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Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom  I looked into this when my Wylie was first diagnosed at age 4.5 (he's now 12) - and I did not find anything that reliably and consistently appeared to decrease the circulating cortisone levels. We've gone the medical route for about 8 years now, with no side effects at all. |
Hi Ann,
Thank you for your reply. I am concerned about the drugs for treating cushings disease, as Tootsy is very sensitive to drugs of any sort and I hear that these drugs are harsh. However, I do realise that the results of not treating her effectively would have more serious consequences.
I see that in the USA they use mitotane to control the cortisol in the blood. Over here in the UK they use trilostane. I read the side effects of both. One thing that really worried me is that the incidents of sudden deaths, and deaths within a few days of starting therapy, have been reported with Trilostane, while there are no reports of mitotane-induced deaths. The overal incidents of side effects with trilostane is, however, lower. there are also a number of other issues with trilostane which I won't print out now. Nevertheless, I am concerned about this drug.
Did you find that Wylie suffered any side effects with mitotane or have you heard of any dogs suffering bad side effects? How much of the drug do you need to give Wylie? Tootsy has put on a lot of weight, due to excessive hunger, and has a pot belly. She now weighs 6.2kg!!! She is not a small dog but should weigh around 5.2 - 5.4kg.
I would also like advice from you regarding whether I should take her to a specialist, instead of just letting the vet treat her? The vet is likely to say that she will treated with the same drug, anyway, and that it is an unnecessary expense. Also, how do they tell whether she has a tumour and whether it is benign or cancerous?
Tootsy is having blood tests done and I would like to know what blood tests Wylie had done, and any other tests that he had done, to make sure it was cushings. I hope you don't mind me asking all these questions! I have to say that from posts on YT, I feel that veterinary treatment in the States is excellent. Over here in the UK people very seldom take their pets to a specialist.
Tootsy's symptoms are a pot belly, excessive hunger, having little accidents during the night, does not want to walk much, her tummy has a lot of 'black' skin - this developed over the years and the vet didn't think it was important, and she pants when she is not hot or tired. In the past I have pointed out these synptoms as they occured, but the vet just said she is getting old. I am now wondering if she had cushings for years and has not being diagnosed. She did have blood tests done last year (they do not do yearly blood work over here) and everything was normal, despite some of these symptoms. She has been drinking more, but I am wondering if I have caused this by putting some salt in her homemade meals. I am going to stop this immediately. Is Wylie on a special diet for cushings?
Thanks so much for your help, Ann. I appreciate it so much.
hugs,
Yvonne