best food for cushing's

[joy6]

My 101/2 year old female spayed poodle was just diagnosed last week with pituatary dependent Cushing's.  We are extremely close, and I don't work outside the home, so I noticed her symptoms early, because they came on fairly quickly.  My vet has her on 10 mg Selegeline daily, which I started yesterday - research on internet seems to confirm this is good option for her, at least to start treatment.  I am hoping to get some suggestions or any information I can about   1) the best food for her - she gets no table scraps unless I am having chicken, then very little.  Currently on Iams Mature Active, about one cup a day (her ideal weight is 12 lbs, but with the Cushing's, has gained 3 lbs last couple months.  Found that she should be having high protein, less grains.  Any suggestions on her diet?   2) She's groomed every 45 days or so, and I bath her every two weeks in between.  So far, she hasn't shown any "classic" Cushing's skin problems.  I use an oatmeal shampoo, but nothing special - whatever I can pick up at supermarket.  She has not been prone to skin infections, hot spots, itching, chewing or any other typical irritations (maybe she'll continue to be lucky in this regard).  Anything to look out for as far as skin care?    3)  Because of my own allergies to topical flea/tick treatments, she has been on Sentinel (oral flea and heartworm tabs) for about 4 years.  My vet is researching whether continuing with this will interfere with the Selegiline, but in the meantime, has anyone had any experience with this problem.  I live in a very wooded area, and ticks are a real problem in early summer, so I'd love to continue with the Sentinel - it works, and she tolerates it well.  Any suggestions on alternate treatments?

I'm no different from any other pet owner - I dearly love my Peaches, and I'm trying not to let this Cushing's get us down.  My family always joked about her "RBCD" - Rubber Ball Compulsive Disorder, it breaks our hearts now to have to beg her for a short chase.  I'm praying the drugs will soon kick in, and she'll be more her old self.

Thanks to anyone who can provide more information about her treatment, especially on the above points.

  

[joy6]

Thanks again, Karla.  I've been on the k9 site already this morning, and have ordered the Orijen Senior dry as well as some treats.  Website was easy to navigate.  Peaches is generally not a picky eater, and with her increased appetite due to the Cushing's, I feel sure she'll enjoy it and benefit from it.  Will ease her into it, tho, as recommended.  Because of her begging to be fed 2-3 hours before her regular mealtimes, I've gone to feeding 3 times daily (try for every 6 hrs).  She's always been very regular and never any gas, but since her two full days in vet's office last week, she's been having some problems with digestion and bowel movements.  Did read somewhere that stomach gurgles were common, and she's been pretty loud with that - looks at me like "what is going on with my belly?"  Thanks also for the info on the skin tags.

[Misfits4Me]

This is probably going to sound pushy, however that is not my intention. I need you to know this so you can help Peaches with a better diet. Here goes: Meat MEALS are common in pet food. "Meal" means that these materials ARE NOT used fresh, but have been rendered. Rendering is to process for industrial use: To render livestock CARCASSES and to extract oils from fat, blubber, etc. by melting. These materials are dumped in large vats & cooked for hours. Although rendering kills bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc., the high temps also destroys the natural enzymes & PROTEINS that were in the raw materials to begin with.  Thus, Meals are not a protein source.
I have a favorite place to go look at food online. IMO, Most everything they offer is high quality food. A good food will have a Protein source listed First and hopefully Second on the label.  Example: Chicken,Turkey  or  Beef, Liver, or Venison,Lamb, etc. At least in the First spot -  means the protein source is abundant in the particular food. Did that make sense? It has to read as a MEAT. NOT a by-product or a Meal. OK, the place to go look is called:  k9cuisine(Dot)com  * Had to do it this way or the server will not let it go through!  I love this place.....Excellent service, thorough ingredients lists, fast shipping, (3-4 days to my door in Okla.), free shipping if you spend $50.00 (Easy for me as I have 4 furkids)  :)  and this: (I've never found another place that offers this) Pay close attention: When you click on a dry food to read about it, It will give you size choices. Also, there will be a (Free Sample) choice. You can order the samples of almost every food they offer for free. Then you can let Peaches sample them to determine which one she likes. Is that cool or what? You don't end up wasting large bags of hated food. :)  I have ordered 10 to 12 samples at a time. They always send them, too.  My personal favorite and what my dogs love is called: Innova Evo. It's grain free.  I buy the canned and dry. The dry is called "Small Bites". (It's a perfect size kibble)  My Dogs eat the Chicken/Turkey, but they do offer Beef. I believe it's called "Red Bites". This is an excellent food with a wonderfully high protein source &  fruits and veggies.  At least go read about this one and ORDER a sample...........Now, Skin tags: Your Vets right!  Has nothing to do with Cushings. Just a product of old age. I even have a 6yr. old that's developing them. My 13yr. old has many. I have never had to have them removed. However, if one was on an eyelid (For example) and driving the furkid nuts, I would have it taken off, immediately. I guess it really depends on where they decide to grow.....All right, If some of this is unclear or you have more questions, let me know...Sorry I got so carried away; It's just that I believe that "Good Food" is first step to healing.....   Good luck to you and Peaches.......Karla

[joy6]

Thanks for your quick reply.  I have been extensively researching this disease since her testing began last week, and have gotten a lot of good information from forums and veterinary websites.  The food I'm close to choosing is available online and has chicken meal, brown rice, and other more or less "natural and fresh" ingredients.  Would really appreciate your suggestions on her feeding.   I did say in the first post that she had never had any skin problems; however, she has begun to have a lot of small skin tags (I think that's the word I want).  The vet didn't seem to want to connect this to the Cushing's and said not to worry unless they bleed.  She has a careful groomer, so hopefully no problem there.  Thanks again for your help.

[Misfits4Me]

There have been a number of good discussions, on this board, about Cushings. Although, I don't have the information for you, you can do a search while you wait on someone to respond. At the top right (Of dog forum opening page), there's a MedHelp search box. Type in Cushings and hit go. It will take you to the past pages pertaining to only this disease. Some will be the dog forum and others will be other forums. You can select which to read...There's valuable info. for you....I CAN help you with a better diet for her. Your right, she needs higher protein for any illness....My personal favorites are grain free....If your interested, let me know and I'll give you some suggestions on grain free diets. What I've tried and what the furkids prefer....(Including My ill Senior Poodle).  :)
Good luck........Karla