Cushings

[Magpie]

my friends little dog has been diagnosed with this but she dosent really understand what its about or how it progresses the vet has explained but she dosent really understand him as anyone got any info and advice that i can pass on in layman terms

judy x

[Letty's Mum]

Little Roy has Cushings, so I'm sure Sue will be a good source of info
I get the impression it can be managed quite well, so hope your friend's dog will be fine once his meds are sorted

[sammy13]

My friends dog has had it since she wad 2 and is now 4. She has medication and has a lot of bald patches but is fine otherwise. X

[julies]

My pony has it .. it's common in horses and you seem to be hearing more of it in dogs nowadays.

As I understand it it's a tumour on the Pituitary Gland in the brain .. I can't remember what the Pituitary Gland controls but I think its the body systems so it's hard for instance in ponies to prevent laminitis. The normal signs include long wavy coat, no shedding of coat, thirst, laminitis but I've known of ponies/horses where they have one or no obvious symptoms.

My conventional and homeopathic vet checked my pony and agreed with me that it was probably the early stages of Cushings and the homeopathic vet has been treating him with 2 remedies a day ... since then he's dropped his coat and touch wood not had laminitis The conventional vet said to leave him till it was more advanced as the drugs are very effective but expensive ... but obviously dogs are a lot smaller than ponies

There have been lots of 'new' drugs to treat horses in the last few years and they're very effective, I know somneone who had a brain tumour and his drug was what his pony had too I think Pergolide was the last one I heard of but I haven't researched it so there may be other more recent better ones Cushings seems to be very controllable - my friends pony lived happily for years with it

Julie x

[andywillow]

Sorry Judy only just seen this. Roy is on Vetoryl and is doing really well. They have to have regular bloods taken to make sure they don't need any adjustments in their dosage.
Roy has responded brilliantly to his meds and his weight is fine now, he did drop a few kilos and his appetite was ridiculous, also drinking lots too.

Also worth her asking the vet for a prescription for the meds, I get Roys from Animed direct, they were £70 a month from the vets, only £30 online!!

After the initial diagnosis, once they start on meds, they have to have bloods taken after 10 days, then at 4 weeks, 12 weeks and every 3 months after that.


You really wouldn't know there was anything wrong with Roy now he's doing so well

[just jackie]

This might help your friend to understand Cushing's Disease a little more easily Judy, that is if she can get her head around some of the long words.

Basically Cushing's is usuallyy caused by a tumour, most frequently on the pituitary gland, but can be on the adrenal gland. The modern treatment is as Sue has said with Vetoryl, and regular monitoring blood tests to determine if the dosage needs adjusting.

The blood tests involve the dog being kept at the vets for a while, having fasted beforehand. They take bloods, then give an injection of hormone, then take a further blood sample an hour or so later.

Cushing's can show as poor coat condition, pot belly, increased water consumption, increased appetite. increased urination, amongst other things.

I hope your friend's little one is soon sorted and feeling better.

[Magpie]

thanks ladies will pass all this on to her x