YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Wylie has Hypothyroid, Pyoderma, and maybe Cushing's Disease

lil fu fu girl · 05-04-2009, 03:41 PM

I think the 8 hour test you speak of might be the "Low dose Dexamethasone Test". A baseline blood sample is drawn in the morning, an injection of Dexamethasone is given, and then follow-up blood tests are taken at 4 and 8 hours later.
In a healthy dog the Dexamethasone should suppress the cortisol in the blood stream. In Cushings, this does not occur.
If your vet has a lab on facility for bloodwork, he might be able to give you an answer right there. But if it has to be sent out, it might take a few days.
I am really sorry to hear that you are going through this with your little one. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

05-04-2009, 03:41 PM	#3
lil fu fu girl No Longer a Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,410	I think the 8 hour test you speak of might be the "Low dose Dexamethasone Test". A baseline blood sample is drawn in the morning, an injection of Dexamethasone is given, and then follow-up blood tests are taken at 4 and 8 hours later. In a healthy dog the Dexamethasone should suppress the cortisol in the blood stream. In Cushings, this does not occur. If your vet has a lab on facility for bloodwork, he might be able to give you an answer right there. But if it has to be sent out, it might take a few days. I am really sorry to hear that you are going through this with your little one. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.