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Tobor7
Member
07-19-2002
| Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - 7:28 pm
Well we took our little dog Kimba in for his annual checkup (he is 5 now) and they always do all the comprehensive blood work we get a message at the end of the day from the vet that a few of his numbers were high. The vet says that he has all the symptoms of this Cushing's disease and we will need to call him tomorrow and schedule some more tests. I've read some stuff on the net but it really does not satisfy me. I'm very concerned. Hard to find info about the success rates. Anyone ever have any experience with this and their pet? Thanks in advance.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 5:56 am
There's an entire thread for DOGS.
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 6:09 am
I never knew animals could get this disease, because I've heard of it for humans.
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Tobor7
Member
07-19-2002
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 6:50 am
Cats, Dogs, and very rarely humans. Next step is an ultrasound to see if there is a tumor. And then some sort of acth test. I understand that the other side of the thing is called Atkins.
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Tobor7
Member
07-19-2002
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 6:51 am
I am hoping that someone has some experience with this and their pet and can lend a little first-hand insight.
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-31-2000
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 6:58 am
Tobor, it is very common in horses, and I have a great deal of experience with that, but I am not sure how applicable that is to dogs. In horses, it is a metabolic illness caused by overactivity of the pituitary, and characterized by excessive hair growth and lack of shedding, and excessive hoof growth, resulting in permanent damage and lameness. It typically occurs in horses over 20 years old. It's treated with pergolide, which can prolong life quite a bit, but it is very expensive. Again, I'm not sure that applies at all to pups, but it's all I know. I hope your puppy gets well, and there are treatments for dogs as effective.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 7:00 am
We lost my horse a couple of years ago to Cushings. Our Appy-Draft has it now too, but the medication he is on is making it almost non existent.
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Slothkitten
Member
09-16-2003
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 7:34 am
I'm sorry to hear about Kimba, Tobor. I don't know anything about Cushings in animals . . . but I do know Kimba is in great hands with you taking care of him, sending positive puppy vibes for a good outcome 
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Cndeariso
Member
06-28-2004
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 8:21 am
my dog is suspected of having Cushings disease, but as she is 14 & has cancer, we have not pursued the testing. Dogdoc is a really good source on this board as she is a vet. what i do know is that it isn't curable but treatable. according to my local vet, the test they do runs about $300. Dogdoc says there is a much less expensive test. the treatment is a type of poison as you are trying to kill the adrenal glands which is the cause. both Dogdoc & my local vet said that many dogs respond very well to the treatment. i wish i could be more help.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 8:50 am
they think our dog has it. dogdoc has been more optimistic about treatment than my vet has. i am going to ask him about the meds that she suggested.
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Tobor7
Member
07-19-2002
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 3:51 pm
Thanks so much everyone. I'll email Dogdoc. And I'll keep you informed as the testing gets started to see what it is.
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Bonzacat
Member
07-08-2003
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 4:03 pm

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Missyb
Member
07-28-2004
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 6:11 pm
Tobor7, my 10 year old Akita was diagnosed with Cushings. Getting the diagnosis and getting her on the appropriate medication saw a complete change in her. She dropped almost 20 pounds, was more interested and alert and the quality of her last year of life was wonderful. SHe didn't die from Cushings, it was from bloat while she was boarded. 10 is getting old for an AKita but I felt we would have had a least another year or more from her, that's how much of a difference the medication made. My doctor put her on Lysodren and she had no side effects from it. However, it is an expensive drug. Well, it was for my dog as she was a large dog. I hope everything turns out well for your Kimba. P.S. When my girl was diagnosed it was because she had gone into a very bad episode of excessive thirst and lethargy. I had to lock her in the house to keep her from drinking in the pool. WHen I got her to the vets and they were going to keep her overnight, I immediately was on the internet and it was I who suggested testing her for CUshings, Turned out I was right.
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Tobor7
Member
07-19-2002
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 7:08 pm
Wow Missy, what a story. It gives me some good hope here. I thank you. I am certainly worried, but I hope we found it soon enough. I know the hard part is determining the right drug and dose. I really appreciate your first-hand knowledge.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 7:55 pm
Tobor, hope you can find the right treatment and dosage for Kimba.
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Tobor7
Member
07-19-2002
| Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 4:32 pm
I understand that the dossage thing is very important.
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Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 5:16 pm
Tober I have treated dogs for this and they have done well. Lysodren has all sorts of warnings but I have never had trouble with it. You start high and then cut back to a low dose after a week or two. PM or e-mail me if you want to know more. Progress can be checked by a urine cortisol/creatine.
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Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 5:18 pm
ps the opposite is called Addison's disease where there is not enough cortisol produced.
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Tobor7
Member
07-19-2002
| Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 4:44 am
The little guy had the ultrasound. They didn't see any tumors. Now he has a shaved belly. A little extra air conditioning for the summer. His urine tests came back normal as well. So 2 good things so far. They also did the blood tolerance test. We'll have the results in a day or so.
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Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 12:10 pm
Yay! So far, so good. Continued good wishes for good test results. 
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Puppy21969
Member
10-04-2005
| Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 12:24 pm
I am almost positive that is what my brothers Schnauser was diagnosed with a couple of years ago. I know at diagnosis they were scared but he has responded well to his medication and is doing well.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 12:29 pm
if they are looking for Cushings, wouldn't that be in the pituitary? That's not in the belly.
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Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 12:50 pm
Texannie they would have been doing ultrasound on the adrenal glands. Cushings is an excess of adrenal cortex hormones. It can be a primary adrenal problem. The other form is excess adrenal gland hormone due the pituitary putting out a hormone ACTH (adrenal cortico tropic hormone) that goes to the adrenal gland and stimulates it to put out too cortisol.
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Slothkitten
Member
09-16-2003
| Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 3:28 pm
Good to hear about Kimba. Sounds really hopeful so far. I love to pet those shaved puppy/kitty bellies, lol.
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Tobor7
Member
07-19-2002
| Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 5:29 am
Update- We completed the first test. The ACTH test. Kimba's base number was 1.4, and after the injection anything up to 18 is okay. The gray area is 18 to 22 and anything above 22 is Cushings. Kimba came back at 21.5 - which is very close to 22, but the vet wants to do an additional test to be sure. So the next one is a low dose Dex test. This should happen tomorrow. Our vet just had a new baby this week so things have been a little delayed.
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Retired
Member
07-11-2001
| Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 11:35 am
Thanks for the update. Keeping positive thoughts for Kimba. 
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Cricket
Member
08-05-2002
| Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - 11:00 am
Sorry to hear about Kimba, Tobor. I hope she gets the right treatment if needed and is soon feeling better.
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Bearware
Member
07-12-2002
| Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 6:57 pm
Sorry to hear about Kimba, Tobor. My chow had Addison's Disease, and we treated her for about a year. We didn't catch it early, and it wasn't greatly successful, but sounds like Kimba's on her way back to health! I'll be praying!
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Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Monday, July 09, 2007 - 3:59 am
Addison's Disease is a lot harder to treat than Cushings. Boarder line Cushings cases can do fine without medication. Reduction of stress in the pets life is important. We use Bach flowers for dogs that are stressed.
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