Possible Cushings Disease??

[kokopelli]

Hello, This may be a long post so I appologize ahead of time. I'll try to keep it simple. Approximately 3 days ago, my yorkie got into food that wasn't his. He ended up getting several bites of Little Ceasears food that is a treat for one of my other dogs. Mikki has a very sensitive stomach and when this happened once before, be vomited and had diareaha for one or two days and then began eating again. This time, I think something more serious is going on. He did not have any diareaha but did throw up for two days. This is the morning of the 4th day and he still has not eaten anything (so it's been 3 days with only just a handfull of chicken) he is drinking lots of water and I have given him karo syrup to keep his blood sugar up. He is walking around but is definitely not himself. While researching on the internet I came accross the symptoms for Cushings. Mikki has many of the symptoms like the potbelly, excessive drinking and peeing and is constantly hungry. Now I'm confused because although he has all of these symptoms on a regular basis, right now he's not eating at all and I understand throwing up is not a symptom for Cushings. I need to get him to eat something until I can get him to our vet tomorrow. I'm scared that it's been three days now with just water, karo syrup and a handfull of chicken. Could someone please help me know what to do for him? Thanks so much......Kayla

[Ladymom]

I would not try to diagnose him yourself over the internet. The main concern at this point is that he hasn't eaten for three days. He is probably dehydrated which can be very serious, even fatal, because it causes a dangerous electrolyte balance. Do you have an ER vet in your area? If he were mine I would not wait another day.

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by kokopelli

Hello, This may be a long post so I appologize ahead of time. I'll try to keep it simple. Approximately 3 days ago, my yorkie got into food that wasn't his. He ended up getting several bites of Little Ceasears food that is a treat for one of my other dogs. Mikki has a very sensitive stomach and when this happened once before, be vomited and had diareaha for one or two days and then began eating again. This time, I think something more serious is going on. He did not have any diareaha but did throw up for two days. This is the morning of the 4th day and he still has not eaten anything (so it's been 3 days with only just a handfull of chicken) he is drinking lots of water and I have given him karo syrup to keep his blood sugar up. He is walking around but is definitely not himself. While researching on the internet I came accross the symptoms for Cushings. Mikki has many of the symptoms like the potbelly, excessive drinking and peeing and is constantly hungry. Now I'm confused because although he has all of these symptoms on a regular basis, right now he's not eating at all and I understand throwing up is not a symptom for Cushings. I need to get him to eat something until I can get him to our vet tomorrow. I'm scared that it's been three days now with just water, karo syrup and a handfull of chicken. Could someone please help me know what to do for him? Thanks so much......Kayla

Letting him drink too much water will make things way worse as you are diluting the electrolytes. you can pick up pedialyte from your drugstore, it is in the baby section of the drug store and it is an electrolyte solution. You can give as much as 9 cc's at a time maybe acouple of cc's wait a bit give another bit wait a bit then the 3rd, doing this 3 times a day. BUT if he throws it back up it won't do any good.
To properly diagnose if it is cushings the vet needs to run a blood test for potassium/sodium levels. The symptoms can be similiar to other bowel issues.
I agree with the other poster, you need to try find a good Vet today that can take action with him. A vet can pull a blood sample, put him on IV or put inject fluid under the skin to take care of dehydration. They can go down and be in crisis in less than 24 hours.

[Patti]

My pom had Cushing's and one of the most prevalent symptoms were her excessive hunger and thirst. SHe had the pot belly and hair loss on her sides and tail. She was almost 10 when diagnosed. At first they thought it was thyroid, but meds didn't clear it up I took her to a specialist and they did special testing an an ultrasound to diagnose. I agree you need to get him seen by a vet right away an get a true diagnosis and then go from there. Cushing's usually affects older dogs, so I don't know how old your little guy is but if he is young, Cushing's may not be what he has. Good luck and keep us posted.

[kokopelli]

Hello and thank you for the response. Just after I read your messages, I took Mikki to the emergency vet. He is there now and after having xrays and bloodwork what they've told me so far is that he has a bad case of pancreatitis which may have been caused by the irritation of eating the food he wasn't used to. There are a few other things going on as well and they are looking at Cushings and Diabetes. They've told me they will know more after some of the intraveinous meds and more bloodwork to see if any of these elevated levels have come down. I don't have a copy of the bloodwork right now but from what I can gather (I was very upset and trying to take it all in) diabetes is what he is leaning towards. He said that he's very sick but is hopeful that the fluids and antibiotics will calm the pancreatitis down and we can manage whatever else is wrong at that time.

Any feedback on the things that I mentioned would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking on the internet but there are so many conflicting things, I don't know where to start.

Thanks again.

Kayla

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by kokopelli

Hello and thank you for the response. Just after I read your messages, I took Mikki to the emergency vet. He is there now and after having xrays and bloodwork what they've told me so far is that he has a bad case of pancreatitis which may have been caused by the irritation of eating the food he wasn't used to. There are a few other things going on as well and they are looking at Cushings and Diabetes. They've told me they will know more after some of the intraveinous meds and more bloodwork to see if any of these elevated levels have come down. I don't have a copy of the bloodwork right now but from what I can gather (I was very upset and trying to take it all in) diabetes is what he is leaning towards. He said that he's very sick but is hopeful that the fluids and antibiotics will calm the pancreatitis down and we can manage whatever else is wrong at that time.

Any feedback on the things that I mentioned would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking on the internet but there are so many conflicting things, I don't know where to start.

Thanks again.

Kayla

I am so glad you listened to us and took Mikki to the vet! Pancreatitis is very serious and can even be life threatening if not treated promptly.

Please keep us posted on his recovery!

[kokopelli]

Thank you. I just couldn't take the chance of waiting any longer. I just got an update from his Dr. and he said he is sitting up in his cage and looking around for the first time since he got there.......big change from when he was first admitted. He is receiving two antibiotics, fluids, potassium and insulin and his sugar was 402 which is still high but they are watching him closely and adjusting the insulin accordingly. Depending on his numbers in the morning, there's a good possibility he will be transferred to a specialist in my area around 9am. The Dr. at the emergency vet has already notified them and they will have their team waiting when we get there. I hope and pray they can get him stabilized from this pancreatitis so we can move on to treating the other problem, whatever it may be.......Diabetes, Cushings or both. Whatever I have to do to keep him comfortable and happy. Thank you again for your response and I will update as I hear from the Dr.

Kayla

[Patti]

I am so glad he is getting treatment. I hope he is much better tomorrow and can come home soon.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by kokopelli

Thank you. I just couldn't take the chance of waiting any longer. I just got an update from his Dr. and he said he is sitting up in his cage and looking around for the first time since he got there.......big change from when he was first admitted. He is receiving two antibiotics, fluids, potassium and insulin and his sugar was 402 which is still high but they are watching him closely and adjusting the insulin accordingly. Depending on his numbers in the morning, there's a good possibility he will be transferred to a specialist in my area around 9am. The Dr. at the emergency vet has already notified them and they will have their team waiting when we get there. I hope and pray they can get him stabilized from this pancreatitis so we can move on to treating the other problem, whatever it may be.......Diabetes, Cushings or both. Whatever I have to do to keep him comfortable and happy. Thank you again for your response and I will update as I hear from the Dr.

Kayla

So they are treating him w/insulin already? They must suspect diabetes. Pancreatitis and diabetes go hand and hand.

Lady has been diabetic for eight years. Her blood glucose (sugar) was about 400 when she was first diagnosed. FYI, normal is 70-120.

I wonder if he is experiencing ketoacidosis?

http://www.caninediabetes.org/pdorg/ketoacidosis.htm

I am so glad you took him to the ER vet!

[ladyjane]

Prayers for Mikki.

[kokopelli]

Thank you so much for the link. The Dr. didn't mention anything about Ketoacidocis but definitely does suspect diabetes. I have a question and maybe you will know......or if anyone reading this knows, please feel free to answer as well.

Mikki is showing so many signs of Cushings but he is only 4 years old. He has the excessive drinking and peeing, always hungry, calcium bump on his back, potbelly and I've noticed a tiny bit of his hair coming out when I pet him. Are these symptom also associated with diabetes or pancreatitus? Or, what is something else that has the same symptoms and also, can a 4 year old dog get cushings?

Any and all advice much appreciated.

Thanks,

Kayla

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by kokopelli

Thank you so much for the link. The Dr. didn't mention anything about Ketoacidocis but definitely does suspect diabetes. I have a question and maybe you will know......or if anyone reading this knows, please feel free to answer as well.

Mikki is showing so many signs of Cushings but he is only 4 years old. He has the excessive drinking and peeing, always hungry, calcium bump on his back, potbelly and I've noticed a tiny bit of his hair coming out when I pet him. Are these symptom also associated with diabetes or pancreatitus? Or, what is something else that has the same symptoms and also, can a 4 year old dog get cushings?

Any and all advice much appreciated.

Thanks,

Kayla

Excessive urination and drinking, hunger are all signs of diabetes among other things, but truthfully, I wouldn't try to second guess the vets at this point. Mikki's got a lot going on and your vet will have to put his symptoms and test results together.

Try to just concentrate on getting him over the pancreatitis at this point. I know that's easier said than done!

[kokopelli]

Ladymom, It is now 2:30 am and I just got another update from Mikki's Dr. They say that yes, he is experiencing Ketoacidosis and is not making huge improvements, but is not declining either. They strongly recommend that I transport him to the Specialist in the morning. I'm scared to death about disconnecting him from this medicine and moving him 30 minutes away but I guess they have no choice because they are the emergency vet and will be closing in the morning. I'm a wreck now and can't sleep. They told me that they have seen dogs in Mikki's condition recover from this quite well but it takes extensive intervention, which I am of course willing to do. I'm just so worried about moving him tomorrow. Do you know anything about the Ketoacidosis?
Thanks
Kayla

[ladyjane]

Ketoacidosis is actually just diabetes in a severe form. I would definitely think a specialist is in order here.
I am sure he will be ok for the trip....they will probably medicate him enough so that he can be transported.
I will say prayers that the specialist can stabilize him.

[ladyjane]

Here is a link with some information that might help explain this better:


Canine Ketoacidosis