.

I just dropped off one of my fosters to be spayed and was able to talk to the local vet about Warlock and he said the symptoms sound exactly like cushings, and he said it goes undiagnosed because some people and vets think it's old age related symptoms. He's very familiar with it and all the testing that needs to be done, and is familiar with the drugs that are used. So tommorrow I'm dropping off Warlock so the testing can begin. He did say that he'll start with the low dose cortisol test and of course a full blood workup and thyroid test and see how all those are, and do the dexa???? test later if needed. He said that test is expensive because of the drug used and he doesn't keep it in stock but can order it if further testing is needed. He rattled off 3 or 4 drugs that he uses to treat Cushings and he'll discuss the drug options after the tests are complete. I walked out of the office and gave a big sigh of relief because I didn't think my old country vet would be that familiar with the disease. I've been running 2 hours one way to the vet for Flippy almost every week for the past 6 months and I didn't want to have to start that again. My van and I really need a break. If you think of anything else I need to know post here, pm or email me. Thank you everyone, you're the greytest!! Oh yeah, big appetite increase! He thinks I'm trying to starve his pudgy self! Claudia, how is the correct dose of lysodren determined if it can't be done by weight?

Thanks Jey. I was up half the night trying to do research on it and I'm hoping the vet can run the tests. I'm going to call her today and find out what she can and can't do.

I will have his thyroid levels tested, but excessive drinking isn't usually a symptom. I doubt it's diabetes, he's a raw fed dog and hairloss isn't a symptom, but I will ask the vet about it. After doing lots of reading tonight, Warlock has every single symptom of Cushings and he's in the right age group. Cushings is actually common for older dogs, but goes undiagnosed very often.

I suspect 10 year old Warlock has Cushings but I'm not familiar with the disease at all. What tests should be run and what do I ask the vet. My vet isn't equipped to do to much so should I look for someplace else to take him...OSU maybe? Is Cushings life threatening and how worried should I be right now? His symptoms are: excessive drinking and what goes with drinking to much, his urine is diluted and he's having accidents. Should I limit his water intake or is that a no-no? Right now he has access to water whenever he wants it. lethargic panting hindend weakness extreme hairloss, poor guy is going bald and he use to be hairy for a gh looks pudgy but spine and hip bones are showing He's still my love bug and is eating good, but he looks horrible. I was so hoping to catch a break from vets for awhile now that Flippy is done with chemo, but I guess that's not going to happen. I know there are several members who have dealt with cushings and I'm hoping for suggestions, feedback. Thanks everyone.

Lucy, update when you can. Riley's cowdoggie fans are thinking of you and hope all is well.

Wonderful news to hear this morning. Go Darcy, Go!!!

It looks similar to what Dodger has and is in the exact same spot. His is calcification from an injury...most likely a torn ACL and it does make his gait off but doesn't seem to cause pain, just some stiffness. Do you know why your girl retired? Hopefully it's just an old injury and nothing else. Don't panic yet, but definitely have the vet take a look.

Patti, I saw his name this morning and my heart broke for you and Fred. I don't know why things happen the way they do and I wonder how much loss one person can take before they say, "enough is enough." Flashie must have been desperately needed in the heavens to be with Dee. I wish I could give you a hug in person. Flashie run with the Angels, and send your mom a rainbow.

You GO, SUPER LADY!!! I do believe in miracles.

Yeah Darcy!!! Maybe she shed 3kg of hair. She is such a miracle and inspiration.

Thinking of you and Cosmo this evening.

If the girls were suppose to be in separate runs and they were put together...I'd be PO'ed that instructions weren't followed and the kennel would be paying the bills. Hope Bea feels better soon.

Audrey, thinking of you and Asia today. Treasure every moment.

I'll answer for Tracey...Cosmo has a vet appt at 2:30pm today for a chest x-ray. Tracey, thinking of you and Cosmo today. Hopefully, this is nothing more that a bruise to the chest from her fall. Hugs

Tracey, I've had a busy, busy week and I just saw this. Sending lots of hugs and prayers for you and Cosmo.

Audrey, thinking of you and Asia today.