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Originally Posted by LilyBelle JBARILE:
I am so sorry this has happened to your precious baby.....
I, too know the pain of a Cushing's dog.... My former pet, a Westie named "Baby", was diagnosed late in her life with Cushinsgs. We had no idea she even HAD the disease until a random blood test showed some peculiar results.
I wanted to try and help as much as I could.
1) The sagging belly.... The typical Cushing's dog has a bulging, sagging belly caused by a decrease in muscle strength and redistribution of fat from body storage areas to the abdomen. So although it may be some water weight, it is most likely reforming your baby's shape.
2) About 85 percent of the cases are caused by pituitary tumors. Pituitary-induced Cushing's can be treated by drug therapy, but it cannot be cured. Adrenal gland tumors can often be surgically removed.
3) Alternatives to your Medication:
A -- Lysodren. Lysodren kills the outer layer of the adrenal gland that manufactures the corticosteroids. Careful regulation of the drug determines how much of the cortex is killed so that a normal amount of the hormone can be produced. This protocol requires periodic blood tests to make sure the dog has a normal amount of cortisol and does not develop Addison's disease. Once the proper dosage has been determined, the dog's condition may be maintained by periodic instead of daily doses.
B -- Ketoconazole. Ketoconazole works by suppressing cortisol secretion in the adrenal glands. It requires daily dosing, monitoring, and acute observation by the pet owner, and is expensive. Some dogs cannot absorb it, rendering it useless in 20-25 percent of cases. It is useful for dogs that cannot tolerate Lysodren, has a low incidence of toxicity, and is completely reversible if necessary.
Please be aware, left untreated, Cushing's disease will progress and can lead to life-threatening disordersL diabetes, congestive heart failure, and liver and kidney failure, and to chronic maladies such as hypothyroidism and infections of the skin, ears, gums, eyes, or bladder.
I hope this does not scare you -- I just want you to be aware of what there is to know -- so that you can make an informed decision for your babies.... I know how hard and frustrating it is.... So good luck, and if you need anything, please feel free to PM me. |