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Cushings in dogs / dry eye / blindness

My little Maltese has Cushings Disease.    He gained 6 pounds in a little over a month and drank and ate constantly.   The vet put him on Lysodren - - and very little!   He only gets 1/4 of a 500 mg pill twice a week and he has already dropped the weight and eats less and doesnt drink quite as much.

One morning he had green gunk in one of his eyes and it was stuck together.    I held him with a warm wet cloth over it and then it seemed OK.    But his eyes had a "greenish shine" to them, so I took him to the vet, afraid he had a sudden case of SARDS.      She said no, tested him for dry eye and gave me Cyclosporine drops.

I have an appointment with an opthmologist who comes to our town once a month on April 2, but now he seems totally blind.    Has anyone else dealt with this?    Is there any hope for his eyesight?

Thanks to anyone who can respond!
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Avatar universal
Thank you for adopting an elderly dog. What a nice way to spend the rest of your life, being loved by your owner.  I hope she adjusts to being blind and you can get her meds adjusted so the two of you can have more good times together.
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Avatar universal
I adopted a 12+ yr. old dog from the SPCA and I know she had some health issues, She would drink and eat like a pony.  She was diagnosed with cushings and was put on vetoryl and it worked great for about 3 mos. then she started loosing her hair and her eyes were becoming milky so my vet said that vetoryl sometimes will not last and that she will now have to start on lysodren.  In the mean time her vision was getting worse.  Then one night she went to bed still seeing quite well to waking up the next day totally blind.  I went back to the vets and she said that is was caused most likely to the cushing, that they just don't know all the side effects to cushing.  

I was told to give her a chance that with in a few weeks she get her bearings and I won't even know she is blind.  My vet also said there was little chance any type of surgery will restore her vision, but she will adopt very well.  I am going to give her every chance.  I have only had her for six months and i just love this little dog.  

Good luck and I hope everything goes well with you and your dog.
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Avatar universal
Toots, my 8-year-old Chihuahua suddenly went blind, starting panting excessively and had breathing troubles. She's always been overweight so the acute blindness was the only symptom that raised an alarm. My regular vet diagnosed swelling of the optic nerve and put her on prednisone and said there was little he could do.

I found an eye vet who diagnosed SARDS, but he didn't have any idea of what caused her acute blindness. I wanted more of an answer than the "we don't know bull" so I insisted my regular vet do blood work. Why he didn't do blood work first, I have no idea. Turns out,It showed hypothroidism and slight elevation with liver enzymes. He put her on Soloxine twice a day.

The next day I started researching blindness in dogs and came across Cushings. I asked my vet if the blood work he did included testing for that and he said no. I insisted that he do the test since all of Toots symptoms  (new ones - confusion, walking in circles, weakness in back legs) point to this disease. Unfortunately, it appears it may be a tumor on her pituitary gland, which seems to be the most serious.

So now I have to wait for three weeks before the vet can do testing for Cushings because the prednisone has to get out of her system. In the meantime, my dog is getting worse from not doing anything. I'm devastated that there is nothing I can do but sit and watch her deteriorate.
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Avatar universal
With your help, and your husbands and Chai's, I think Rooty will adjust very well.  He sounds like he has a lot of support.  It must be very hard to watch him trying to get around, but I would try not to get too excited in front of him so he doesn't get any more frightened then he already is.  I wish you luck, let us know how he is adjusting.
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Avatar universal
I am sorry to hear about Susie Q's Harley.....Our 12 year old Peke, Rooty, is going blind.....was diagnosed with dry eye about 3 months ago...today...there is considerable blindness as for the first time he couldn't see me from a few feet away.....he has fought all his life with immune system skin problems and is such a loving little guy and we have maintained his comfort at all costs. H has been a very happy fun loving male Peke. I am joining this group in support,  as we are going to need it if things worsen with him, meaning if life seems too difficult over a period of time for him...........he seems leery to move around today and seems depressed.  We have a 13 year old Peke, Chai, also which we are hoping that she will be able to help him around the house....they have both been indoor dogs so they Rooty should be able to map out pretty well. It's always a shock when your pup becomes "disabled" but we are more than willing to do whatever we can to help him cope.  My husband will be a basket case when he finds out tonight....thanks.
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Avatar universal
It is so hard to see your buddy get sick.  Ours had Cushings, but didn't have any eye problems.  Did your vet say the blindness was caused by the Cushings?  Any chance of improvement?  
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1 Comments
I have read 8n my research that cushings dog can have very high blood pressure which causes the retina to detach which causes the blindness. If the blood pressure can be co trolled they will be able to keep their eye sight
Avatar universal
My 8 year old Jack Russell/Chihuahua, Skippy, began is meds for Cushings 12 days ago. His tests have not been completely definitive for Cushings, but he had all the symptoms (wt gain, excessive thirst, enlarged liver). Three days ago he went blind. Over night, just like that. He is the best buddy. He is also my trail dog. Since he was a pup, he went along with my horse on all my rides, no matter how long. It breaks my heart.
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Avatar universal
Vetmedin seems good for Cushing's disease and Cushex Drops (herbal)
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Avatar universal
scroll down to the post My dog  passed away yesterday, and read the poem that was sent.  It fits your situation perfectly.  I too went through Cushings disease with our dog, and it is very rough.  I too hope your dog passes on his own, quietly in his sleep.  Take care.
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Avatar universal
My 10 year old Maltese was just diagnosed in Feb with Cushings, I diagnosed it before the vet did, I did my research online, classic symptoms, then suddenly in April within a week he went blind, I had never heard of SARDS until then. Nothing can be done unfortunately about the blindness but his levels that they test for in Cushings were off the charts. On VETORYL, he is eating normally now but the drinking is still a problem, now he wets himself when he sleeps. Pee pads everywhere just in case, baths and blow dry all hours of the night, He seems tired/ weak and sleeps all the time and is constantly bumping into things. My heart aches for him, I hold him and kiss him every chance I get, I know its only a matter of time. I am hoping God takes him painlessly so I won't have to do what I think I might have to do sooner than later. Anyone who loves dogs understands how sad I am.
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942557 tn?1272694819
Snow has her ups and downs and it is so hard to see her when she begs me to take her out and then she cries when i bring  her back in.She has always stayed outside.We have tried for years to get her to stay in,But she isnt happy as a indoor baby.I am trying everything  to perk her up.My vet  wants me to use the Neo-Poly-Dex in her eyes to try to slow down the Atrophy even though she has no vision.I hope that Toby is doing well.Is he having trouble seeing yet?Well i will talk to you soon .Take care and God Bless
   Chan
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1110049 tn?1409402144
Seems our dogs have the same problem, and nothing can be done for them.  How is Snow coping?   My vet did not suggest any treatment.

I had sad news from SusieQ.  Her dear little Maltese  Harley was very ill with Cushings, and would not eat, and she had him put to sleep this week.  I was in tears when I heard that.

As my Toby is only 6 years old, there are many years ahead of him yet, bless him.

Take care, and let me know how Snow gets on.

Anne
Helpful - 0
942557 tn?1272694819
The eye Dr that i took Snow to said she had advanced Retinal Atrophy and that there was a chance she has Sards but with the Atrophy she had already lost her vision so there wasnt any reason to test her any farther.IMR is Immune Mediated Retinopathy it can be treated if caught in time.It is like Sards but there is hope for vision with it.Did the dr suggest maybe using Neo-poly-Dex  to help with the Atrophy.The Wellactin that i was talking about helps with vision and skin,coat and over all health.Well i hope that all is well with Toby.Good Luck and Take care.
Helpful - 0
1110049 tn?1409402144
Hello.  Thank you for your nice message.  Susie has told me her maltese has SARDS, which I have never heard of.  That is so sad that your peke went blind so quickly.   My Toby has retinal atrophy.  He can still still see a little.  I was told it will progress quite quickly.  My dog is 6 years old, and he has a lot of living to do yet.  I don't know if SARDS and retin al atrophy is the same thing.  

What will the Wellactin do to help?  What is lmr?  No meds were suggested, as vet said there is nothing to be done.  Toby is not eating a lot like your dog.  He just sleeps all the time, but he always did!!  He has never been an active dog.

Keep in touch.

Helpful - 0
942557 tn?1272694819
I have an 11 year old peke and about 2 months ago she gained 7 lbs and then she went blind within 24 hours.I thought that she had Sards so i got her an appt with a specailist.My vet checked her for Cushings and she doesnt have that so we still dont know why the weight gain.When i got her to the specialist he said she has retinal degeneration and possible Sards,But with the retina the way it is there was no reason to do the testing for Sards.All she wants to do is eat and it is so hard to see her having trouble getting around.Everybody tells me to quit carrying her around every where,But it is so sad to see her keep bumping into everything.Did the specialist recommend Wellactin to you.I am using it on her food everyday they said that it was good to use.Did they say he had Sards or Imr?They say that they can treat Imr if it is caught in time.Did they put him on any meds?
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Avatar universal
The opthamologist didn't have good news.   It is SARDS.   His lens and cornea are perfect, but the retina is degenerating.    He thinks it's an inherited disease.    I thought I couldn't deal with the blindness, but now I think I could deal with that if he would just eat.  I can't just sit and watch him starve himself.   I feel like he's depressed.    If he gets really weak and won't eat, I don't want him to suffer, but there is no way I could have him put to sleep.

I had emailed a vet on this site a few weeks ago and he answered.    Today I clicked on Ask a Vet and there is a $10 charge.   !  ????
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your information.    It is just heartbreaking when he bumps into things and then stands in the middle of the floor looking confused.   I've had him to 2 vets and read everything I can find on Cushings, and nothing talked about blindness, but I felt the 2 must be connected somehow.

I don't have much hope, but I'll let you know what the opthamologist tells me on Friday.
Helpful - 0
1110049 tn?1409402144
When I took my Bichon Frise to vet recently because of eyesight problems, he asked lots of questions as he thought it might be Cushings.  My dog has not been drinking more, but his eyesight is deteriorating rapidly.  I am told within a year he will be totally blind.  Vet said it was called retinal atrophy and nothing can be done.  My dog is 6 years old, and I have had him three years, so I do not know his history.  Vet said pedigree inter breeding can cause this.  I am told dogs adjust to losing their sight as their sense of smell compensates.  Nevertheless it is hard to accept our pet is blind.  
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Avatar universal
Thank you.   I just did that.    Maybe there is a vet that will give me hope.    Waiting for almost 2 weeks for the opthamologist is really hard.
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Avatar universal
My dog had Cushings, but I never encountered the eye problem.  You might want to click on Forum on top of this page, and go under Ask a Vet section.  Maybe they can give you more information.  
Helpful - 0
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