What a Bittersweet week...Cushing's disease??
 

At Valentino's pre-dental cleaning appointment, the Dr. ran the prep blood work and a urine test only for both to come back with less than stellar results. At first they thought he had possible kidney stones and hypothyroidism. So, I preceded to panic and beat myself up about not seeing any symptoms while my beautiful boy is walking around sick...

Then, a second round of more detailed testing shows no kidney problems, but an enlarged liver...so possible cushing's disease. I have been researching anything I can find and feel so helpless. :cry8: We have an abdominal ultrasound scheduled for him on tuesday afternoon and I am worried sick.

Just as I sit here and think about it, my eyes well up with tears and I cannot imagine my poor little angel having to go through this. Anyone here have any experience with this??? I would love to hear some encouraging news...

So sorry to hear this news...

but it is a good thing I think that it is being discovered before he showed any signs of being ill.

I'll keep your little on in my prayers...

I am sorry Valentino's results were off. My pom had Cushing's. She was around 9 1/2 when she was diagnosed. She started with hair loss on her sides and tail, sores on her body, ferocious appetite and thirst. They though at first it was thyroid but meds didn't help so we went to a specialist who did the ultrasound and ACTH stim tests. If he does have Cushing's I would recommend taking him to a specialist as it is a tricky disease to treat. I will keep positive thoughts that it is nothing serious.

Thanks for your kind words everyone! The hardest part, beyond knowing your baby is sick, is that he has none of the classic symptoms. Even the vet was stumped when his thyroid tests were off. He is full of energy, has a full, healthy coat that I sometimes feel grows abnormally fast, is eating and drinking normally, is very muscular and "hardy" for a Yorkie...

Maybe we just caught it very, very early on. That is my hope. Thank goodness for my "gut" feeling that he should really get his teeth cleaned. Even the vet wasn't convinced he needed a cleaning...but thank goodness for those tests! It is just so perplexing?!?!?!

I realize I haven't been on the boards here in quite some time...but being back make me remember the kindness and caring of everyone here!:ghug:

He may not even have Cushings. Try not to worry too much .. just get all of the testing done.
Wylie's Mom has a cushings pup...you might want to PM her and ask her for advice. :)

I'm sorry about your baby. I hope that Valentino will be OK.

My schipperke, Winnie, had Cushing's. She was asymptomatic and seemed healthy as could be for most of her life. She was diagnosed when she was about 9 yrs old and had routine geriatric screening done. We never really saw any signs of it until a few months before she passed when she began to have seizures (she would freeze and stare off into space) and muscle weakness. Sometimes she would just fall over and need help to get back up. She lived to be 13 yrs old.

Sending good thoughts and prayers for Valentino.

Sending good thoughts for your pup, and hope it turns out to be something minor. Diagnosis is a frustrating time, and my thoughts are with you.

I've been down a similar road with Tiki, thinking she had a liver shunt, and worrying myself sick. Later found she didn't, and with no symptoms may or may not have MVD.

My Cairn Terrier had Cushings, on the vets advice we chose not to do any treatments. We were told the treatments were very painful. He never showed any symptoms but an extended belly. He was very active and otherwise healthy until the last few weeks of his life. He was 14 when he passed away. Praying for your baby.

Thoughts and prayers are with you!!!!

Hello, sorry to hear the bittersweet news about your little angel and please don't beat your self up. I did the same thing when my 10 year old brussel griffon x male died of a heart attack when going to the vet. to have his teeth clean the next day.One second he was drinking his water and the next minute he keeled over and was gone. So, no matter how well one prepares for the unexpected, when it happens it is good to have loving people to support you and give you peace. Will be praying.

Thanks so much everyone...your thoughts and kind words are so appreciated. We are waiting on liver function test results that were done earlier today and will be getting a full abdominal ultrasound on tuesday afternoon with a radiologist. I can only assume they will be looking for any additional liver abnormalities and possible adrenal tumors??? From there, I am sure we will proceed with all of the necessary testing. I hate to think of putting him through all that. Today when the vet called to tell me he was ready to be picked up, I could hear his barking in the backround and it broke my heart.

As of now, Valentino has no idea anything is wrong with him...I hope to keep him as blissful as possible and know that positive thoughts go a long way! His Daddy, Mommy, Yorkie sister and new-born Biewer sister plan to give him huge doses of the only medicine we know, lots of LOVE!!!!!

Love is the best medicine:D

Hi Amanda - I know we've been PMing, but thought I'd also lend any support you need here as well.

In your last PM, you mentioned the possibility of Atypical Cushings - and this is exactly what my Wylie has. This type of Cushings can take longer to diagnose bc the only lab in the country that does this kind of blood testing is at the U of Tennessee. Dr. Jack Oliver is the leading canine Cushings/endocrinology vet in the U.S. (if not the world).

Has your vet done an ACTH Stim test yet, or LDDS? That's a first step, even before the ultrasound, or on the same day preferably (since she would have to stay for 1/2 day for the Stim test anyway - they usually do an ultrasound then as well).

Now, for atypical -- the stim tests are borderline or inconclusive, but still suspicious. It is at that point that blood has to be sent (make sure they keep some of the blood from the pre-stim in case it needs to be sent to Dr. Oliver) to UofTenn for the Atypical testing. Here is one of the forms your vet can use to submit.

These are treatment options for Atypical Cushings, about which Dr. Oliver will advise after seeing which sex-steroid is the root of the problem.

Here is a link to UofTenn's endocrinology.

This is my fave Cushings overiew.

This is a yahoo group for Cushings; I don't post there, but I def recommend joining bc the archives are AMAZING, especially for Atypicals. There is a ton of info there, so try not to get too overwhelmed. I had a long learning curve in really understanding Cushings, and this is typical of other pet owners who are dealing w/ Cushings. It's a very complex disease (both diagnostically and in treatment), so it takes a while for things to move forward.

I've probably overwhelmed you enough already. But, I have many more Cushings sites I could give you...but the ones I've posted are the ones I ended up using the most (and still use).

There is another member I've been PMing with whose kiddo may also have Cushings, so I hope she too sees your thread. I'll PM her and point her here. :)

Best of luck, and your baby is in my thoughts.

I am pulling for you guys. I am no expert on the disease, but he is in the best of hands with you. It sucks when our pets get hurt or a disease. Hang tough.

Wylie'sMom...I really appreciate the information you provided and am happy to have such a knowledgeable person to turn to if he does, indeed, get the diagnosis of Cushing's...either typical or atypical.

The only test my vet has done was a Bile Acid test for liver function after her finding what she felt was an enlarged liver for his size. On tuesday we get an ultrasound and will go from there. However, if the radiologist does suspect Cushing's, Hubby and I have decided to search for a vet that is much more familiar with the disease. I really didn't feel comfortable about the way she casually mentioned he may have it, and then I learned the potential severity of the disease through my own online research. Also, I found that they got the results of the bile acid test this morning, but I have to wait until the doctor is in on tuesday for her to read them to me. I may be overracting, but this is a scary time for me, and I am thankful for all the support here!

I def agree on going to a specialist. Usually, you'd go see an Internist for Cushings diagnosis. On that yahoo group, there is a list of Vets whose practice includes Cushings.

Just fyi, the adrenals can look completely normal on ultrasound, and yet still have Cushings (either adrenal based or pituitary). So, this is why an ACTH or LDDS is so important, even if an ultrasound is normal.

Just to back up a bit, before any of the above tests...most vets (if they even suspect Cushings) will do a Urine Cortisol-Creatinine Ratio Test -- as this test is cheapest (relatively, in Cushings), simplest, and points to whether or not further testing for Cushings is even needed.

I know, so confusing!

Is your vet open today? You could always stop by and say you need a copy of your pet's records :D....just sayin'.

:thumbup:

One of my fosters had been diagnosed with Cushings before he came to me. My vet, based on the lab studies, did not believe it was Cushings. She did the above testing and it ended up to be pseudo cushings aka alopecia x. I was told the same thing about the ultrasound not being a good diagnostic tool.

I must agree here, and am only doing the ultrasound as a possible "least invasive" step in our journey to find what is truly ailing Valentino. I am actually researching different veterinarians right now in hopes that I can find someone close to consult. As I said, I am starting to see that this is not my vet's expertise and have found that you shouldn't go against gut feelings when you get them, especially when it is dealing with the health of a (very) loved one...:aimeeyork

There is nothing invasive about the other tests. A vet would have to explain to me why I was spending money for an ultrasound...is it because he is looking for something else perhaps? And...just saying that perhaps looking at the kidneys would be a good idea?

Oh I just noticed your avatar...how adorable!!! Kissing pups! :D

This is precisely the reason I am happy to be a member here with such informed and caring people...looks like I need to call my vet and get some answers as to why a full abdominal ultrasound is the next proposed step. Hmmmm....

There could be a very good reason! But...always good to ask :)

With Maya they did the ultrasound and the first ACTH stim test the same day. The ultrasound showed nothing. If I remember correctly, if there had been a tumor they could do surgery but I may be confused. It is very important to have a specialist involved in the care of a Cushing's dog. My vet referred me as it was out of their realm of expertise. I hope you can get some answers.

So, after what feels like hours of research, I was able to review some information on the ACVIM ( American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine ) and actually come away feeling a bit more at ease. It seems that we are in good hands on tuesday's appointment as I was able to find some great info about the radiologist we are going to see. I was also able to find a good list of board certified small animal internists available at Penn Veterinary Hospital. So, we are well on our way...I am starting to feel more at ease that Tino will get some great care. I really appreciate all of you and will keep you posted. Right now, I am going to give my sweet boy a pup massage and snuggle him and his sister, Lolita until they make me stop:luvu:

Penn is awesome! I am glad that you are feeling a bit more relaxed about all of it.

Hi Amanda,

I just wanted to let you know that my Sweet Pea was diagnosed with Cushing's disease today. She has two massive pituitary dependent tumors in her brain and a completely ruptured left ligament in her left rear leg and partial in her right. The vet is researching radiation treatments but thanks to Ann, I am going to have our vet contact the doctor in Tenn. tomorrow and see if we can get some help. Sweet Pea is only 5 1/2 years old which the vet said must be hereditary because you hardly ever see it in a dog so young. We have had the ACTH test, x-rays and ultra sound done so far. They are recommending we have a MRI done ($1,250!!!) in order to know exactly where to do the radiation. I hope you find some help for your precious baby and ya'll will both be in my prayers.:aimeeyork

I am so, so sorry to hear this news and extend my thoughts to you and your baby, Sweet Pea. We have our ultrasound appointment tomorrow afternoon and I am filled with nervous energy. I am trying really hard to be brave because I know these little ones definitely can sense our emotions, and Tino is such a sensitive little guy. I too believe that if Valentino does have Cushing's, it has to be a dormant hereditary condition. So, if those are the cards we are dealt, we will do the best we can to help him. Again, thank you for sharing...and we appreciate your prayers!