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Tell Me About Cushings


gillybob
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My Anna has been not her self for a while now and has lots of different symptoms so I took her to the vets again yesterday. We had already tested for heaps of things so they tested for Addisons and she had the opposite brining her into the range of Cushings. I expected to have her for another 10 years. Its hard news for me although she has only been with me for 21/2 years it feels like I have had her forever. She has all the symptoms now I see what they are. I will do what I have to do to keep her happy and herself. If anyone has had a dog with this can you tell me what it is like and what to expect. The vet has me given info and I have an appointment on Monday to work out what meds she will be on. The paperwork says 6 months and 10% live to 4 years.

Edited by gillybob
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Im in the bush with only one vet here.

He didn't tell me the cause but what it might be, she has cortisone levels of 676.

We have been back and forwards to the vet for a while no trying to find out what was wrong with her.

Another vet at the clinic that organises the meds ect will talk to me this week.

I think she has had this for a while now, she hasn't eaten again since Friday, before that it was for three days. She looks like she has given up. Ive seen that look before a few times.

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I have a proposition. This might sound a bit extreme, but what are the chances of bringing Anna to Sydney and having some specialists look at her, take bloods, etc etc?

Alternatively, would your vet be agreeable to sending laboratory results of Anna’s bloods and other to specialists?

It is a long time since a conversation I had with a vet about Cushings so things may have changed, but at the time he said that Cushings was very hard to diagnose because the symptoms could be the same as for any number of other things.

If you felt you could make the trip to Sydney, I would bet my last dollar there would be any number of DOLer ready and willing to accommodate you and Anna :) :) - me for one.

Give it some thought. :flower: :flower:

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:) That's a lovely offer.

It cost a small fortune but my girl had adrenal cushings (uncommon is small breeds) and the uni was able to do surgery.

However nowadays I think the drug options are much much better than they were back then and maybe I would have been able to avoid stressful surgery (would have jumped at the chance to have a better option).

There is genuine hope, once she has the right medication your girl could be up and about in no time. If it works she will look her normal age as well, not like a tired old dog. :heart:

BIG Hugs, to Anna

from another Anna

xxx

edited to add; Do ask about a specialist reviewing the results. Cushings dogs are supposed to have increased appetite and thirst like they are starving, . Addisons dogs (opposite but equal to Cushings) are often not hungry or vomiting, very flat and have the runs. Some experience weight loss. Cushings experience muscle wastage so I'm not sure if the Addisons weight loss is the same or just from being so sick to their stomach.

Edited by Powerlegs
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That's a wonderful offer DDD but the stress of travel would kill her I think. I had a long discussion with the vet yesterday and feel a lot more confident today. He said the meds can be worked out and she can be fairly normal once they are settled. She isn't interested in food but is drinking so that's a relief.

I cant put her through an operation because she has had a major one in the last few weeks, so that's out and anyway with her condition the way it is she wouldn't survive.

Hopfully today I will have a talk to the vet about her meds and work out what she needs.

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Thankyou DDD

Vet just came and got Anna he doesn't understand why she hasn't eaten or had anything to drink, she should be feeling a bit better. So she is having more tests, they will go over the first tests they did a month ago to see what is happening. They cant medicate her for Cushings until they find out what else is wrong. To me it feels like she is dieing, it feels like she has given up.

He thinks she may have an infection and has had cushings for longer than either of us have known, he also said it may be a tumour on her gland in her brain. This might be why she is getting so ill so fast. Hopfully all will be well and she goes on a drip and comes home soon.

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I commented in your other post, but just to add Cushings is not a death sentence, it is easily treated and most dogs live a long and normal life with just daily medications and blood testing as required, often only 3-6 monthly once they have been stabilised.

My 16 year old has been on 'trilostane' for about 6-7 years now, and I know of many others who have been successfully treated fairly for many many years.

I would get your vet to stabilise her and take up the wonderful offer of visiting a specialist in Sydney.

Good luck

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He did all the tests we did a month ago they were normal then except for her calcium which was just bit above normal. Now her calcium is through roof as are her liver tests.

But yes Pers I hope she is feeling better. I hate not having her here but she hasn't really eaten since last wendesday, I feel she wont be here for too much longer and want her close by.

ps to say they cant start to medicate her for cushings until they find out what is making her so ill.

So hopfully she will improve and then they can start he on her meds and we can go on from there.

Edited by gillybob
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Thankyou DDD

Vet just came and got Anna he doesn't understand why she hasn't eaten or had anything to drink, she should be feeling a bit better. So she is having more tests, they will go over the first tests they did a month ago to see what is happening. They cant medicate her for Cushings until they find out what else is wrong. To me it feels like she is dieing, it feels like she has given up.

He thinks she may have an infection and has had cushings for longer than either of us have known, he also said it may be a tumour on her gland in her brain. This might be why she is getting so ill so fast. Hopfully all will be well and she goes on a drip and comes home soon.

Infection would make sense, Cushing's dogs are prone to infection and it could be the reason she feels even more crappy.

Small breeds are most likely to have pituitary ademona, large dogs are more likely to have adrenal. Don't know which one Fauves are prone to.

Pituitary surgery is basically brain surgery and even if it could be done, I'm not sure I'd put a dog through it. My girl's adrenal surgery was risky enough. :( Understanding and dealing with something so complex as the endocrine system.... I've never felt so helpless in my whole life.

Hang in there Gilly. You can do it. You've got this. xxxx

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She has a tumour that has spread they think to at least her liver.

If she is well enough today she is coming home we will keep her comfortable and hopfully happy until its her time.

No operations and no more scans just going to leave her alone.

The vet is going to use steroids to try to bring down her calcium levels if we can do that she will feel a bit better.

Edited by gillybob
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