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Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom  I'm glad you saw this, Kellie  .
Oddly, he doesn't have "pot belly" - but I have thought for months that he feels more boney and has lost muscle mass -- but his weight is pretty much the same. So, it "feels" like a redistribution of muscle mass - which would make one think more cushingoid. He has terrible polydipsia and polyuria, which worries me more about Cushing's. He does have an increased appetite - but since I feed 2x day - he can't really overeat. He has so many signs of Cushing's...
...but then again, I have to say that he has ALL of his usual tons-of-energy, is not lethargic at all (although his duration of fetching is a bit shorter - he tires a little quicker and I have noticed this). He definitely has the skin and fur issues that come w/ Cushings...although these could also be just from hypothryoid.
I'm not totally sure which test they'll do, but I'm kind of assuming after reading my eyes out that they'll do that 8hr test (and the Derm also mentioned that test) -- and then if they do feel it's Adrenal (please no...), then I'm guessing they'd want to do an US to see if it's operable...and we'd also have to figure out if it's benign or malignant.
Even though adrenal is somewhat worse in terms of prognosis, at least it may be operable. But the operation is said to be "extremely complicated" -- so that's scary.
This might be just hypothyroid though....my hubby keeps telling me to focus on it being only that...but you know how worried you get and you think the worst...  |
How old is Wylie now? he's only a few years old right?
unfortunately with his symptoms is does sounds like cushings...
but there is a possibility its not.
If it is cushings and its determined that he has an adrenal mass they will probably monitor it for the first few months. U/S will be needed to check the growth every few months. if its rapidly growing, i think they'll want to take it out since Wylie is young and otherwise healthy. I don't know if they do biopsies first under ansesthesia with a U/S needle guided aspiration. I don't know a lot about this as i was on the surgery end of the disease and not the internal medicine end.
I had assisted in a few adrenalectomies before and it is quite complicated. Not to get graphic but when the dog is on the operating table on his back all the other organs are basically on top of the adrenal glads. With a smaller dog it might be easier since they are not as deep. As you known and i'm sure you'd do, i recommend a board certified surgeon to do this surgery. Are you going to an Internist at a referral center? If so they probably have a surgeon there that would do the surgery. These dogs need to be highly monitored during and post surgery. Many test need to be run prior, during, and post to make sure the patient is doing ok. After all is said and done, many dogs do great afterwards. I'm not sure if they need to be on meds for life after surgery.
Wylie has a lot of things going for him and I know he is going to be ok no matter what happens!