Cushings disease

[GeorgiesMomma]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Sounds like you have an amazing girl and an amazing husband. I love to hear about men loving their dogs, its such a pure love.

I definitely do! It's so cute to see him with Coco and Georgie Coco was originally my in-laws dog but she loved my husband so much about 8 years ago she came to visit and never left. They love her too but there is just a bond she has with him and now me too. My in-laws know that and know she is so happy when she is with us I am so glad she is our girl

I hope they are able to determine what course of action to take once the test results from tomorrow come back. I know Ann mentioned it's a complicated disease and the Vet said the same.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by GeorgiesMomma

I definitely do! It's so cute to see him with Coco and Georgie Coco was originally my in-laws dog but she loved my husband so much about 8 years ago she came to visit and never left. They love her too but there is just a bond she has with him and now me too. My in-laws know that and know she is so happy when she is with us I am so glad she is our girl

I hope they are able to determine what course of action to take once the test results from tomorrow come back. I know Ann mentioned it's a complicated disease and the Vet said the same.

Yes, it sounds like it's various illnesses grouped together.

[GeorgiesMomma]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Yes, it sounds like it's various illnesses grouped together.

I was told that if tomorrow's test is borderline another test would have to be done. Thank God for savings and Care Credit

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by GeorgiesMomma

I was told that if tomorrow's test is borderline another test would have to be done. Thank God for savings and Care Credit

Yeah, I know when they get up in age, even healthy dogs can start running up the bills.

[GeorgiesMomma]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Yeah, I know when they get up in age, even healthy dogs can start running up the bills.

We just paid off the surgery for Georgie. We love them both so much so it doesn't matter. We are committed to doing whatever is necessary for our children

[shelimcallister]

Awwweee. I love that your husband does that for Coco. It must be difficult to see your furbaby going through that. I will pray for Coco and your family. Hugs.

[GeorgiesMomma]

Originally Posted by shelimcallister

Awwweee. I love that your husband does that for Coco. It must be difficult to see your furbaby going through that. I will pray for Coco and your family. Hugs.

Thank you He is really great. She starts her evening out on our bed then gets up in the middle of the night and he carries her downstairs (she is 80lbs). It's definitely been hard to see her struggle to walk and seem so uncomfortable, but I know with age things like this happen.

Thank you again you are so sweet

[Rescuemomma]

Good luck! I'll be thinking of you!

Unfortunately, I'm all to familiar with this horrible disease - Some dogs do very well and are easily controlled once put on medications. Others can be quite challenging. I've also delt with the heartache of the opposite - Addisons Disease, but with either one of them proper balance of meds and frequent exams and checks is very important, as an Addison dog or a Cushings dog that's even slightly over-medicated can go the opposite way and start showing symptoms of the opposite disease! I had one dog that was misdiagnosed with Addisons (rare, but it can happen as there are some factors that affect the ACTH test! If your dog has had a steroid for any reason in the last 2 months, I'd ask about putting it off!) that the vets started treating for Addisons. It threw her into Cushings. One thing I found very helpful in managing either one is herbal and homeopathic remedies designed to balance and maintain adrenal health. Some vets know nothing or are scared of these methods - I truly believe the best way to manage a dog with Cushings if your dog tests positive is to find a vet that's open to alternative medicine, and a holistic vet or at least a vet very familiar with alternative medicine that can work with your traditional vet to truly give you the best of both worlds in managing it!

[mugwee1]

Keeping Coco and you in my prayer's.

[GeorgiesMomma]

Originally Posted by Rescuemomma

Good luck! I'll be thinking of you!

Unfortunately, I'm all to familiar with this horrible disease - Some dogs do very well and are easily controlled once put on medications. Others can be quite challenging. I've also delt with the heartache of the opposite - Addisons Disease, but with either one of them proper balance of meds and frequent exams and checks is very important, as an Addison dog or a Cushings dog that's even slightly over-medicated can go the opposite way and start showing symptoms of the opposite disease! I had one dog that was misdiagnosed with Addisons (rare, but it can happen as there are some factors that affect the ACTH test! If your dog has had a steroid for any reason in the last 2 months, I'd ask about putting it off!) that the vets started treating for Addisons. It threw her into Cushings. One thing I found very helpful in managing either one is herbal and homeopathic remedies designed to balance and maintain adrenal health. Some vets know nothing or are scared of these methods - I truly believe the best way to manage a dog with Cushings if your dog tests positive is to find a vet that's open to alternative medicine, and a holistic vet or at least a vet very familiar with alternative medicine that can work with your traditional vet to truly give you the best of both worlds in managing it!

Thank you for the information. I am definitely interested in the alternative medicine. I am hoping to have the results back in the next couple of days. Thank you again

[Nancy1999]

I found this article on Cushings and found it very informative: Cushings Disease In Your Dog (Hyperadrenocorticism) What Happened And What You Need To Do. Again, best of luck!

[GeorgiesMomma]

Thank you Nancy! I have been reading a ton on the disease. The tests results should be in tomorrow. I know that she is 12 1/2 but like I said before we want her to be comfortable for as long as she's alive and she is so not right now. Last night she had an accident (her first since she was a puppy) and you could tell she was disappointed in herself She started whining right after the accident. Of course we cleaned it up and told her it was ok, but like our vet said she is so well trained she doesn't want to feel like she can't hold it either. Anyways thanks again I will check out the article and post the results tomorrow.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by GeorgiesMomma

Thank you Nancy! I have been reading a ton on the disease. The tests results should be in tomorrow. I know that she is 12 1/2 but like I said before we want her to be comfortable for as long as she's alive and she is so not right now. Last night she had an accident (her first since she was a puppy) and you could tell she was disappointed in herself She started whining right after the accident. Of course we cleaned it up and told her it was ok, but like our vet said she is so well trained she doesn't want to feel like she can't hold it either. Anyways thanks again I will check out the article and post the results tomorrow.

That breaks my heart, I know she was probably so dissapointed in herself.

[GeorgiesMomma]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

That breaks my heart, I know she was probably so dissapointed in herself.

My husband heard her whining and went upstairs to check on her and saw that she had an accident. She is having a hard time walking on her back legs which we thought was arthritis but it's also a sign of Cushings. It's crazy how much Cushings can resemble normal aging. I am glad we took her to get checked out.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by GeorgiesMomma

My husband heard her whining and went upstairs to check on her and saw that she had an accident. She is having a hard time walking on her back legs which we thought was arthritis but it's also a sign of Cushings. It's crazy how much Cushings can resemble normal aging. I am glad we took her to get checked out.

Yup, you got this right. Muscle wasting can happen w/ Cush, even in young dogs - esp in the hind legs. Wylie was only 4 before his diagnosis, but prior to that...I had been noticing that he was having a bit of trouble jumping up onto the sofa or bed...which he'd never had before; I couldn't figure it out. After his Cush got treated, his strength came back. Also, his excessive drinking and peeing toned down a lot.

Thinking of you and Coco . Hang in there.