Cushing's disease in dogs
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- Опубліковано 2 лип 2024
- Cushing's disease is the most common endocrine condition in dogs. It occurs most commonly in dogs older than 8 years old so the symptoms are often misinterpreted as "just getting older". Most cases benefit significantly from treatment and monitoring
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That was really fantastic. Thank you for such a brilliant detailed explanation. And also thank you for making me feel better about not being able to treat.
Hi dhes2809.
Very please the video was useful to you
Best wishes
Nico
I agree we are in the beginning stages of it might be.. my dog is 9 years old panting and tremors which makes me wonder if it is Cushings. Not over hungry, not peeing alot,not loosing hair, shes actually lost 2 pounds in the past month, her steroid levels were slightly high with the first test she just had a second test yesterday ( not sure which test they wanted to do a third type of test that was pretty expensive and I told them lets wait on the test she wanted to do at the 1 month mark). My dogs name is Sugar she's a Jack Russell terrier). She has had a couple days of being in pain with the tremors and laying low then she bounces back yesterday we chased balls in the yard, happy and just her normal self. The Vet I am seeing is not her regular Vet so we will see her regular Vet Wednesday ( same office) I have noticed a obsessive digging up in my yard and eating something in the ground I assume Grubs?? So it's puzzling what we've got going on here but I am thankful for the frank discussion that if it does turn out to be Cushings that she can live a fairly normal life the treatments from what I have researched can be very expensive up to $10,000 or more for surgery. As a widow on social security going in to debt is not a option and in a undertone you said "sell the car" not a option either. I have 5 dogs got all of them before my husband died when life was better before going down the journey of cancer for my husband. Research with videos like this are extremely helpful in learning how it happens and what to do if anything. Thank you. Anna In Ohio
Thank you so much for clarifying and helping me to thoroughly understanding.
Hi Elise
Thanks for getting in touch and for your kind words.
I am delighted the video was useful to you
Best wishes
Nico
Thank You ! This was the best explanation of Cushings in dogs by far I have yet seen anywhere !
Hi CanadianDronePilot
Thank you for your kind works , I am delighted the information was useful.
Best wishes
Nico
Agreed 👍
My dog is having the dexa test today. This is great information! Thank you.
Hi Nancy
Thanks for getting in touch.
Nico
My dog has just been diagnosed and scheduled for the additional testing. I’ve been crying all day. I can’t even begin to tell how grateful I am to have found your most informative video. Thank you SO much!
Hi Susan
Thanks for getting in touch. I am very happy that I have been able to offer some solace and help. Please keep me posted on what the tests reveal
Me 8 years old rescue Maltese need to go further testing to figure what's next step. He has high cortisol so I'm very worried about the prognosis.
A big thankyou from Australia Dr Nico.
I've watched your lecture twice now..and believe that after watching it a third time...I'll be ready to sit the exam.
So informative.
Thanks again from a 67yr old.
Dian 👵
Hi Dian
Thanks for getting in touch. I am delighted that the video was useful to you. I have moved to Australia and now live in Melbourne , its a small world
Best wishes
Nico
Absolutely loved this explanation of what Cushings is! Thank you. This gives me all the information I need to treat me little dog!
Hi Fran
Thanks for getting in touch and for your kind words. I am delighted the video was useful to you.
Best wishes
Nico
Excellent presentation, honestly the best I’ve come upon in search of understanding what my sweet doggie is going through.
TY😊
Hi patty
Thanks for getting in touch
I am delighted the video was useful to you
Best wishes
Nico
Thank you for explaining this so clearly
Hi Sonic YT
Thank you for watching the video, I hope it helps
Best wishes
Nico
Thank you so much for the information in layman's terms. I have a much more positive outlook on my furry family member now. Again thank you and keep up the great work......
Hi Barbara
Thank you so much for getting in touch. I am glad the information has been useful.
Best wishes
Nico
Wonderful explanation!
Hi Heath
Thank you for the compliment, hope the information was useful
Best wishes
Nico
Excellent explanation. My 13 year old dachshund mix went through the exact same diagnostic path you described, and is currently on Trilostane. He's been responding to it well after a few rounds of retests and tweaks, though a gallbladder mucocele eventually caught up with him (from my understanding, Cushings makes these more likely). Anyway, the gallbladder was taken out last week and he's been recovering nicely. All in all, Cushings seems manageable in most cases, though there are lots of tests and expenses, which people should keep in mind and plan for.
Hi Jamal
Thank you very much for getting in touch. It sounds like your little dog has gone through some tough times but great to hear he is now doing well.
best wishes
Nico
Thanks for the great information. I feel more comfortable with my decision not to treat my old dog with Cushing’s. He is somewhere between 12 and 14 years old. He was a pound
Rescue, so that is the vet’s best guess. He is a boxer shar pea cross and who knows what else. I will keep him as long as he is happy and enjoying life.
Hi Judy
Thanks for getting in touch. I am delighted the video helped you with the decision-making for your dog. At his age it is all about quality of life.
Best wishes
Nico
My jack russel has had Cushings for a couple years, we’ve given her “Vetoryl” ever since but her state has been degrading lately so we will put her to sleep very soon.
Was hoping to find a magic solution on UA-cam that could fix everything - but that doesn’t always exist..
I appreciate the information and care you put into this - thank you.
Hi Vanessa. I am so sorry to hear that your little dog is near the end of her life. I wish there was something I could offer you to "fix" her but unfortunately Vetoryl is all we currently have to offer for this condition.
Cushing is a big stressful trouble trying to fight it. Once the dog is 9 or 10 yrs old they go downhill fast. Don't suffer with your pet. Put it down for all parties involved.
No it's not there are a ton of natural cures such as lignans ashwaganda and there a few ways to get the cortisol levels back to normal but I guarantee vetoryl wl make your dog sick
I'm convinced vaccines given to animals cause many diseases because many diseases never existed before vaccines came into play. Same goes for humans and all vaccines.
Thank you, very helpful!!!
Hi Karla
Thanks for getting touch. I am happy the info was helpful
Best wishes
Nico
Thank you.
Hi. You are welcome
Great info thank you!!!!!!!!❤
Hi Tulip7424
Thanks for getting in touch, delighted the video was useful to you
Best wishes
Nico
Thank you so much! This Is such an assume explanation
Hi Ashley
Thank you so much for getting in touch and for your kind comments. Are there any other topics you would like me to present?
Best wishes
Nico
Hi Ashley - you are very welcome. Thanks for reaching out.
Best wishes
Nico
Thank you so much for explaining in great detail. My 12 year old dog was recently diagnosed and started trilostane just a few days ago.
Hi K
Delighted the video was useful to you
Best wishes
Nico
@@nicothevet7851 thank you. The Trilostane hasn’t made a difference yet in her symptoms (16 days in). Do you know how long until we should see some results? We are up all hours of the night for potty breaks and we are EXHAUSTED.
@@kjohnsonshelton0923 Hi K
Once you have done the blood tests and determined that the dose is correct then the peeing problem should resolve within about a month. If she is still peeing too much at that time then you should rule out that she does not had diabetes mellitus at the same time and once that is ruled out your vet may suggest splitting the verified correct daily dose into 2 halves dosed 12 hours apart.
Hope this helps - let me know
Best wishes
Nico
@@nicothevet7851 thank you for your reply and guidance🙏🏼
@@kjohnsonshelton0923go research natural cures they are out there
Wonderful explanation about the Cushings disease! Thank you very much. I certainly feel better with my resolution of not pursuing treatment on my 13 year old shitzu ❤
Hi Helena
Thanks for getting in touch. I am delighted the video helped you with the decision-making for your little dog. At this age it is all about quality of life.
Best wishes
Nico
Thanks for the very informative video.
I noticed that my 8yo girl whippet had dropped a step or two, stopped zooming, was dragging behind on walks and sometimes tended to lethargy. I also noticed she was drinking and peeing a lot, was panting at night and was more hungry than usual. The vet ran a bunch of tests including the LDDS test and feels confident with a clinical diagnosis of Cushings (pituitary version).
With the budget smashed I still haven’t committed to the ACTH stim test based medical treatment program. BUT, she is now on a low fat Hills digestive diet, with low purines treats, plus a multi vitamin supplement with high vitamin E, a probiotic and a tea spoon of omega 3 6 9 oil in her food, and her symptoms have reduced, in some cases significantly.
The biggest turnaround was that she now has a spring back in her step, is keeping up with my other whippet again during leashed walks, and can get to about 3/4 of her quick trot when off leash zooming. She rarely pants at night now and the excessive drinking / peeing has reduced a little as well, but she is still very hungry. She scavenges food any where she can.
For now, this will have to do.
But I will in the months ahead go with the medical treatment program (I want her to have the best quality life she can, and also hopefully lose that whoppet of a belly), just need to adjust the budget. The costs are not trivial!
Hi Rob
Thanks for getting in touch.
Yes , the treatment for Cushings is very expensive, I wish I could change that for you.
Best wishes for you and your little girl
Nico
Very well described our scrappy has been on vetoryl for almost four woks blood monitoring shows cortisole has dropped to within normal range where as it was 152 in initial blood test now it’s at 109 he also has diabetes ….so the drinking more seeing more all got very confusing so injecting insulin twice a day too.he is great in himself wagging tail appetite and enjoying the walkies so will continue for as long as we can .it’s very distressing seeing his hair loss we’ve a lovely little Parker dog coat he looks amazing in it.we always get lovely comments when people see him.
Hi Barbara
Thanks for getting in touch. Hopefully with modern medicine you can get Scrappy back to looking and feeling normal soon
Best wishes
Nico
Thank you barbara
What is the testing once stabilized?
Thank you for the informative video
My 11year old yorkie has just been diagnosed with cushings, we are planning to start the medication vetoryl(trilostane) soon . And continue with the blood test at day 10 ect
Still unsure if im doing the right thing for her …😔
Hi Ewelina
Thanks for getting in touch. I do not doubt your decision to treat with Vetoryl. I am 100% sure that you are doing the right thing for her. The treatment will change both of your lives for the better. Please keep me updated on progress
Best wishes
Nico
Many thanks for this video and explanation. I’ve had suspicions that my maltipoo may have cushings disease since January. Took her to two vets, both said it was too soon to run the test and just suggested to keep her off treats and wet food. I’m finally getting her tested tomorrow. I’m really hoping that whatever it is they can provide something that can help.
Hi Karleetah
Thanks for getting in touch and fingers crossed for the blood test tomorrow - let me know how it turns out
Best wishes
Nico
She came back positive.😔 he prescribed a small dosage of Trilostane to start and adjust as needed. I’m a bit hesitant to start it…I don’t know if it’s best to try natural remedies first if there are any. She’s uncomfortable when sleeping and pants a lot which is what scares me.
@@pr3ttynp1nkster Hi Karleetah
Thanks for the update.
There are no effective "natural" remedies for Cushings disease. If she was my dog with the symptoms you have described I would treat her with Trilostane. Blood tests are used to make sure she is receiving the correct dose for her i.e.different dogs need different doses to be effective.
Hope this helps
Best wishes
Nico
@@nicothevet7851 I started her on Trilostane last Wednesday the dose is at 0.1 I feel that she’s not responding to well..she seems weaker and her eyes seem to be bulging out a little. She’s has big eyes but they look a little different lately. Not sure if it’s due to the Cushings disease. I don’t want to lose hope but it’s not looking too good 😔
@@pr3ttynp1nkster Hi Karleetah
I would suggest getting your vet to check her out. She would be due a blood test 10 days after treatment started to make sure the dose is appropriate for her
Let me know how she is doing
Best wishes
Nico
Thank you!! I am very limited in funds because of my own situation. Can't afford to pay for treatment for my dog, who I believe has cushings.
Hi Tim
Thanks for getting in touch
Best wishes
Nico
Hello my question is if you want to give the dog a quarter zone blocker and a supplement called L-Ornithine a-Ketoglutarate Which prevents muscle wasting
Excellent explanation! So with cbd full spectrum,would it be good for a dog with cushion disease? Cbd relaxes the dog thus the amount of cortisol..makes sense?
Hi Jislain
Thanks for getting in touch.
I do not think that CBD would have any benefit in these patients but I can see your reasoning.
Best wishes
Nico
My Norfolk terrier ( 10 years old ) hasn’t been diagnosed yet .. he’s just been diagnosed ( after a scan) with enlarged Liver and heart and has ‘B2’ heart disease so is on heart meds to help his heart perform better although we have been told it’s not a cure and will buy him more time before actual heart failure . Anyway he has a pot belly and is losing hair underneath .. and recently has started drinking more etc . He does not yet have increased appetite and is a fussy eater . We think he probably has CD now as well . We were told his pot belly is down to his enlarged liver ? Thanks for the video !
Ps he had a blood test and something flagged up with his liver apparently .. can’t remember the technical term .
Hi Suzy
Thanks for getting in touch .
The liver is often enlarged with heart problems and liver enzymes are increased on blood tests but, if it was all just down to a heart problem then one might see a pot-belly but should not see an increased thirst. In your case your little chap may very well have Cushings disease so it would be worth testing for it .
Please keep deposited on his progress
Best wishes
Nico
Excellent information. Makes me feel better about not treating my dog at this time as his symptoms are just so mild.
Not trying to scare you but my dog had this and we lost him few months back unexpectedly the only signs he shown was exessive thirst and urinating more ,he was totally his self running about 😢
@@laurashaw6386 I am so sorry to hear this, but am glad you reached out to me with this information. Thank you!
Hi Patty, thanks for getting in touch
No no no..take your dog in...my baby would get bloated..it would go down...she always ate....out of the blue she wouldn't get up..it was gonna be soon...i didnt expect the same night...she started to have these cramps or something in her stomach...she tried to get up and she fell back down and had a mild seizure, 3 in all, that is the image i cant get out of my head and is really hard for me...i rescued her..she was 6 to 8 months old...she was 11 when she passed in my arms... And i still cant accept that she is gone...
@@autogirl53208 Actually, we started the testing with Toby just this week. Will have results in about ten days. His symptoms were not worsening, but, we just felt the need to help alleviate them now. I am sorry for your loss...truly awful to witness. Thank you for your concern.
Can you advise why after my boys been on trilostane for the last few years without problems but the latest acth test came back at 18.5 and 22, the vet didn't say to stop trilostane but all papers written say if cortisol drops below 50 then trilostane should be stopped, especially when dog has dropped drinking and food intake
Hi Julie
There may be variety of reasons why your vet gave you the advice they did depending on the individual case.Have a chat with them about it and I am sure they will give you a good explanation
Thanks for getting in touch
Best wishes
Nico
How much improvement did you notice in the past few years since your dog has been on this medication? Thank you in advance.
hi nico my 10 year old dog just got diagnosed with cushings but she is still very active but my vet said the treatment is not woth it she has all the syptoms but is still a very livly dog im really scared and dont know what to do any advise you can give me
Hi Harlan. There is no one truth for all dogs with this condition - if the symptoms are very mild and not troubling you or your dog then it is reasonable to not treat but if the symptoms are affecting your or their quality of life then I would treat them - I hope this helps. Maybe watch the video again and it may help you decide
Hey nico an RN from iowa here. Is surgery an option for both forms and how can we get our dog set up for surgery at say iowa state? Is there a way to set our dog up for surgery for lower cost as it is expensive. I see you are recently responding looking forward to continued correspondence
Basically if we are willing ti spend are out tx options expanded and how can we be competitive or frugal with that
Hi Josh
Thanks for getting in touch. Surgery is only an option if there is a tumour in one of the adrenal glands ( less than 5% of cases).
Hope this helps
Cheers
Nico
Are there specific types of foods I should avoid for my dog with cushings? He's been on a fresh food low carb diet (Raised Right brand, turkey) - but I had been giving him a topper of sardine a couple times a week - until I recently saw something about sardines being bad. Any advice is appreciated
Hi
Thanks for getting in touch. I do not think there are any foods that have to be avoided with these cases but general principles apply ie avoid high carb and high fat diets as they may contribute to making him fat
Hope this helps
Nico
Dogs with pituitary cushings diease from the age of 10 onwards can live with their condition quite happily without any medication or they can be supported with natural remedies to reduce the costisol levels such as 95 curcumin instead of administering toxic pharmaceutical medications that cost a fortune along with costly blood tests.
Is this proven or your opinion? What specific supplements are you using. Idk what to get.
My pup was recently diagnosed with pancreatitis. They did a snap(?) and found it came back abnormal. Why they didn’t offer a X-ray I have no idea. Anyway, she has two more days of antibiotics. She’s looking better everyday but I found she has a slight pop belly, itchy skin, and decreased energy levels. Could this be cushing?
Hi Cynthia
Thanks for getting in touch.
90% of dogs with Cushings will have increased thirst as one of their symptoms so this often helps us to decide if we should test for Cushings when we see the other symptoms you have described. . The only way to answer you question definitively would be to run an ACTH stimulation test and/or Low dose dexamethasone supression test - chat to your vet about this
best wishes
Nico
My 13 yr old yorkie was diagnosed with possible Cushings when my Vet saw her "pot belly" and loss of hair on her nose her blood work was inconclusive. I decided not to go forward with treatment due to her age and they said that there is no cure it only extends life possibly 18 months to 2 years max and I didn't want to put her thru all the testing etc as she was a former puppy mill survivor and very anxious if she wasn't with me. She died 3 months later after having a seizure.
Hi and thank you for getting in touch. I am sorry too hear your sad news
May I ask if your dog anxious is caused by Cushing ？
May I ask if your dog anxious is caused by Cushing？
So sorry. How advanced was her disease? Can they even tell how long a dog has had cushings? Did the vet indicate that she was past being about to treat or was her death complete shock? I'm so scared.
What about high glucose levels in Cushing patients? Our dogs just got diagnosed, we are on 2x a day insulin and her blood sugar has been in the 400-500 range.
Hi Kara
Thanks for getting in touch. Some dogs will have Cushings disease and Diabetes Mellitus as two independent conditions and sometimes the diabetes may be secondary to ( caused by) the Cushings. Either way, the plan would be to treat both and see if the diabetes resolves once the Cushings is well controlled. I am sure this is what your vet would be planning to do . Have a chat with them.
Best of luck
Nico
Would you be able to see an Adrenal gland tumor from the outside of the body or feel it? Or is only seen in a scan? Thanks! :)
Hi Martylugo
Adrenal tumours can only be seen on a scan, you could not see it from the outside or feel it.
Best wishes
Nico
@@nicothevet7851 thank you so much for the response! Have a wonderful day!
Great explanation, thank you. My 11 yr old Shitzu cross has had a sonar, ct scan and one of the blood tests. Has a tumour on the right adrenal gland of 19mm and the left adrenal is about 6.5mm. The blood test has also confirmed a tumour in the head office.
Is it common to have both issues?
Currently just started medication.
Due to have a discussion with the specialist vets on what's the best thing to do.
Hi Gordon
Thanks for getting in touch. Your situation is unusual - I have never seen a case with a pituitary AND an adrenal tumour. The adrenal tumour may or may not be significant as some cases have a tumour in the adrenal gland which is non-secretory ie does not produce anything like cortisone etc
I think it would be a very good idea to have a chat with a specialist and take their advice
Please let me know what they say
Best wishes
Nico
@@nicothevet7851 Thanks for the reply Nico. Will get more precise detail and options and provide an update.
Hi Nico, update on my post. Extract from Toby's our 11 yr old Shitzu/lasapso report, diagnosis is:
1a. Malignant pheochromocytoma
1b. Adrenal cortical benign hyperplastic nodule or adenoma.
He has had the right adrenal and tumour removed.
Has been a massively expensive experience. Operation AUD 9600 Plus the initial sonar at AUD 800, scan blood work at AUD 4500.
Hi Gordon
Thanks for the update. Wow, that is one hell of a journey for you and your little dog. I am sorry it has been so hard on both of you physically , emotionally and financially. Hopefully you can now both get back to some sort of normality and get back to enjoying life.
Very best wishes for the future for both of you
Kind regards
Nico
These are the symptoms my 15 yr old dog has had vet said he has failing kidneys he is. 50 some pound Pitt I have been cooking meals for him Trying to keep him off kibbles I have always given him scraps I cook good food every day I will not put him on meds nor any other procedure
My mini schnauzer is being tested for Cushings now. She has all the symptoms really! But she’s only almost 5 years old. Is it a problem she’s getting it younger than most dogs who get it? Should it be treated differently because she’s younger? Thanks for the video!
Hi Gina
Thanks for getting in touch.
5 years old, although young, is not an unusual or alarming age for diagnosing Cushings disease.
The younger the age at diagnosis the more likely I would be to start treatment (rather than delay treatment) but this decision also depends on the severity of the symptoms ie if she only has one or two symptoms and they are very mild then one might delay treatment but if the symptoms are more pronounced then likely it is better to start treatment now.
From what you are saying I think it would be better to start treatment for her straight away if the diagnosis of Cushings is confirmed by the tests
Hope this helps
Best wishes
Nico
My dog is almost 3 & has this what would be the anticipated life expectancy either with treatment or without?
Hi Emily
The published data suggests 2-4 years life expectancy after diagnosis but does not say wether it is the Cushings disease which ultimately causes death or other related or unrelated co-morbidities so there is no clear , definitive answer to your question.
Sorry this answer is so vague
Best wishes
Nico
One more question, once treatment has begun does the pot belly shrink down and the stomach muscles repair or are they damaged forever? My GSD has a large mid section and I am used to keeping my Shepherds on the slender side. Her hunger and thirst has just gotten so voracious.
I just caught her trying to sneak in a snack of first morning Macaw poop! I'm glad to hear that subsides with the medication. She opens the doggy gate to get to that prized treat, yuck! The macaw just watches her eat it and laughs. Yes laughs in my voice. She thinks it's funny for some reason.
Hi HRTsAFyre
Yes, after several months of treatment the abdomen should revert back to the original size and shape.
Hope that helps
Best wishes
Nico
@@nicothevet7851 thank you very much
You are very well-come
How long before i should she a change in my dogs symptoms after she has started treatment on Vetoryl? Also my vet is requesting that i do the first atch test at 3 weeks after she began treatment instead of the 10 to 14 day suggested time as per the Dachra website instructions. Do you see any problems with what she is adviding? Will the results have the same findings if its done at 2 weeks vs. 3 weeks? Lastly,other then seeing no reduction in her symptoms during the past 2.5 weeks,I have noticed an increase in a caughing issue which she struggled with many years ago which is called "a reverse sneeze". Prior to the Vetoryl she was not clearing her throat and making the repetative deep caughing noise which she has now begun doing on a daily basis since beginning the medication. I was wondering if there is any connection between cushing or Vetoryl itself and an increase in this treachia related breathing condition that you know of. Thx very much.
Hi BabyBear
Thanks for getting in touch. Usually we would expect to see a benefit from the Vetoryl treatment within 4 weeks.
Regarding the sneezing/coughing/snorting - one possible explanation is that the high cortisol levels caused by Cushings Disease may have actually been producing enough cortisol to treat and allergic or inflammatory respiratory condition like chronic bronchitis and now that you are treating the Cushings there is less cortisol in her body and therefore the chronic bronchitis is no longer under control. This is just one possibility - have a chat with your vet about it
Hope this helps
Nico
THANK YOU. Thats an interesting theory. It seems that her symptoms have actually gotten worse since taking the 10mg dose of Vetoryl the past 4 weeks. She is hungier and thirstier then before and urinates more frequently. Well its hard to say for sure but definitely no improvement. The panting is noticably increased thats for sure and her level of fatigue and overall lack of interest in anything other then food has not changed. Would this mean that the dosage isn't high enough to bring down the cortisol level in the blood? I am concerned that not following the exact Dechra Protocol for testing guidelines which my vet doesnt seem to care about could produre inaccurate results. Because I am administering her medication at 6pm due to her lack of appetite earlier in the day,my vet told me to bring her in for the ATCH test at 8am which would be 14 hrs past her last dose. The guidelines state that the atch test should be given 4 to 6 hrs after medication and I could find no online data to support that it is accepttable to deviate from these specific Vetoryl guidelines. Therefore I wanted to know if its acceptable to do the test at 14 hrs after the last dose or if you believe that this variation of the suggested protocol, could produce invalid results in terms of the measurements which the atch test aims to determine. I would gate to think this critical measurement of blood cortisol level would be inacurate and that the dosage of Vetoryl may be adjuested based on flawed results. I would appreciate your opinion on this subject as it relates to this particular test or any other variation in testing suggested by a vet which differs from that which the manufacturer has precisely outlined in the package insert. Thank you so much.@nicothevet7851
@@babybear4524 Hi Baby Bear
I always stick to the recommended protocol so have no experience in deviating from it.
Perhaps chat to the manufacturer about implications of deviating from the protocol.
Regarding response to treatment - if she is not responding to the treatment and it is being given at the correct dose then sometimes splitting the daily dose and giving half in the morning and half in the evening works better.
It may also be worth considering asking your vet to refer you to a specialist to review her.
Hope this helps
Nico
@nicothevet7851 Well I decided to switch Vets today and am glad I did because this place has its own online pharmacy and this Doctor advocates the use of Trilostane as an option other then the Vetoryl. The other vet I saw was opposed to Trilostane. So my current vet recommended I increase her to 12mg of Trilostane daily for a mth or 2 depending on how she is doing. He was nice enough not to require I do the Atch test yet which helps me financially and still allows me to gradually increase dosage by using the compounded 12 mg which isn't available by using Vetoryl. Have you found there to be any difference in the efficacy of Vetoryl vs. Trilostane? Does the medication have to be given with food such as a meal containing fat or is it OK to give with a spoon of peanut butter since my dog doesn't want to eat much until later afternoon and I would like her to take the meds earlier in the day so that when we do the atch test in 1 or 2 months she will be able to get it done 3 hrs after medication instead of having to deal with the current issue of her taking it at night and getting the test 14 hrs after. I knew that would be a problem and glad I have a new vet who confirmed with me that if the meds are not given 3 to 4 hrs before the test it could in fact yield false results. It's so important for pet owners to research and be thier own advocates for thier pet because had I not read the protocol and spoken to other owners online I never would have been aware that my vet was deviating from those guidelines. Actually when I tried to order the 12mg dose just now it's backordered and so I may have to split it into a 5mg and a 7 mg Trilostane pill. Do you think it matters which one I give at what time or maybe it's best to give both pills at once so when it's time for the atch test I will know exactly when she took it? Thx
I suspect my dog 15 year old poodle x has cushings, all of the symptoms except lethargy, she still enjoys her walks. The annoying thing is I had to suggest it to the vet, she’s had hair loss and pigmentation for a while, and abnormal liver enzymes, which I think in retrospect was all down to cushings. Cushings Test came back inconclusive, so now unsure of what to do. Just wish we could get her lovely fluffy tail back, hair loss is getting worse.
Hi Andrea
Thanks for getting in touch.There are two tests for Cushings disease so when one is inconclusive then I would suggest running the other one and also ultrasound scanning the abdomen to look at the adrenal glands and liver. About 10% of dogs who have Cushings will test negative for it, if we start to suspect she may be one of these and the additional tests are also inconclusive, then one may consider a treatment trial with Trilostane.
Hope this helps, keep me updated on her progress
Best wishes
Nico
Thanks for responding Nico. Her ALT levels have been elevated for about 2 years, the vet also did a bile acids test, which was raised, but I'm not sure what the purpose of this test was or what's it would prove/disprove?
We did the ACTH stimulation test, cortisol levels were slightly raised but not to the extent of normal cushings, so maybe some kind of other endocrine issue going on? I'll look into getting the alternative test done, but for now she's happy. Eating and drinking more than normal, but not excessively. @@nicothevet7851
My dog is 6,5yo he has been diagnosed with Cushing. Our vet said that it is very early stage and prescribed vetoryl (5mg) 3 times a week I'm so scared to start this medication. I'm scared that I might lose him I read the side effects and it freaked me out.
Hi Zuzana
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes there are risks with vetoryl but they appear be relatively uncommon. With any medication it is always a trade off between the potential benefits of the treatment versus potential side effects. If you are very anxious and the symptoms are very mild you can take as much time as you need to decide what to do. If you do decide to go with vetoryl then start at the lowest dose - your vet will advise you
Best wishes
Nico
Sorry but your dog is toast. Don5 waste 1000s of dollars trying. Cushing disease cannot be cured. It wins in a few yrs.
For some reason he now refuses to go into his car crate and he used to lve the car, so we are now housebound
Is there a such thing as a benign non-hormonal releasing adenoma in the adrenal gland?
Hi HRTsAFyre
Yes, a non secretory adrenal tumour does occasionally occur and is usually found as an incidental finding when performing an abdominal ultrasound. Usually fine needle aspirates are unable to confirm that it is benign and/or non-secretory but if it is not associated with clinical symptoms or appropriate changes in blood tests then we presume it is non-secretory
Hope this helps
Nico
@@nicothevet7851 thank you. Yes it does help.
Trilostane inhibits the enzyme and not destroy the cells whereas Mitotane does , is that correct?
Hi Sheela
You are correct
Thanks for getting in touch
Best wishes
Nico
Hi Nico, I believe my dog has Cushing's dz...wondering if there are any natural or naturopathic medicines approved or recommended products to treat this dz?
Hi Claudia. Thanks for getting in touch. I do not know of anything other than trilostane( Vetoryl) that is effective for this condition
Thanks
@@nicothevet7851 what about mitotane/Lysodren?
@@HRTsAFyre
Hi
We used to use Lysodren(mitotane) many years ago but is a very toxic drug with significant risks so we do not use it anymore. We used it years ago because it was all that was available but I would not use it now
Best wishes
Nico
@@nicothevet7851 thanks again. I wondered about that drug and it's side effects.
What about rear end weakness?
Hi Kathy. Muscle weakness can be associated with Cushing's disease but it unlikely to be the only symptom so if rear end weakness is the only symptom your dog has it is likely due to something else
Do you have an email or a phone number and consultation fee? Would appreciate a brief consult will pay 100 a half hour
Im blowing ur thread up and i apologize but i need basic fundamental questions answered that are not answered here. Chiefly if your will to spend thousands what tx are opened up and how we can navigate those options strategically say if we fly to a vet school in a certain location we may save if we give on such things as students will perform the surgery under the guidance of professor. We need those bigger answers
My dog eats more but he doesnt drink more he has that cutis cutaneous on his tail has patches of lighter hair a few spots he has also a skin issue he doesnt have accidents w going to the bathroom but at times sits w his rump in air he has pot belly can a dog have cushings w just one ot two of these symptoms he had a pancreatic lipase before & he had clean bloodwork as of 2021 hes an american bully so he is a terrier and hes 11
Hi Reeby
Thanks for getting in touch - if he was my patient I would repeat his blood tests and do an ultrasound scan of his abdomen asap to see what is going on inside.
Please let me know what these tests find
Best wishes
Nico
What is benefit of tx what is the ideal outcome. Maybe the number needed to treat. C’mon dude
This vids great but u need to do another take. This looks like one take. Dont fixate on the expensive fixate on how you can invest succeed. These are are family members there is a lack of hope and stabilization here. Really wish you would get into best outcomes and how to achieve them. And how cases can improve
Dude im tired of blowing ur thread up. Wanna talk to u about redoing this vid to set it apart better from the others and delve into where u need to delve into.
This unfortunately sounds like my dog right now ☹️
you are funny
Hi and thank you ( I think)
Best wishes
Nico
I suspected my dog may have cushings (big pot belly, excessive drinking & eating) so i went to Vet to get blood test done. Hours later vet emailed me and said blood is OK. But she wants to make another test ($$$$) and i have to leave my dog tomorrow for a few hours. If the blood is "OK" why another test ? It's about money i guess ??
Hi Frank
Thanks for getting in touch. I think it's worth another chat with your vet to plan the diagnostic process as sometimes it may not be as straight-forward as we would like it to be.
Let me know how you get on
Best wishes
Nico
@@nicothevet7851 I decided to go ahead with the Cushings test and left my dog with the vet. Shortly after i received a message from my vet : Hi Frank
Just an update on Pyper. We have one more blood sample to take this morning before she has finished the test for cushings. We have noticed that a few of her lymph nodes are abnormally enlarged. This can happen in cushings disease but can also happen in multiple other conditions.
Would you like us to sedate Pyper and a take needle sample of the lymph nodes for analaysis? This is not surgery. We just need her sedated as it is a fidly job to do. If you are ok with this it may be worth taking an x-ray or ultrasound scan of her abdomen to look for further lymphnodes and at her adrenal glands (the organs involved in cushings disease).
Please let us know if you would like us to proceed with these further investigations today. So, i agreed and ask the Vet while under sedation to clean her teeth and cut her nails. One hour later vet called me and said 6 of her teeth have to come out :-( i said if this is necessary , go ahead. After 8h i collected my dog. Awaiting test results in the next few days
@@frankw9836 Thanks for the update Frank - please let me know the results of the tests
Best wishes
Nico
@@nicothevet7851 The results are now in for Pyper. Fortunately there are no abnormalities found. The cushings test has come back as normal.
What we thought was raised lymph node under the jaw was actually just her salivary gland and not a lymph node. Both sit very closely together so this is also good news.
Regarding Pypers pot belly. She does have an enlarged liver which is what is causing the appearance but we still don’t know why that is. There are both benign or pathological causes for this.
If you would like further investigations done, I recommend booking her in for a ‘Bile Acid Stimulation Test’ to assess how well the liver is actually functioning. Asides from this we can take a biopsy from the liver and send it to the lab for analysis. This is a tricky surgical procedure which requires checking her clotting factors first, but we are happy to do this if you would like.
yes and happy to take more money of you
You talk to fastttttt my god iys sad because im french and translate with subtitle but its to fast 😢
Hi Nataly
Thanks for getting in touch. I am sorry I talk too fast , I always have.
Best wishes
nico
I have found that very intelligent people in this world do in fact speak fast. I was able to keep up and took detailed notes as well.
,, Sell the car" 😁
Hi, thanks for getting in touch.
I agree - sell the car to help the animal , every time
best wishes
Nico