zowi possibly has cushing's disease / enlarged liver US results :'( please help

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by zowiandnikasmom

ann, thank you for checking in on me and zowi. our regular dr is absolutely wonderful and i am so grateful that we found her. she really is the best, has been seeing zowi since she was a pup. while she was out of the office sick we had another great dr (which i usually don't feel that way about other drs) who seems very knowledgeable about cushings. she spent a good half hour explaining it to me and talking about possible treatments after zowi's ultrasound. so i am happy to say she has both of these great drs working hard to help her. i will update results as soon as i have them. waiting is so hard i wish i could do more for her now. if necessary in the future i would take her to a specialist... i am about 40 miles south of chicago where i am sure i could find a great one if needed.
zowi has been in good spirits. our walks have gotten a little shorter lately though because of her panting.
does your baby boy wylie eat a special diet for cushings? i am so glad that you have been able to do so well for him, i say prayers that he continues to be a happy healthy crazy boy for many many years to come!!! all the links you sent have helped me understand everything so much i cannot tell you how grateful i am. thank you! hugs to you and your furfamily!!!

I'm so glad those sites helped ! Wylie eats pre-made raw (Primal), but that's not a special diet for Cushings. I remember the waiting for U of Tenn too...so hard. I think our results came in a little early, which was nice.

Are her shorter walks due to the hear intolerance? If yes, that (and exercise intolerance) does get much better once the cortisol is balanced.

Hugs to you and yours! You're so on top of this. Lucky kiddo, that Zowi.

[zowiandnikasmom]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I'm so glad those sites helped ! Wylie eats pre-made raw (Primal), but that's not a special diet for Cushings. I remember the waiting for U of Tenn too...so hard. I think our results came in a little early, which was nice.

Are her shorter walks due to the hear intolerance? If yes, that (and exercise intolerance) does get much better once the cortisol is balanced.

Hugs to you and yours! You're so on top of this. Lucky kiddo, that Zowi.

i think it probably is heat intolerance. we have had some cooler weather lately and even then she is panting a lot. i don't wanna overdo anything so we've been doing shorter distances. when we go to the dog park she just wants to lay in the grass mostly and watch her little sister pixie run around. she does seem to have hot flashes then go lay on the kitchen or office floor tile lately. or when i put her in bed with me at night she has a hot flash and goes to sleep under the bed, even if the central air is running. i did tell the drs about that too. i truly hope that will get better for her. i am hoping that her results come back a little early too. it has only been since saturday and i'm looking at my phone wishing for a call. they cannot come soon enough lol. thanks again for the help. and your wylie is lucky to have you too!

[Yorkiedaze]

This information is something that I found when I had a foster with Cushings disease, and it was such a huge help and blessing.

cush02

[zowiandnikasmom]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

This information is something that I found when I had a foster with Cushings disease, and it was such a huge help and blessing.

cush02

thank you!

[Taryn0405]

I just read through this whole thread. Let me start by saying, my little Cammie (who wasCairn) had cu shings disease. They caught it with a blood test and she had lost her vision, however she was put on meds and seemed to do just fine. She was diagnosed with it when she was 3 years old and passed away at 10. So that was 7 years with it, and the vet believes that if they had caught it sooner, then she would have lived even longer.

I'm not a vet, but I know Cushing's can be treatable and some dogs can live with it. Although my darling Cammie was blind, she was adorable and loving. Always happy to "see" me walk through the door and was my best friend until the day I knew would come and I had to make the hardest decision of my life.

Prayers for your baby, know that there is hope. Hugs and licks from Gizmo.
Keep us updated!

[zowiandnikasmom]

Originally Posted by Taryn0405

I just read through this whole thread. Let me start by saying, my little Cammie (who wasCairn) had cu shings disease. They caught it with a blood test and she had lost her vision, however she was put on meds and seemed to do just fine. She was diagnosed with it when she was 3 years old and passed away at 10. So that was 7 years with it, and the vet believes that if they had caught it sooner, then she would have lived even longer.

I'm not a vet, but I know Cushing's can be treatable and some dogs can live with it. Although my darling Cammie was blind, she was adorable and loving. Always happy to "see" me walk through the door and was my best friend until the day I knew would come and I had to make the hardest decision of my life.

Prayers for your baby, know that there is hope. Hugs and licks from Gizmo.
Keep us updated!

thanks so much for the prayers and advice. they do give hope. it is truly wonderful that your little cammie did so well with her treatment, and i'm sure it's because you took the best of care of her!!! i am truly sorry for your loss. i know how painful it is losing one of your babies, i just lost my little nika this past august and it has been so hard. my heart goes out to you. thank you for sharing. my dad has a 14 year old yorkie named gizmo who is my zowi's sister from a different litter, love that name. hugs and licks back to gizmo!

[shodanusmc]

Carrie, any new news? Have a great weekend.

[zowiandnikasmom]

zowi's acth test results came in today... her regular dogtor is not in today, so i briefly spoke with another doctor regarding the results. they came back that she is "slightly atypical." her cortisol levels were normal, but sex hormones were elevated. still not sure what the next step will be as our regular dr will be in tomorrow and will thouroughly go through her results and create a treatment plan. i wanted to ask a million questions, but i know i will feel much better discussing everything with zowi's dr. i will add an update after i have talked to her.... i am so worried.
thanks to everyone for your support, and please continue the positive thoughts and prayers for my sweet zowi.

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by zowiandnikasmom

zowi's acth test results came in today... her regular dogtor is not in today, so i briefly spoke with another doctor regarding the results. they came back that she is "slightly atypical." her cortisol levels were normal, but sex hormones were elevated. still not sure what the next step will be as our regular dr will be in tomorrow and will thouroughly go through her results and create a treatment plan. i wanted to ask a million questions, but i know i will feel much better discussing everything with zowi's dr. i will add an update after i have talked to her.... i am so worried.
thanks to everyone for your support, and please continue the positive thoughts and prayers for my sweet zowi.

Everyone is hoping for the best for little Zowi. Will be awaiting your next update after you talk with the regular vet. Relax, and have a nice night...even though I know you will not relax until you have all the answers and a treatment plan.

[zowiandnikasmom]

so i finally got to speak to our regular vet this afternoon... she informed me that the acth result showed zowi to have high levels of estrodial. her resting cortisol was low and after acth stim it was normal. this makes her still unsure what to do as far as treatment options. she also said that the u of tenn results did not have the normal / abnormal reading after each hormone it measures, but it normally does. there are also no notes indicated in a box at the bottom where they suggest treatment. she is calling u of tenn endocrinology department monday morning to find out more information, and she said that it takes a day or so for them to get back to her.
waiting is so hard. next time i bring her in to the dr, i will be obtaining copies of all of her labs from this past year including acth. the yahoo group for cushing's will probably have alot of helpful info once i have her labs on hand. i really wish that i could be doing more for zowi right now, she's my little princess.
please continue prayers and keep zowi in your thoughts! thanks

[shodanusmc]

http://www.chicagoveterinaryemergenc...2010rr_pdf.pdf

Carrie, the above hospital has the best in every field. Carlo sees Dr. Jack MacKenzie. Both Internal Med guys are great. I hope you soon get more answers. Stay strong and positive my friend.

[susan lynn]

My prayers are with you and Zowi. My Cairn Terrier had cushings and he lived to be 14 years old.

[Taryn0405]

Thinking about you both!

You're both in my prayers tonight.

Please keep us updated.

Cuddles and licks from Gizmo!

[lisaly]

The waiting is so difficult, especially when you want to help your baby so badly like you do. I pray that you are able to move forward with a treatment plan, that it helps Zowi feel much better, and that you are able to rest easier in your mind. I think of you a lot, and I am always wishing you love, laughter, health, and happiness for all of your family. I wish I knew more to help you with this, but please know that I am pulling for you and really care.

[zowiandnikasmom]

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

http://www.chicagoveterinaryemergenc...2010rr_pdf.pdf

Carrie, the above hospital has the best in every field. Carlo sees Dr. Jack MacKenzie. Both Internal Med guys are great. I hope you soon get more answers. Stay strong and positive my friend.

steve, thank you so much for the recommendation. if no answers very soon for zowi, i will be taking her there. i know they have done wonders for carlo! i'm already driving almost 40 miles to our dr, it would be about the same driving to the city...