Cushings Disease

[stellnme]

Have just had my old dog diagnosed with Cushings after the Dexamethasone Suppression test. The vet wants to do an ultrasound soon to determine the cause. We have read quite a lot about the treatments and that they improve the quality of life but not the longevity, and the associated problems with getting the right drug, dose, possible high expense and follow up blood tests. My little dog is old, has cataracts, is more than a little deaf and has an unknown history - do we put her through it all for a little more time with her or just let her go peacefully? I know some of you have Cushings dogs and would be grateful for any advice, please.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I've had 3 dogs with Cushings (2 diagnosed and 1 suspected). My first had a pituitary tumour and was around 12 years of age. I was going to a very expensive vet that overserviced at that point and the diagnosis cost me around $4000. The tablets were terrible - Lysodren and had to be given wearing gloves. They were dangerous to humans as they had DDT in them. She was expected to live up to 3 yrs with medication, up to 1 year without. She actually managed 4 good years but dentals were a big issue. She had to come off the pills for a couple of months, go on a drip and have the surgery and then back on the pills. She also had turns as the tumour grew but nothign terrible or long lasting. However it was the Cushings that killed her as for the last couple of days of her life she was hallucinating, she was storm phobic and she kept acting as if a storm was coming, getting very distressed and stressed. My vet said the tumour was now pressing on part of her brain and i let her go.

My next dog was perfectly fine, just older, but one day both his cruciates went and didn't respond to treatment. My vet (different one) said that it was most likely caused by undiagnosed Cushings. He was my heart dog, very precious. I would have done anything to keep him with me but it wasn't to be.

My current dog with diagnosed Cushings also has a pituitary tumour. He's on a new medication which is much easier to give. The diagnosis was still very expensive at around $2000 of tests. He was diagnosed about 2 years ago. He's had his cruciates go but responded well to treatment, he's not allowed to run around at all which is sad as he used to love it. He's about 13 yrs old and has been very well on it. He can have a dental without cutting out the meds although he did just have to go on a drip. Pills are $95 per month.

If I had a very old dog get Cushings then I would not put them through all the diagnostic tests. It's a lot to put them through and at an old age something else could take them.

[SchnauzerMax]

I would do the ultrasound to find out.

Ultrasound will be able to give you information about what's happening inside that will help you make the decision.

My old boy had a tumour on his adrenal gland. The symptoms started when he was 12 and got steadily worse. The ultrasound showed where it was and that there was a good chance it was only the one adrenal gland. He had an operation (a big scary dangerous operation) just before his 13th birthday and lived to be 16.

[Sheridan]

My Grumpy is 16 and I am treating him, though he had an ultrasound before the Cushing's test (we originally thought it was a liver problem). He was diagnosed with Cushing's earlier this year. Given how otherwise lively he is, there is no way I couldn't treat him. He is currently standing right in front of me saying, 'Where's my breakfast?!' I do think the Cushing's "sag" is actually because of a disk problem but he's seeing a physio every few weeks and she is quite happy with his progress. The Cushing's symptoms are under control and aside from the "sag" and the Cushing's twitch (side effect of the trilostane) you'd not think there was anything wrong with him - aside from his failing eyesight and his dementia, that is. Have the ultrasound because otherwise, you'll always wonder.

That said, Grumpy's vet did not want to him him through anything more than the ultrasound. In terms of medication, the treatment is the same (Trilostane) and at his age it didn't matter to me which type of Cushings he has. An ultrasound isn't too bad as far as procedures go. Grumpy did have to be sedated, though, and it knocked him about a bit.

Edited October 12, 2012 by Sheridan

[Everythings Shiny]

I think have the ultrasound and go from there. Get the whole picture of what you're dealing with then go from there.

[oakway]

I would personally let the dog go peacefully.

With the conditions that you have described why put the dog through all of that.

I always say if you love them, love then enought to let them go.

[Sheridan]

Put the dog through all what? An ultrasound? Tablets?

[oakway]

Put the dog through all what? An ultrasound? Tablets?

No the rest of its life having to live with what its already got plus cushings.

Havent you ever heard the saying ......you wouldn't let it happen to a dog.

I love mine to much to let them suffer.

[Everythings Shiny]

Put the dog through all what? An ultrasound? Tablets?

No the rest of its life having to live with what its already got plus cushings.

Havent you ever heard the saying ......you wouldn't let it happen to a dog.

I love mine to much to let them suffer.

If the dog is happy and content then that is the most important thing. If the dog is miserable etc, then yes, maybe that is the right call, but the only person who can make that call is Stellnme and the vet treating.

ETA - I love my dogs, but just because they have issues I won't PTS. Just because they have illness doesn't necessarily mean they are suffering.

I know that so many people have said to me to put two of my seniors down due to their issues. But they are happy and content, which is all that matters.

Edited October 13, 2012 by Everythings Shiny

[oakway]

Put the dog through all what? An ultrasound? Tablets?

No the rest of its life having to live with what its already got plus cushings.

Havent you ever heard the saying ......you wouldn't let it happen to a dog.

I love mine to much to let them suffer.

If the dog is happy and content then that is the most important thing. If the dog is miserable etc, then yes, maybe that is the right call, but the only person who can make that call is Stellnme and the vet treating.

ETA - I love my dogs, but just because they have issues I won't PTS. Just because they have illness doesn't necessarily mean they are suffering.

I know that so many people have said to me to put two of my seniors down due to their issues. But they are happy and content, which is all that matters.

Exactly, it's up to each of us to decide when the time is right.

The OP asked for opinions and I did just that.

[Everythings Shiny]

Put the dog through all what? An ultrasound? Tablets?

No the rest of its life having to live with what its already got plus cushings.

Havent you ever heard the saying ......you wouldn't let it happen to a dog.

I love mine to much to let them suffer.

If the dog is happy and content then that is the most important thing. If the dog is miserable etc, then yes, maybe that is the right call, but the only person who can make that call is Stellnme and the vet treating.

ETA - I love my dogs, but just because they have issues I won't PTS. Just because they have illness doesn't necessarily mean they are suffering.

I know that so many people have said to me to put two of my seniors down due to their issues. But they are happy and content, which is all that matters.

Exactly, it's up to each of us to decide when the time is right.

The OP asked for opinions and I did just that.

Yeah I understand the OP asked for opinions, but the way your first post came across to me was almost as if you were saying deciding not to PTS or treat is cruel or that we don't love them enough. Maybe I miss read what you wrote or miss interpreted it, but that's how it came across to me.

Edited October 13, 2012 by Everythings Shiny

[Sheridan]

1350086581[/url]' post='5984400']

1350083151[/url]' post='5984339']

Put the dog through all what? An ultrasound? Tablets?

No the rest of its life having to live with what its already got plus cushings.

Havent you ever heard the saying ......you wouldn't let it happen to a dog.

I love mine to much to let them suffer.

The dog has cataracts and is a little deaf with an unknown history. That's it.

Precisely, Everythings Shiny.

What an ugly little world you must live in, oakway.

Edited October 13, 2012 by Sheridan

[stellnme]

Thanks to all for your replies. I guess we all have our own experiences with our dogs that colour our opinions and I respect that. I should clarify that this little dog is from a shelter and I have only had her since January. I took her on with a serious eye problem as well as the cataracts and nobody was going to adopt her with all her issues. She was booked in with the visiting eye specialist in a couple of weeks to try and repair it, but they now cannot operate with her diagnosis of Cushings. She has separation anxiety which I had worked on and it was steadily getting a little better, but the recent tests and separation from home has made her regress.

I had a good talk to my usual vet yesterday who gave me a lot of information about Cushings and discussed the pros and cons of treating this particular dog. Whatever we decide to do will be done with the best intentions and a lot of love for this little one.

Sheridan, I will say that I think Grumpy will live forever - what an amazing dog!

[Sheridan]

Grumpy is pretty amazing. Dogs get more amazing with age, I think. :)

I think my experience with Grumpy is fairly close to yours. Please feel free to PM me to have a chat.

Grumpy also shares a thread with Westiemum's Mac about their dementia and other oldie issues. Please join us there, too. Grumpy doesn't have separation anxiety but I imagine the symptoms are fairly similar to dementia at times.

Edited October 14, 2012 by Sheridan