Cushings Syndrome

[greytma]

Amy our 12 year old greyhound is being investigated for Cushings Syndrome, she has the classic signs, drinks copious amounts of water, bloated stomach and weeing much more. We just put it down to old age, but after urine and blood tests the lab has come back with the possibility of Cushings Syndrome. Amy is due another urine test on Thursday, which will probably give us a definative answer.Amy seems fine in herself, her coat is glossy and so far she doesn't have alopecia which is one of the symptoms.
I just wondered if anyone on Gap had a dog who had suffered with this disease and had any advice.

[brooke1]

My last dog Frankie (lab/staffie) had cushings - he was 15 when he started showing all the classic symptoms, the vet wanted to do more blood tests which meant he'd have to stay at the vets for the day (he was terrified of going to the vets) and I was told the ongoing treatment was expensive - so I got a second opinion from a friend's husband who is a vet and he said if it was his dog he wouldn't have any treatment as the treatment can make them very ill and there is no guarantee it would work considering his age. He had 5 good months with me until I had to make that terrible decision.

[greytma]

Thank you brooke1,
I did wonder about the treatment,especially as at the moment Amy seems quite bright in herself.

[brooke1]

Please don't just take my advice - I did what I thought was best for Frankie given his age,he was drinking about 4 pints of water a day and of course weeing for England, in the end I was getting up with him every hour during the night and could only leave him for a few hours during the day (and I was working full time so coming home at lunchtime) and he found it difficult to walk - I know I did the right thing for him in the end. Fingers crossed the vets can do something
for Amy. Sending healing thoughts. I seem to remember I tried some homoeopathic remedy for cushings - can't remember what but will have a think for you.

[julies]

My pony has the start of Cushings which for him was just he didn't drop his winter coat very quickly last year and had a touch of laminitis even tho I was keeping him trim My conventional vet said it was too early to treat him but my homeopathic vet has sent him Nat Mur 30 (I think) and a 'Glandular' remedy ... he did seem a lot brighter after I'd started him on them and his coat had looked very threadbear and it thickened up to a nice summer coat .. Not all horses show all the classic symptoms so maybe dogs don't either ...

J xx

[sammy13]

A friend of mines dog has this disease. She was diagnosed about 2 years ago and she is only 3. She does loose her fur quite a lot but apart from that she copes very well and is as mad as a box of frogs. Hope it goes well for Amy

[chauchix]

Sossie, our cairn cross who is 11 has Cushings. She has been on medication for eighteen months and is doing very well.