wendell

Yes, his normal vet is Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic and the Internist is at PA Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center (PVSEC). I'm planning to follow what the internist recommends. Wendell didn't get his first dose of trilostane this morning so we'll see how this goes. It just makes me nervous given what I've read. They've done two different ultrasounds, but they haven't ever suggested an MRI.

I posted a few months ago asking for advice. As you might remember Wendell, who was 7 in April, was diagnosed with Cushings a few months ago. He has been taking trilostane, but unfortunately he is still drinking constantly, peeing all of the time, has insatiable hunger, has thinning/hair loss, and continues to get cuts and bruises so easily. He's been wearing a cone pretty consistently since July because he keeps getting cuts on his legs that he won't leave alone. (And, unfortunately he hates the muzzle and thrashes and knocks things over trying to get it off!) Anyhow, initially he started out taking 30 mg of trilostane every twelve hours. For about a month he seemed under control and then the symptoms resumed. In July he was bumped up to take trilostane every 8 hours, but again for the last month his symptoms are back. The last two times his ACTH stim tests presented as though we were controlling the Cushings, but his thirst and urination are still out of whack. The internist (and his primary vet) say that his blood work looks normal and his urine isn't growing any bacteria. His urine is still pretty diluted though. So, the internist thinks we need to switch his drug. He is recommending taking him off of the trilostane for a week, he'll retest the ACTH, and then start him on Lysodren. The internist said he has now seen a few dogs that have presented this way--that it appears as though we are controlling the Cushings, but it isn't. Do folks have recommendations? What I read about Lysodren seems really scary. Is there something obvious that I am missing? This has been a really long and frustrating process. We've just passed the one year mark of when he first started having significant symptoms and tests--and I don't want to do the math on what I've spent so far on trying to figure this out. I need help!

Thanks for these tips! He is a pretty tall guy for me to straddle him, but I might give it a shot. He is so food motivated that I probably just need to find a treat that he loves and can associate with getting his medicine. He really isn't that bad and I normally do it with him lying down, I just get so frustrated when I waste a drop or two when the medicine is so stinking expensive. I'm sure with time we'll adjust though! Thanks again!

Does anyone have tips of ways to give eye drops to greys more easily? Wendell is currently doing the trial to test to see if he has diabetes insipidus and he needs two drops in an eye twice a day (alternating eyes). The drops are supposed to be put into the lid so they are absorbed immediately. He tolerates it well enough, but squirms and I end up losing very expensive medication when I miss his eye. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Hi Alicia, That's us! Although, much of what Wendell learned in class didn't stick (probably his mom's fault though!), but he is a very good sitter. I'll try to get an email out to you tonight. I'd love to meet up sometime. Thanks for reaching out.

Thanks for the advice and support so far! The vet did not do the more extensive test that confirms whether it is pituitary or adrenal, but from the ultrasound he believes it is pituitary since the glands are both enlarged similarly. At least that is my understanding.

Hello! I just posted my first post for medical advice, so I figured I should also introduce myself. I am Kristine and I live in Pittsburgh. I work in higher education and am working part time on my Ph.D in education. I moved to Pittsburgh from Central PA in July of 2011 to start work and school. Thankfully I moved near my parents and they have been very generous to help with my grey on days when I am in class. While in Central PA I adopted Wendell (Craigie Windick) from Monica’s Heart. I’ve had him for about two and half years now and he will be 7 in April. I got him as a bounce back and I cannot imagine that anyone could have given him up. He is a big, silly, brindle boy and I would describe him as bombproof. He loves people and kids and is generally easy going. He is the first dog that I have ever owned. This fall was tough for him health wise. He had his first corns (at least since being with me), tested positive for Lyme’s disease (he has since been cleared of this), and then just this weekend he finally got a diagnosis for Cushings, which put an end to two months of uncertainty and endless testing. If someone can give me a tip on how to upload a photo I'd be happy to do that.

Hello, I have been following along on Greytalk for a while now but have never posted. I have had Wendell (Craigie Windick) for about 2 and half years now and he will be 7 in April. He's a big, silly, brindle boy. He is my first and only dog so far. This October I started noticing him drinking significantly more water and then shortly after he started having accidents in the house--something he had never done before. After a lot of testing (and money) and then a referal to internal medicine he was just diagnossed with Cushings Syndrome. They did an ultrasound and then an ACTH test on him. Now that they have diagnosed him it does all seem to make sense. I've even noticed a thinning of his hair on his back end. I've searched and read as much as I can on here for Cushings, but the most recent stuff I have found is from 2010. Wendell goes into our regular vet on Wednesday (Feb. 13th) for them to fulfill the prescription. Right now the internist has prescribed Vetoryl (trilostane). I realize there are some newer drugs, but they may be cost prohibitive for my budget. So, I guess I am writing to see if anyone has any tips or recommendations for me as we progress with this diagnosis. In addition to medication are there other things I can be doing to to manage this disease?