23 replies to this topic

[KellyB]

Hi All,
Does anyone have or has had a dog with Cushing's Disease. I took both dogs in Saturday for vacc's. I had wellness blood tests done on them. The wellness I had done checks liver, kidneys, electrolytes, minerals, thyroid level, heartworm test, and blood sugar. Myles came back perfectly fine, Dakota's came back with either a high Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), (can not think of which it was). I have to take her back in a couple of months to have another done. She's not excessively drinking, urinating, panting, no increase in appetite or anything abnormal for her. That is why they said to wait for a couple of months before bringing her back in unless she starts to show other signs. I'm going to change her food from lamb & rice to a senior light food. Any advise on food or anything would be great.

Kelly

[chimommy]

My first Chi had Cushing's she took the meds and the symtoms get worse. They are managable. She became incontinent so I kept her confined to the kitchen tile. The meds are like 80.00 a month and they don't cure it just control the symtoms.
Lorie

[Arda]

I've never had one that I knew about. Maybe some of SCD medical staff can throw something in here. A lot of people want to know.

[KellyB]

Right now she's not showing any signs other than the bloodwork. It may be in the begining stages or something completely different so we are watching her. I've been surfing the internet for info on it. Diet wise I found that a high protein, low fiber, low fat, low purine diet is best. So now goes the search as to what brand we can do.

[dobes4ever]

My shepard Lucky has cushings disease and she's had it for about a year now. She does drink excessively, always having to urinate, always panting like its 90 degrees, but not really any increase in appetite. She is not on any meds at this time and has been doing just fine. I don't know if I will put her through any more test or put her on meds since she is going to be 14 years old. I will just keep her comfortable and happy for the rest of her time left with us. She is still a very happy girl and still plays with the other dogs like there is nothing wrong. This is really all the info I can give you about the disease ... hope this helps a little.

[KellyB]

What type of food do you feed her? The vet and I discussed switching to a light or senior food. She's on regular lamb and rice now.



Kelly

[DBugged33]

Hi All,
Does anyone have or has had a dog with Cushing's Disease. I took both dogs in Saturday for vacc's. I had wellness blood tests done on them. The wellness I had done checks liver, kidneys, electrolytes, minerals, thyroid level, heartworm test, and blood sugar. Myles came back perfectly fine, Dakota's came back with either a high Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), (can not think of which it was). I have to take her back in a couple of months to have another done. She's not excessively drinking, urinating, panting, no increase in appetite or anything abnormal for her. That is why they said to wait for a couple of months before bringing her back in unless she starts to show other signs. I'm going to change her food from lamb & rice to a senior light food. Any advise on food or anything would be great.

Kelly

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How are her teeth? When I was going to have Bree's teeth cleaned, we did bloodwork prior to the surgery because of her age (7+) and her ALT levels came back high... my Vet said that often the bacteria on the teeth can affect the ALT levels and make them higher. We waited 1 month prior to doing the teeth cleaning & her levels came back down (still slightly elevated but within a normal range) and we did the teeth cleaning. Her next bloodwork came back more normal.

However, when we did her bloodwork at 10 years of age, her ALT levels came back higher again & the vet thought about Cushings. I never had the test done for it as she didn't show any other symptoms. She eventually went on to be diagnosed with DCM and passed at age 11. The vets have not said that there is any relation between DCM and elevated ALT levels, but I always have wondered as a few other people on HealthDobes have said the same thing happened to them...

Just my thoughts,
Amy

[Stef]

What about Innova EVO?

Innova EVO formula is based on ground chicken & turkey meat, bones, fat, cartilage and connective tissue. It includes whole, raw fruits and vegetables which contain health promoting phytochemicals and micronutrients. Low Carb, Hi-Protein and Grain Free.

Moisture 10.0 %
Protein 42.0 %
Fat 22.0 %
Fiber 2.5 %
Calories 1929 Kcal/lb
Calories 4243 Kcal/Kg
Calories 537 KCals/Cup

[dobes4ever]

I have not changed her food at all. I'm still feeding her the same food I always have been. I never thought of changing her diet, but I nevered asked the vet either. She is still doing fine and gets around with no problems .... don't want to change anything do disrute her way of life.

[KellyB]

Her teeth are fine. She had a dental last year. Actually the vet wanted to know if I brushed her's and Myles teeth everyday. No, I don't but they are avid chewers of rawhide and nothing but dry food. Other than her teeth being satined from a medicine she must of had as a pup thier fine. So for now we will change her food to a senior food and do another wellness profile on her.


Kelly

[jmnodwell]

No experience here but I did a google search and came up with several different sites to look at...

Info on Cushing's

[url="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="cushings+disease""]Google Search[/url]

Edited by jmnodwell, 07 March 2007 - 07:47 AM.

[debl]

How is Dakota doing? Has Cushings been diagnosed? I took one of my Schipps in this am for teeth cleaning and asked for a blood test b/4 the procedure. Just rec'd a call saying they suspect Cushings. My vet is proceeding w/test for this disease. She is 11 years old.

[KellyB]

Dakota is being retested for Cushings on Monday. I've noticed her trying to scope out food alot. Not sure if its Myles bad habit rubbing off on her or . I had another wellness done on her, her levels have changed some. She has an ACTH test on Monday.

KELLY

[Arda]

Fingers are crossed for her!

[KellyB]

Thank you Arda. I will keep everyone informed on her resaults. I've talked to the vet I work with that she nomally sees about treatment. We have decided that if she does have Cushings I'm not going to treat her. The medication to treat cushings is usually harder on them then not treating her we will put her on S-Adenasyl to help her liver and watch her food content.

Kelly

[KellyB]

Her test came back neg. Her levels or just a little off, just her old age. We are going to try and find a food lower in fat. Right now she's on Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Chicken and rice.

Kelly

[Arda]

Your decision is the right one. Example was my Ghost. She was diabetic. She had so much character. When we started her on insulin she went down hill in a hurry. She used to steel everything I had touched when I left the house. She stopped doing that. Then she lost her vision. Then her life. It was horrible but I will never treat another diabetic. It wasn't fair. Treating Brandy for her heart was one thing and she did real good for me but the diabetes was totally different. And I have heard that treating Cushings is not good for the dog either. Darn Dobermanns.

[KellyB]

Got to love them. Myles was at the vet saturday. He's got skin issues allergic to something, although this time he's got it infected and a start of an ear infection. He's on cephalexin 500mg and stuff for his ear. He had a wellness blood panel done and his came back all normal. He goes in this Friday for a dental cleaning. Go figure he's three and needs a dental Dakota is 7 - 8 and she doesn't need one.

Kelly

[Arda]

A good breeder would say she has a good bite but so many of these kids are thrown together with no thought at all of what the mouth and bite do for the dog. Bubbles has the worse bite I have ever seen in a Dobe. I'm always in there with the pliers knocking off the tartar.

[Stacie]

Your decision is the right one. Example was my Ghost. She was diabetic. She had so much character. When we started her on insulin she went down hill in a hurry. She used to steel everything I had touched when I left the house. She stopped doing that. Then she lost her vision. Then her life. It was horrible but I will never treat another diabetic. It wasn't fair. Treating Brandy for her heart was one thing and she did real good for me but the diabetes was totally different. And I have heard that treating Cushings is not good for the dog either. Darn Dobermanns.

Jared was just asking how to treat a dog with diabetes and if it were possible. It may be easier for someone with diabetes and full knowledge of the food counts etc. to take care of them. That is one of Jared's goals when he becomes a vet - to find a way to treat animals properly who are diabetic. God Bless you Arda for all you do for these furkids - you are a miracle in disguise!