Dog with Cushings Disease

[April2]

Hello. I have a maltese mix who was diagnosed with Cushings Disease several months ago. The vet said there's medication but that it's very expensive and doesn't seem to prolong their life. I made the decision to just watch him and let him live out his life. He's 11 years old. This last year I've noticed a decline in him somewhat but not sure if it's because of the Cushings or just old age. He has trouble with his back legs a lot now just suddenly giving out especially on stairs. He struggles to get up if he's been laying down for awhile. I also don't think he sees or hears as well as he used to. He's overweight which seems to partly go with the Cushings. We have him on a low-fat diet and it doesn't seem to help much. I try to walk him but he tires out easily and I wind up having to carry him home because he'll sit down and refuse to walk anymore! And just last night he was breathing funny. At first he was panting really hard for a long time. I kept checking the AC and turning it on more. Finally he stopped panting but was snoring and making funny noises for hours before he finally quieted down. He has snored before but not sounded like that. Today he's acting ok. Is this all signs of aging? Could some of it be the Cushings? Also, I told the vet sometimes he will try to get up and his back legs act like they're frozen and he can't come to me. I'll call him and he struggles to come but can't for several seconds and then he can walk again. It's weird. I've tried to describe it to the vet. I wish I had a video of it. Could this just be arthritis? Or could he be having a mild seizure from time to time? He's kind of gone down hill more this last year. I wonder, sadly, sometimes if this will be his last year.

[Deb0218]

I have an 11year pomeranian/terrier/poodle mix.  Not really sure as I rescued her from some homeless people 11 years ago at Lake Shasta, CA while on vacation.  Of course her name is "Shasta".  She has been my baby ever since. I found out that she had cushings about a year and a half ago.  The doctor explained and I looked up the disease to find out more.  I have opted to not go the medication route.  1 reason was the cost but also because I talked to other owners of dogs with the disease who did give the meds and their dogs did OK till the end.  I guess my thinking is that nothing  is going to make it go away and as long as she was feeling OK her life was not too bad. Shasta also started drinking a lot of water but according to the vet she was at the borderline on this.  She does urinate more often but has not had any accidents in the house.  Her stomach is swollen and she no longer can jump up on the couch or into the car.  She has had the other systems with dull coat and hair loss too.  She is now partially blind also.  My worry now is that for the last 3 weeks or so she is not eating much or drinking much and she has been throwing up nearly every day.I have to have her on special prescription dog food due to kidney stones so don't have a lot of options.  I talked to the vet and got the same prescription dog food only in canned.  The first couple of days she ate this good and did not throw up as long as I kept the portions down to a couple of tablespoons.  Now the last 2 days she is not even eating this. I have tried crumbling a couple of potatoe chips (her favorite) and mixing this in with no luck. she still does not eat.  She does not seem to have much energy,although I did take her for a walk yesterday and she did OK.  I was just wondering if anyone has had a dog that seems to be close to the end?  And if you do have you had the problem of your dog not eating and throwing up all the time. She does not appear to be in any pain.  I just hate going to work every day wondering if when I get home she will be gone. Please if anyone has reached this point with their dog let me know - I just don't know who to turn to.  Debbie

[Deb0218]

Hi I just wanted to let you knows  since I posted my note a couple days ago I have called and talked to my vet.My dogs symptoms are not a part of cushings disease. The throwing up and now not eating are something else.She probably has some kind of tumor other kidney disease. No way to tell with out spending hundreds of dollars( I don't have.) And the bottom line is she is dieing anyway  I just wanted to let you know so that you don't worrry about your dog. According to my vet cushings disease does not stop them from eating and does not make them throw up.  For the last 6 months or so I have had to be careful and pick her up just right or she would cry.  She occasionally threw up but I just thought it was because of the cushings and her stomach being compressed by her other swollen organs. So I guess I should have taken her in long ago,now it is too late. or Good luck to you. Watching your dog die is not something I would wish on anyone!!

[Jaybay]

I just had to that exact thing: watch my dog die of kidney failure.  I can't think of a bad enough word to describe it.  :-(

[April2]

Deb, I'm sorry about Shasta. I just saw your posts. If you think she's suffering, you may need to consider putting her to sleep. I know how hard that is. :( I had to put one of my cat's to sleep several years ago. It's not easy, that's for sure. But it's not easy watching them suffer either.  My prayers are with you. ((( Hugs! )))

[Shadows_Mom]

Our dog, Shadow is a 13 1/2 year old lab.  She has just been diagnosed with Cushings Disease.  She also quit eating, but the vet said it was due to the meds, not the disease.  We cut her meds by 1/2 and she has been doing fine the last 7 days.  We know we are on our last chance with her, and hope each day is a good one.  Thank you for sharing your story, it is a sad time, but it helps to know that others share your pain.

[krn92]

I have an 8 year old male basset hound that has been just diagnosed with Cushing's.  For a few years now he has had arthritis and hip problems as well as chronic ear infections but in reading about Cushing's, I'm now wondering if it was the gradual start of the disease.  Recently, Muggs has been waking us up at 4am to go out to pee and drinks water like it is going out of style, even eating snow outside till he shivers!  He has also had a few accidents in the house (never before) and so this is why I took him into the vet.
The vet is recomending the low dose dexamethesone tolerance test next to see if it is the adreals or the pituitary glands that are being affected, and then he is suggesting lysotren (sp?).  I have read that this drug is very toxic and have real concerns about it.  Does anyone have any suggestions about this drug and their dogs or any general help for Muggs?  Thanks,  Karen.