Canine cushings? Experiences anyone?

[EmzT]

I have a 12 yo boxer bitch with a large range of health problems. She is on many drugs for a heart condition and also has thyroid problems.
In the last while she has been showing all the symptoms of cushings disease that I think exist, and recently has really started to go downhill.

I pressed my vet last year about testing for cushings, however she was not convinced and said because she had thyroid trouble, even if she had Cushings it would be hard to diagnose.

After a bad urinary tract infection and dog now looking like a skeleton I think I have convinced her to test.

Just wondering if anyone has experiences, good or bad, with elderly dogs and cushings treatment? Was it worth it?

I am keen to give it a go as her heart seems to be holding it's own at the minute.

 

[JaneB]

My 16 year old Border terrier bitch has suffered from canine Cushing's for some years. She initially "slowed down" and got a distended belly, which I was afraid resulted from fluid collection due to heart failure. She also had a voracious appetite and drank a lot. After constant reassurances that her heart was fine, she was xrayed and her liver found to be enlarged. This prompted the Cushing's test and diagnosis.

She was subsequently prescribed medication to control the Cushing's and her tummy reduced slightly and energy levels improved a bit. After a year or more on this medication, however, she had a crisis as a result of liver failure. Evidently the Cushing's medication is not good for the liver!

We therefore decided to stop treating the Cushing's and to support the liver with medication instead. This made a massive difference to her energy levels and quality of life although she has subsequently had another crisis due to her kidneys, for which she now has additional medication.

So it might be worth exploring Cushing's with your bitch but treating it may lead to other problems in the future. I was personally disappointed with the limited improvement on treatment but you don't know until you try. If your dog is not insured (mine isn't), the cost of the tests is quite expensive as they take blood, give the dog something (glucose, I think) then have to wait some hours to take blood again.

Good luck, whatever you decide. We have managed to give our little dog quality of life, despite these problems, but realise that there will come a point when this is no longer possible.

 

[EmzT]

Thanks JaneB,

It is a hard call to make, especially at her age. I'm not insured but I pay the vet so much every month already that there's no point me stopping now! If my mother-in-law knew how much she'd take a heart attack!!!

Think I will go ahead and get it checked as she has so many symptoms:

Pot belly
Constant hunger and thirst
Skin infections
Urinary tract infections
Panting
Lethargic
Weakness in back legs
Thin skin
Hair doesn't grow back after clipping
Skull like appearance to head

I just don't want to lose my girl before I have to

 

[CL66]

My last dog died from cushings when he was 14. i still feel guilty for not being braver sooner as he was really poorly when we eventually had him put to sleep. He was on medication but it didn't really make any difference.

 

[Goya]

A friend of mine has a dog recently diagnosed with Cushings. He is an 11 yr old WSD. Since getting treatment he has shown brilliant improvement.We know he will never be cured but his quality of life is amazing now.

 

[twiglet84]

We see really good results with most cushingoid patients. I would definately at least do the tests like you have requested and if positive then try tablets. Have to say have not seen any patients with adverse reactions to the meds or heard of them not making improvements.

At the end of the day, you know your own dog and you will know which decision is best. Good luck, xxx

 

[EmzT]

Thanks everyone.

Think I will go ahead and do all I can. She's such a strong wee woman and I'm determined to give her every chance. I know she'll tell me when she's had enough.

Nice to hear about some success stories x

 

[BigRed]

My friend had a whippet with cushings. It was hard to diagnose, but after loads of different tests because the vet did not agree with my friend it might be cushings, he was finally given the correct drugs. He did improve for a brief time, and he grew a really woolly coat (his hair had fallen out)- he had been a Crufts whippet and in the end he looked like a mongrel. He was very depressed and unhappy and was never the same dog to be honest and after about 6 months he was pts. In the end he refused to eat anything and became very weak. He was about 12.

I think there comes a point when you have decide what's best for your dog. If he had been mine, I would have had him pts earlier than my friend did. But he was her baby and she couldn't let him go.