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Post by thedogpack on Jun 20, 2016 12:56:09 GMT -5
I would like to ask if any of you wonderful , knowledgeable people , have had any experience of Cushing's Disease in Greyhounds ?
My 10 yr old Grey, Amos ( will be 11 in Sept ) is drinking and weeing excessively , pants a lot , not moulting out his coat which is getting very thick , loosing hair slightly on his tail , yet has not grown any fur back from when his abdomen was shaved 6 weeks ago for an abdominal ultrasound .
My vet is convinced my boy has Cushing's Disease yet it is not showing in blood work . Amos has had full Biochemistry and Haematology bloodwork , Low Dose Dexamethasone Test , ACTH Stimulation test , full Thyroid Panel work up and an abdominal ultrasound scan . All were normal .
Until all this started a few months ago , Amos was a perfectly normal , young at heart 10 yr old . Have others had experience with Cushing's being difficult to diagnose ? My vet has said it could be too soon in the disease to show up in blood work so the plan is to re test in a few weeks time .
Your comments would be greatly appreciated please xx
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Post by samburns on Jun 20, 2016 16:50:35 GMT -5
You could be describing my 10 year old RGT foster greyhound Magpie, exact same symptoms  My vet thinks Mags has kidney disease based on urine tests but otherwise all his blood work has come back normal, except slightly low thyroid results but not so low as to flag real concerns. I queried Cushings with him but my vet thinks its highly unlikely given blood results and breed so we haven't gone down the route of specific Cushings tests. Magpie has had these symptoms for over a year now - his hair has still not grown back from an ultrasound scan or from where the blood was taken in May last year and he looks and acts like a 13 year old Sorry that doesn't help one bit but I totally understand your concerns and the frustration of not being able to get a firm diagnosis and treatment plan  |
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Post by thedogpack on Jun 20, 2016 18:43:19 GMT -5
So sorry Magpie isn't well either and is giving you worry and concerns It's just so frustrating isn't it !  I understand when you say Magpie looks and acts 13 , Amos acts old now and I know it's not natural age progression because it's been too sudden . I have another grey who is 2 months younger than Amos and up until this started they were both had the same energy and activity levels etc. but now they are worlds apart .Amos's shape is changing too , he's lost his tuck and doesn't look as deep chested now because his abdomen is sagging Saying that , he is happy in himself , so that's something . A friend who hadn't seen Amos for a couple of months saw him yesterday and said " What are you doing to Amos ? He looks like a wolf ! " We will re test for Cushing's in a few weeks as have exhausted everything else . I will report back . Thank you for your comments and understanding , lots of special hugs for Magpie |
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Post by thedogpack on Jul 28, 2016 8:56:34 GMT -5
Amos we re tested again for Cushing's Disease with the ACTH stimulation test which looks for high cortisol . All came back within the normal margins - again !
All Amos' symptoms still pointed at Cushing's Disease so my vet tested for Atypical Cushing's via the same ATCH stim test but it tests the 17OHP hormone which is the pre curser to high cortisol and Amos's 17OHP came back as raised and out of the margins .
Amos started meds to lower his 17OHP ( Vetoryl ) he has been on the meds for a week and is a changed dog . His drinking and weeing is totally normal , his panting is normal , his shaved fur is starting to grow back and his thick coat is starting to moult . He is showing interest in life again , getting energy levels back and wanting to go for walks . I'm only taking him on short walks twice a day as it's still early days but he is certainly getting there .
I must stress that all of Amos' blood tests full Biochemistry , Haematology and Thyroid panel have always been 100% normal . Atypical Cushing's has been so difficult to diagnose and I can't thank my vet enough for persevering with it . There are only 14 other documented cases .
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Post by samburns on Jul 28, 2016 17:07:32 GMT -5
Wow what an update! Bitter sweet to get a Cushings diagnosis yet I'm sure a massive relief to get a diagnosis and to have seen such a difference in Amos since he started treatment Do you have any photos of Amos? I would really be interested to see how he *looks* (I can't help but be curious given the similarities with Magpie's symptoms). Our little man really isn't doing great, his back legs are getting weaker and he is really struggling with the heat. Hats off to you and your vet for your persistence - everything crossed that Amos continues to do well x |
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Post by Ted on Jul 29, 2016 0:48:35 GMT -5
I just wonder if Magpie has arthritis in his back legs and hips. I find Synoquin and Loxicom does help Hounds with this problem. The other thing hopefully your vets know that Greyhound's bloods have different levels to other breeds of dogs. Best of luck to Amos and his human family.
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Post by thedogpack on Jul 29, 2016 3:24:13 GMT -5
Thank you Ted for your best wishes for Amos .
Sam , unfortunately I don't know how to post photos to the forum but I've sent you a message and am happy to Email photos to you . So sorry you are still struggling with Magpie , it's so frustrating isn't it ! Amos' changes were too sudden and drastic to be age related but it was very hard to get a diagnosis . Wishing you and Magpie all the very best
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