Cushings? Waking to urinate every 2 hours

[sara]

Hello,

I am really hoping somebody has some advice or experience to share with me. I have 2 greyhounds - my oldest Tess is 8 - nearly 9, and ive had her nearly 5 years. Recently she has lost weight, become less active and is drinking lots of water resulting in her weeing in the house and crying for me to let her out at least every 2 hours during the night. She seems quite happy apart from this.

The vet has run a series of tests on her and concluded there is nothing seriously wrong with her internal organs but he did find too much protein and blood in her urine and low levels of protein in her blood. He thinks it is cushings but advised as further diagnostic tests are expensive and often inconclusive, we should save our money for treating any possible side effects that she gets from it. (Im kicking myself but I dont have insurance for her as she has had an long term problem with her shoulder/leg since i got her - and i found it impossible to find an affordable cover that was any good)

The problem is I am absolutely exhausted.... last night she had me up at 11, 1, 2, 3.30 and then 5 am! After nearly 4 months of not having more than 2 - 3 hours stretch of sleep its really taking its toll on me - am turning in to a short tempered emotional wreak! I have a young daughter and i dont think its fair on her either.

The vet said taking up her water is not an option as her body must need it, so i havent but am getting really tempted to as i need sleep! I have ordered a indoor dog loo and will try to train her to use it at night if i can.

Does anyone have any other ideas? Does the vets advice seem right or should i try taking her to see another vet?


Id be really greatful for any ideas!

Thank you.

[samburns]

Hi Sara, welcome to Gap

I'm really sorry I have no idea in this area I presume your vet has ruled out any simple urinary infection?

I know that a number of members have or have had dogs with Cushings so hopefully they will be along to offer their thoughts

[arkbc]

We are going through a similar problem at present my greyhound Jim has been drinking lots & lots of water for the past week and as a consequence is peeing a huge amount roughly every hour and a half – If he cant get outside then he has to relieve himself indoors……

My partner and I have been having sleep shifts with Jim as he has to go out several times throughout the night.

I took Jim to the vets on Thursday and the vet put Jim on antibiotics cephacare 500mg x 2 per day.



Saturday and Jim was still drinking and peeing like you wouldn’t believe so I phoned the vets.

The vet came out Sunday and took blood tests and another urine sample from Jim and took them back to the their Lab for analysis.



The vet has just phoned and said that Jim’s blood test is all normal – Hoorah

However he thinks Jim has water Diabetes - Diabetes insipidus (DI) - Boo



He has recommended that we try and restrict Jims water to a lesser amount without depriving him of it (very difficult because he wants to drink the bowl full and them some more) but we are giving him less in his bowl and removing the bowl – we then get the sad eye treatment before Jim settles down for a while – then he’s up again checking to see if the bowl is back and topped up.

We cant remove the bowl for any length of time because it can be dangerous and Jim could soon dehydrate.

Sounds mad doesn’t it but the intake of water isn’t being absorbed its just getting peed out.



We have also got to put a small amount of salt in his food for a couple of days and them take another pee sample back to the vets – they are hoping that this may kick start the kidneys into functioning properly again.

If it is this condition the vet says it could have been started by an infection which caused Jim to drink more himself and then the kidneys ‘became lazy’ as Jim was doing the flushing on their behalf.

Treatment for this condition hasn’t been explained yet but I have been googling…………..crossed fingers is stage 1
Yet another sleepless night ahead……………

[brooke1]

Sara I lost my old dog Frankie exactly 2 years ago this week to cushings, he was a lab/alsation and 15 years old. He started drinking a lot and weeing for england - like you I was up every couple of hours during the night with him and if I wasn't quick enough to let him out he'd just p where he stood. The vets wanted to try various treatments but I was advised by a friend who is a vet that the treatment can be horrible and is very expensive.
Please pm me if I can help.

[FeeFee]

Dec 18, 2011 15:25:39 GMT -5 brooke1 said:

Sara I lost my old dog Frankie exactly 2 years ago this week to cushings, he was a lab/alsation and 15 years old. He started drinking a lot and weeing for england - like you I was up every couple of hours during the night with him and if I wasn't quick enough to let him out he'd just p where he stood. The vets wanted to try various treatments but I was advised by a friend who is a vet that the treatment can be horrible and is very expensive.
Please pm me if I can help.

We've had foster dogs with Cushings who have responded extremely well to medication and it has improved their health and quality of life considerably over the longer term, so I would definitely not rule out treatment without very careful consideration. Without treatment the outlook for a dog with Cushings is very poor.

[ryefield]

Fingers crossed the vet can find a treatment. I know how you feel, my dog Meg was ill between April and November (when she finally lost her fight) and she was up several times a night wanting to go out, and I got around 4 hours interrupted sleep a night. I was exhausted. I found I was dozing rather than sleeping most of the time as I was half listening out for her. You can buy pet nappies - Google them and you'll find them. They look ridiculous but if they work then they might be an option.