Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 2618082)

I don't even know :(. I did ask "Wouldn't his adrenals be slightly hypertrophied if he has pituitary based Cushing's?" -- and she said, "no, not necessarily" -- so even his perfect adrenals don't rule-out the pituitary based Cushing's. Dang it. She basically couldn't tell me a thing either way...so frustrating. :(

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 2618061)

UPDATE

Well, no definitive diagnosis...I'm kind of upset :(. Wylie's ACTH number came back as 19.2 -- if it was above 22, they would've said Cushing's - if it had been below 18 - they would've said probably not Cushings. He's in the range they call "equivocal" - meaning he may or may not have it. His "resting cortisol" (before the test started) was 7.8 - normal is 2-6. So his cortisol is elevated, but they still can't be definitive about it.

Bc Cushing's can be so tough to diagnose, they held some of his blood back in case something like this happened. So now, they are sending that blood to the Univ. of Tennessee - and they will do a study on all of his sex hormones and other hormones to see if this cortisol elevation is due to his sex hormones or something else. Then, we may *still* have to do the Low Dose Dexamethasone Test after we get the blood work back.

It takes 10-14 days to hear back from the U of Tenn. - and then we go from there. In the meantime, she wants me to collect another home-urine to test cortisol-creatinine again.

I will say he is drinking/peeing slightly less now that he is on the thyroid...but it is still excessive, just not as much as before.

Any thoughts on the cortisol?

Thanks for all your well wishes :)....we now have to wait up to 2 weeks more...I just hate this not knowing. :(

Originally Posted by Patti (Post 2618198)

Ann I just found Maya's Low dose Dex test results and the base line was 115, after 4 hours it was 72 and after 8 hours 56. Normal range says 0-30 so Maya was a definite Cushings dog. Is there a reason they are holding off on the LDD test? It may be faster than waiting 2 more weeks for the U of T to review.

Originally Posted by bchgirl (Post 2618207)

Yeah and I sent you a link last week. ;)

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 2618235)

:):p:):p - Could you PLEASE inform Wylie of your diagnosis so he will get on with it??? He is really draining his Mama's funds w/ all of this testing. ;)

Originally Posted by bchgirl (Post 2618459)

I still think it's all related to the thyroid....give his body a chance to adapt to the meds.

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 2618477)

Okay...I think I now understand better as to why they want to send Wylie's blood to U of T. This is a techy article and kind of annoying...but I just want to share as I'm learning here in case anyone else goes through this same thing.

They are now looking specifically for atypical Cushing's -- here is the differentiation:

**Cushing's syndrome refers to hyperadrenocorticism with excess production of cortisol.

**Atypical Cushing's disease refers to hyperadrenocorticism caused by increased levels of intermediate adrenal steroids (aka sex steroids.)

So, they are looking at the 2nd one in Wylie's case to see if this due to sex hormones.

(to give you a sense of his polyuria - in the last 1.5 hrs, he has peed 5 times...and it's only 7pm...I think I was imagining/hoping the peeing was getting better :()

Originally Posted by wemple2 (Post 2618481)

Oh geez, still nothing conclusive huh? I'd like to think it's only hypothyroidism...but then in the back of my mind, I'm wondering but what if?
I myself went through testing for Cushing's...and it was after a bout of subacute thyroiditis/T3 toxicosis...after my thyroid finally burnt itself out and I was put on replacement therapy. I kept waiting to feel better, my test results were better, but I still felt awful. But then after a long while...my body figured it out...started feeling better...and of course there was no diagnosis of Cushing's. Sometimes, even though blood test levels are improved, it still takes awhile for the body/brain to realize it.
I really, really do wish Wylie all the best in the world...I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

Originally Posted by AprilLove (Post 2618539)

Ann,
I'm so sorry you and Wylie are going through this :( I know from experience that the whole Cushings diagnosis and treatments and what ifs are sooo frustrating. It is very complicated getting the diagnosis if that is what it is.

I did learn that a LOT of vets go right into the cushings probability when the dog presents with the heavy peeing/drinking or sublte hair loss. I didn't get through this whole thread (hard to read to much at once right now old age, lol) but I hope that he has had full and complete blood panels done to rule out kidney/liver and or possible diabetes. I am assuming you went through all that already.

As for his Hypothyroid I do know that getting the replacement dose correct is not an exact science and it may take awhile for that to get his thyroid back to normal.

Just want to send big hugs and well wishes for Wylie XXOO :):)

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 2618554)

Thanks, Mary Kay :). I just didn't think it would be this tough to get a definitive answer, but apparently it's not uncommon.

We did do tons of bloodwork on him w/ the Dermatologist - and we ruled out diabetes and kidney/liver. His hypothyroid appears to be primary rather than secondary. Who knows....maybe it is only that...and it will just take time for certain symptoms to abate. I sure hope it's just that. *crosses fingers*

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 2614035)

Oh Brooke :( - I know what you mean about typing a looong post up and then *poof* - gone. Seriously so frustrating.

I can't believe all that fur in your hand from Tate :(! I'd be concerned too, it looks like too much. If it's not thyroid and not Cushing's, I wonder what this could be from. Wylie's Derm. did say that his fur loss is not only from the hypothyroid (and we don't know yet w/ cushings until Monday) - but also bc he has the pyoderma - so his follicles become irritated and infected and just push his hair right out. Oddly, we never saw him shedding, never found his fur, never came out after bath - just gone (?)...weird. I think I'm going to try to take pics of his fur and skin so people can see what it looked like.

Marcel sends his Tater-love LOTS of hugs and puppy kisses and wants her to feel better! :wub: :hug::wub:

Originally Posted by Lou (Post 2614553)

Brooke! Could Tatums problem be related to the surgery or the meds she is taking or took? Just a thought. Hope she is doing better too. So prayers going out to you two also!

Originally Posted by stedmansmommy (Post 2619709)

OMG - poor Wylie! Hypothyroid, Cushings and Pyoderma! :cry: The little guy just doesn't deserves all of this...it just breaks my heart! How much can our poor sweet babies possibly go through :( How is he doing now by the way??? I haven't been on all that much in the last few days, but I have been thinking about him!!

I am going to go and do some reading up on Pyoderma....I wonder if THIS could be what Tatum has? :confused: I really thought that she could have Hypothyroid, but the tests came back totally negative. I have a picture (on my other computer) that I need to show you of her shirt - when I took it off the inside was just FULL of hair :( Sigh... I really have got to look into this as I just don't know what is causing the hair loss. Unless it really does just have something to do with her allergies.

Anyway, I don't want to hijack Wylie's thread! I hope the little sweetheart is doing ok and that you are finding some answers! Hopefully when I go further with Tate's testing I will be able to find some myself!

Sweet hugs and kisses to Marcel from the Tator Bug...and she sends some to Mr. Wylie too! :hug:

Originally Posted by stedmansmommy (Post 2613696)

OMG!!! I am so furious! I just spent I don't know how long quoting your post above...I was trying to reply to it, and I did, but I have absolutely NO IDEA what happened....every *single* word I wrote got deleted when I tried to post it!!!! :mad: :( Omg. I am going to just cry. lol...

SIGH....I don't even remember what all I wrote. :( Actually, I am not even going to TRY and remember at this point. Darn it! I just can't believe that happened! Ugh!!

I just wanted to say thank you so much for posting all that you did - I am most definitely going to have a test done to HOPEFULLY rule out Cushings. Although if Cushings is ruled out, then I have absolutely no idea what else could be causing all of this. I have already had a Thyroid test done and it came back negative...so all was good there. If it isn't Cushings, maybe it is just her awful, terrible allergies. At this point I just don't know what else it could be - but SOMETHING is going on. Yorkies just AREN'T supposed to shed/lose hair....and boy is she ever! (See pic below - you are going to FREAK :eek:). That picture was taken after I last gave her a bath and ran my hand over her back and then brushed her and removed all the hair from the brush. It is just absolutely crazy how much hair she loses. And the sink is just FULL of it when I bathe her. :( Even when she was put in the water tank for Aquatic Therapy there was a few gobs of hair floating around in the water.
Anyway, I am going to check out the links that you gave me - thank you so much girl! By the way, how is Wylie doing? I haven't had a chance to read any updates in the thread yet but I have been thinking about him and I certainly hope that he is doing well! :hands:

Give both of the boy tons of sweet hugs and kisses from the babies and I....and an extra smooch on the cheek to Marcel from his girlfriend Tator Bug!

Originally Posted by Lou (Post 2620821)

Darn it Ann! We were supposed to have a diagnosis and treatment plan by now. Poor Wylie! Is he stressing out over urinating so frequently?

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 2619746)

I know...these poor lovebugs...they really don't deserve to feel bad for one single day :(. Here is Wylie's update as of Monday (still don't know anything :(): http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/2618061-post111.html -- so we wait another 10-14 days for the U of Tennessee.

Brooke, if you go HERE (this is where I took the boys) - and click on FAQs, and then "What is Pyoderma" -- there are pics, but that is a very severe case. Wylie's looked wayyy more subtle - he had some red, patchy areas on his tummy, he had flakes all over and red patches here and there; the back of his legs looked red/patchy/hairless too. He had fur loss on all 4 legs and then it was starting on his body. It is easily cleared up w/ a once a day does of Simplicef for 2-3 weeks. His skin is already looking much better!

Kisses and hugs to the Tator - from both the boys, but especially from her Marcel. :love:

Originally Posted by Tiger's Mom (Post 2620870)

oh ann am so sorry to hear you have to wait another 2 weeks for better results . . . :( . .Annika has a lot of her hair on her legs gone too, which I feel is from excessive scratching . . .she is shedding as well which is so unusual as their breed shouldn't be shedding at all . . .however yesterday I have seen a tremendous decrease in shedding, more like barely nothing . . no signs of hair on the brush and on the bed :thumbup: . .am not sure if the cortizone shot has anything to do with it so am hoping it is the diet that is causing this wonderful change in her . . . by sunday her meds will completely wear off and am hoping that the change in diet is indeed the cause of much improvement. right now she barely scratches at all and am so very happy . .whether it be the cortizone working its magic or the diet . . .at this point, I just don't care and am just thrilled she is out of being so uncomfortable :) . . I hope the 2 weeks will zoom fast so we can know for sure what is "troubling" your little stud muffin.

On a lighter note, I did not realize that his heart belongs to Tate :) that is so cute . .they are a perfect match . . . both sooo gorgeous. :aimeeyork

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom (Post 2620900)

Aw Des, I hope you get answers too - it will be interesting to see what happens after the steroid wears off for Annika...I so hope the diet is the key, so you don't have to medicate and you don't have to watch her scratch...I know how miserable it is to watch these babies w/ allergies, and feel helpless.

Yep, Marcel took Tate to the Valentines Ball this year and that was it - he was done - hook, paw, and sinker :p.