Cushing's
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| Pearl has been diagnosed with probable Cushings by our vet...but I didn't not put her through the testing since she is 14 and is in relatively good health and painfree at this time. |
| At her age I can see that - I even read that it keeps the arthritis at bay as well.
thanks val  |
| Our Winston was about seven years old when he was diagnosed with Cushings. First signs were bilateral thinning of hair on his hindquarters and darkened, thinning skin on his body.
What symptoms lead you to suspect Cushings? Could it possibly be Munchausens by Proxy Syndrome? |
| funny.
these are the symptoms - the ones in blue are applicable to Morgan: The most common symptoms include: • increased/excessive water consumption (polydipsia) • increased/excessive urination (polyuria) • urinary accidents in previously housetrained dogs • increased/excessive appetite (polyphagia) • appearance of food stealing/guarding, begging, trash dumping, etc. • sagging, bloated, pot-bellied appearance • weight gain or its appearance, due to fat redistribution • loss of muscle mass, giving the appearance of weight loss • bony, skull-like appearance of head • exercise intolerance, lethargy, general or hind-leg weakness • new reluctance to jump on furniture or people • excess panting, seeking cool surfaces to rest on • symmetrically thinning hair or baldness (alopecia) on torso • other coat changes like dullness, dryness • slow regrowth of hair after clipping • thin, wrinkled, fragile, and/or darkly pigmented skin • easily damaged/bruised skin that heals slowly • hard, calcified lumps in the skin (calcinosis cutis) • susceptibility to infections (especially skin and urinary) • diabetes, pancreatitis, seizures (well the pancreatitis) The vet and Ihave been looking for a systemic cause for his issues. He also has high liver counts and other bloodwork that is consistent with Cushings. Tha alpacia is only present in 80 percent of cases. so munchasens by research maybe or he is as has been said a loser in a genetic lottery. |
| I know I hate to say this BECAUSE, I hate Science Diet as much
as the next guy BUT, Science Diet L/D really helped with Wilby's high alk phos levels. As well as a Cholodin supplement (I think it did anyway) His liver was basically skrewed from the time we adopted him and we had 8 wonderful years with him(he was 11 when he passed) Royal Canin also has a good one...I thing it is Royal Canin HP?? (I think) I have no clue just asking, is it possible he has too much protein in his diet? Good Luck Kerry and Morgan! |
| Kerry how horrible for you both, there's distressingly too much blue in that list.
I hope you find an answer that comes with a solution/treatment soon. All the best for you and Morgan. |
| Any nipple growth on the male dog? |
| We fought with borderline Cushing's test results with Portage for years. Every time we were going to jump in and treat we backed off because things weren't quite over the line enough.
If I could go back in time I'd push harder for treatment. I know that there were risks, but I think they were worth taking. He could potentially have had a better quality of life in his last year. If you haven't had the tests done, by all means do. Also, check thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary levels. Anything hormonal can be an issue. Good luck to you. |
| Thyroid is a good suspect. But he was diagnosed hypothyroid some time ago and has been on meds for a while.
Kerry - I think I already asked you if you felt he was regulated? I know with his bouts of vomiting and so on it probably makes it harder to be sure he actually gets the appropriate level of thyroid meds, but testing would pick up on that I presume and you could try to adjust accordingly. It's a tough case. I think in your place I'd almost be relieved with almost any dignosis so at least you could hopefully treat something instead of just battling an assortment of weird symptoms. Kristine |
| I never test him for thyroid when he has been having a bout of pancreatitis because I know his meds are messed up then, but his at least twice a year $170 thyroid panels always shows it is under control and he is mid normal or a little tad higher. Ack - I just realized he is due for another test soon.
I was struck by how the physical symptoms of Cushing's describe him, my vet by the blood work similarities. And it could explain why he is the only hypothyroid dog I know of that can't stand the heat. It is a puzzle trying to figure out what the underlying issue is. One thing that struck me too was reading the Cushing's symptoms is how many people complain about their dogs always being ravenously hungry and begging for food - maybe the test is in order before instead of a diet of green beans. |
| Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushings Syndrome)
Excess production of glucocortoids (Steriods) from the adrenal glans will lead to naturally occurring Cushings Syndrome. However, prolonged, high-dose glucocorticoid therapy may also induce this disease in some individuals. A major use of these cortisone drugs in veterinary practice in the control of pruritus. Consequently specialist veterinary dermatologists may sometimes encounter patients with pruritic skin conditions (eg allergy) and concomitant drug-induced Cushings Syndrome. Irrespective of the cause, the following skin changes will been seen in Cushings Syndrome. Bilaterally symmetrical alopecia, Hyperpigmentation, excessively thin (almost transparent) wrinkly skin and blackheads (comedomes). Pyoderma, easy bruising and poor wound healing can also be a feature. In about 40% of cases solid lumps of calcium will be detected within the skin (calcinosis cutis). The clinical signs of Cushings Syndrome are more disgnostic then those of Hypothyroidism, blood testing is needed to confirm diagnosis and to distinguish between the natural and drug induced forms of the disease. Inappropriate treatment of Cushings Syndrome without laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis will lead to serious side-effects. Kerry if you do think he has Cushings then have him blood tested also if he has a history of being on steriods for periods of time also then get him tested. Sometimes also looking at symptoms over the net can relate to a multitude of similar things in different diseases & just confuse and stress you out, always say after an official diagnosis then good to look up the net to see whats involved after a confirmation of whatever your dog is actually diagnosed with. Think with morgan best to just make sure his Thyroid medication is at the appropriate dose especially if he has been vomitting that he is on the correct dose and getting it. Also maybe looking at changing to a protein in his food he has never had before (Venison, duck something along those lines) to see if that helps the intermittant vomitting he seems to have. Might be as simple as a complete change in diet to help there. Of course if you are suspecting chushings then have him tested for it to answer one way or the other and to take the stress off you as well with the constant worry does he or does he not ! Cushings is an easier diagnosis to confirm with a blood test then testing for Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism does have similar symptoms to Cushings Syndrome. |
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