Max's Test Results

[Kayos and Havoc]

Well, we know for sure that he has Cushing's Disease. His Cortisol is eleveted.

His Thyroid was a little low but his TSH was normal so the endocrinologists really feels the thyroid is being affected by the Cortisol level.

The endocrinologist's recommendation to my vet was to have an internal med vet look at the results as well. I guess a lot of Cushings is caused by pituitary problems and not by tumors on the adrenal glands. So he wants to have another specialist see the results and if they are positve it is pituitary we will start medication. If they are not sure we will have an ultraosund done on his abdomen to see his adrenal glands. The US will be done by a specialist in Tulsa. Depending on that will determine course of treatment.

My vet has a US machine but it is not as sophisticated. He did a quick one on Max 2 weeks ago but did not see anything on his. machine

At least we have a partial answer but hope to have more info tomorrow.

You know I had Max's thyroid tested a year or so ago because his coat was rough and he kept getting constipated adnnthen had diarrhea and it was a tick low then so we put him on medication that did nothing for him. So we stopped it. I would imagine he has had the Cushing's for a while now and that has been causing his little problems off and on.

[rover51]

What is Cushing's? Is that treatable?

[Kayos and Havoc]

Cushing's is a disease of the adrenal glands which sit on top of the kidney. Yes it is treatable but the medications are not cheap and frequent monitoring is required.

I need to go back and re-read myself.

[rover51]

Well good luck to you and Max. At least it's not the C word, huh?

[3K9Mom]

Kate Connick has one of the best webpages for Cushings:

http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html

The links at the bottom are useful too.

Cushings IS manageable. The good news is that the drugs they have now are better than those they had even 10 years ago. I would def want a board certified radiologist to do the ultrasound and an internist to do the testing and treatment.

Are they talking about doing actual testing on Max besides just the ultrasound??

Zamboni has a mass on her adrenal gland (well, either that or the lobe is enlarged. Darn ultrasound, it's hard to tell). I opted to not do the ACTH stim test. I had a dog that was suspected of being Cushings, but we couldn't ever tell conclusively, so I refused to treat her because back then because the drugs were so harsh. My internist suggested we do the Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test for Boni, but frankly, we have so much else going on, that I haven't made it a big priority.

But for Max, this could explain quite a bit.

Kathy please us know.

[GSD07]

Kathy, I'm sorry to hear the bad news but the good news is that now you know what it is and know what to do to help Max!

[JenM66]

My friends 15 (?) year old lab has been living with Cushings for a few years now. I'll find out what med they give her - at home - and just go for blood level monitoring. I"m sorry it's not great news but at least now you have answers. Are the puppy pills still working?!!!!

[JenM66]

My friend's dog is on Trilostane.

http://www.wedgewoodpharmacy.com/mon...trilostane.asp

http://www.drugs.com/cons/trilostane.html

[Kayos and Havoc]

Yes that is what the vet mentioned. I am going back outside to work in the garden, it cooled off a bit here today. I will do some reading tonight. Thanks for all the links and info.

[Kayos and Havoc]

Those articles were excellent and Max has almost everyone of those symptoms listed.

Sadly, a year ago I had him to the vet we were using in Kennewick, WA. Oksana knows this vet practice. I was concerned that Max might have Cushings or some form of Lupus because of his skin and other issues. The vet thought it was more likely hypothyroidism and tested him for this. Lo and behold the test showed borderline low thyroid. Se we treated that with no result at all. So we stopped that and Max continued on and did okay for several more months until we moved here.

Given that cortisol is a hormone directly related to stress I imagine that the stress of moving sent him into an acute problem. The incontinence in the house is what sent me back to look again.

What is funny is that the Cortisol being high actually helps his Spondylosis which is why I was able to greatly reduce his Rimadyl and even stop it for periods of time without him being crippled.

What a paradox. It is tough getting old.

Now on to the next step pituitary or adrenal?