Does anyone’s dog have Cushings disease?

[Ryles]

Originally Posted by magickate

Mainly changes of behaviour

Overheating, she's not a doggy dog at all, she's all about cushions, duvets and the sofa but she kept on lying down on the kitchen tiles.
She started drinking out her bowl, again sounds silly but she always only drinks in the garden. I was having to refill both house bowls more than once a day which was really not normal.
Panting, she sounded like a train. I ended up videoing it to play to the vet.
More lethargic, she's a lazy girl anyway but she actually started sleeping downstairs at night which again she never does. I've had 8 years of her sleeping on her duvet next to my bed. It was like she couldn't find the energy to come up. She's also the 1st to the front door to meet me when I come home but she would stay sitting on the sofa and just look at me.

Since we got the correct dosage of her meds her thyroid hormone level has gone from 8 into the 30s which is where they'd expect for a medicated dog of her size (nearly 6 stone in weight staffie crossed with mastiff!). Her symptoms have reduced dramatically and I'd say she's now fine 90% of the time. She still gets hot & panty but cools herself down pretty quick and still drinks more than she originally did but less than before the meds.

It took about 3 months from the original test to get her to how she still is now. They started her off on a lower dosage then tested every 3 weeks and adjusted it based on the results. It kept creeping up each time but not enough.

It was a stressful time, my 2 dogs are very much a part of our family & I'd convinced myself they were going to find something awfully wring with her. Luckily an under active thyroid is very manageable so if it's the same for yours I'm sure they'll be fine again very soon x

See more...

Thanks Kate. Good to hear that your girl is coping well with it.
I know what you mean he is definitely my third (furry) child so have been so stressed out. I’m just not ready to lose him quite yet! 😞 x

[Ryles]

Originally Posted by marypoppins38

He is a gorgeous boy. Ryles, you may already have told you vet this but are they aware that you adopted him from Romania? There have been quite a few cases in which dogs that have been adopted abroad and brought over here have gone on to developed diseases that aren't inherent to the UK so your vet may not be looking for them. Hope he is ok, he is lovely x

See more...

Ah thank you 😊
The vets do know he is from Romania but to be honest I didn’t even think of that! Will certainly mention it to them. Thank you xx

[Ryles]

So just a little update. Went back to the vets yesterday for his thyroid test results and they came back ok! The vet admitted she is now stumped. He is now back in on Monday for X-rays and scans as she thinks possibly a tumour 😢 somewhere. There’s been absolutely no improvement and he just keeps piling on the weight, almost like it’s out of control! If the x-rays don’t show anything then he’ll get referred to a specialist. Including his x-rays it’s already cost £600 and I have no idea if the insurance will pay out yet as I’ve only had the policy for just over 3 weeks. I dread to think what specialist fees will be! 😫

[Emmie2016]

Originally Posted by Ryles

So just a little update. Went back to the vets yesterday for his thyroid test results and they came back ok! The vet admitted she is now stumped. He is now back in on Monday for X-rays and scans as she thinks possibly a tumour 😢 somewhere. There’s been absolutely no improvement and he just keeps piling on the weight, almost like it’s out of control! If the x-rays don’t show anything then he’ll get referred to a specialist. Including his x-rays it’s already cost £600 and I have no idea if the insurance will pay out yet as I’ve only had the policy for just over 3 weeks. I dread to think what specialist fees will be! 😫

See more...

I'd definitely get referred to a specialist before your Bill's run up too high. My Bengal went downhill after some routine dental surgery and my vets spent a week stumped as to what it was. We were referred to an animal hospital, the vet took one look at her and diagnosed her with a rare disease that my vet had never heard of.

After 3 months of treatment including a feeding tube and a million painkillers, she is back to her naughty self.

Hope you get your answers soon and they get better x