Guest fredlf Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 I have a 10 year female grey who all of a sudden in early January started to drink excessively and then seemed to have lost all relief habits. She started to relieve herself without notice. Had to lift all throw carpets and make her potty pads. That has generally worked though she has learned that she must notice us to go out. Have run all the blood tests. One vet diagnosed her with Cushings and put her on anipryl. That didn't seem to work. Then went to DDAVP and no impact. Changed vets and this one said she doesn't have Cushings and was treating her for diabetes insipidus. Prescribed chlorothazide. That hasn't worked either. Took her off all meds 2 weeks ago and there has been no change in water intake/output. She can go for about 3 1/2 hours without flooding. Other changes are: She was a nice shiny black with a very nice coat. Week or so after she got sick her coat started to dull and grow long, almost like an undercoat. It is now about the length of a shepherd. Does no shedding and when I give her a bath, only a few hairs residue. Up until this week when it got into the 75s at night in Florida, she wanted to sleep outside in the grass. Know it was because she thought it was cooler. She also gained 10 lbs. Went from a consistent 64-66 lbs, to 62 right after she got sick and then jumped to 75 in less than a months time. She used to be able to jump up on our bed. Can't do that anymore and the limp she previously had is now worse. Had the shoulder xrayed and found nothing out of the ordinary. She has so many symptoms that match Cushings except the loss of hair. Am going to take her to an internal specialist this week to see if he has any clues. She also was diagnosed by the University of Florida vet school with SLO, form of lupus. Don't know if anything from that is associated with the problems she is having right now. Anyone had a grey with Cushings or another with a problem in which the symptoms are like I have described? Vet I am taking her to now does not want to try lysodren, so suggested the specialist. Really frustrating and I know her quality of life is not good. But, I am not willing to call it quits unless a vet tells me the cause and that there isn't a cure. Just had to put down my beloved 8 yr old boy with bone cancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dmona Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Hi! My cocker spaniel had all the symptoms of cushings, but it was determined to be thyroid problems. She had to take meds for that plus something for her kidneys. Everytime they did the preop blood work for her dental, her liver and kidney enzymes were elevated. The research I did on her symptoms sounded just like cushings, but they did all the testing and it wasn't that. Hope you find out soon what your pupper's problem is so it can be treated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trevdog Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Where in FL are you located? Did UF find anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytdecals Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Did they do an ACTH Stim test? That would tell them if your dog has Cushings Disease. there are several other tests but it seems like the ACTH Stim test gives the best results in diagnosing Cushings Disease. Not to scare you or anything, but we just lost our Shepard mix to Cushings Disease a week ago. She was around 14 yrs old and had other medical issues but it was the Cushings that ultimately took her life. Sounds like the symptoms are exactly what our hound had, excessive drinking and urination, very lethargic and could barely use her hind legs at times, her belly was huge like a pot belly, her hair textured changed but she did not suffer hair loss. she always looked for cool places to sleep. The Lysodren was causing a reaction to one of her seizure meds so we had to stop giving her the Lysodren. Lysodren is a chemo drug that is most commonly used to treat Cushings. Cushing's Disease is not always a death sentence...most dogs live 4-6 years after diagnosis. Good luck and prayers for your hound! Quote Suzie Collins Owner/Artist Skinny Hound Designs Greyhound decals, magnets and signs. Fur kids: Isabelle and Petey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 What bloodwork have you had done and what were the results? I'm not sure I can be of help here, but there are others who can and will ask for it I'm sure. I was going to suggest a thyroid panel and a TBD panel just to rule those things out. The thyroid panel should be a full panel, not just a T4. MSU does them for around $100, there are other labs that do as well. I hope you get this figured out. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greensleeves Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 I echo what GreytDecals said--the tests for Cushings are specialized and complicated, and take more than just a blood draw. I've had two hounds tested for Cushings, and each had to stay a full day at the vet while they ran a series of comparitive analyses, pre-tests, post-medicine tests, timed tests, etc. Whistler also had an ultrasound to examine his kidneys/adrenals (can you see the adrenal glands on ultrasound? Not sure.). If you do a Google search for "canine Cushings" you should get a whole bunch of results that talk about traditional and newer treatments, and the various success rates, etc. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Did your girl have an ultrasound preformed?? Also, I second the ACTH test--a must to rule out or confirm cushings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vahoundlover Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I echo GreytDecals as well. I have a XTerrier with cushings..ACTH stimulation test is a must for DX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NevadasMom Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I also recommend the ACTH stimulation test to confirm Cushings. My nearly 15 year GH has Cushings & is currently doing very well on Mitotane. Things will never be exactly normal again, but it is a treatable disease. The initial induction therapy with Mitotane can be a little scary. Be sure your Vet is in close contact with you & you'll do fine. Nevada had all the symptoms you described & did have hair loss. Her hair is now back, but seems heavier than before. She still looks for cool places, but here in AZ we all do that during the summer. Good luck to you. PM me if you'd like to.......Carol Quote Carol-Glendale, AZ Trolley (Figsiza Trollyn) Nevada 1992-2008...always in my heart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bugg Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 There are many breeds afflicted with Cushings. I had two back to back dogs. A cocker and a min poodle. Go to www.yahoo.com/group/CanineCushings-AutoimmuneCare. I think you'll find it helpful. You'll have to register to join, but it's worth it. Email me back personally if you have problems linking to this site. Best of luck. June jvt@gvtc.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MZH Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Our Cullen has Atypical Cushings. His main signs are lots of drinking and lots of peeing. The U of Tennessee tests for this. These dogs usually have normal cortisol levels, which makes people think they don't have Cushings, but they do have elevated sex or out-of-whack sex hormones. Cullen has elevated estradiol. If it's DI, there is a diabetes insipidus list for dogs. Might be worth joining. It's diabetes_insipidus_dogs@yahoogroups.com. We haven't been terribly successful in reducing Cullen's water intake-output. If we don't have much water out, he pees less. If it's out, he'll drink and drink. Cullen also was very hypothyroid, too. Goes together with Cushings. Marcia in CT (for now) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 I would culture the urine and do a thyroid panel to start. Where in FL are you? Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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