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.

[ro116]

I just wanted to let you know that our 10 year old little Shih Tzu/Maltease girl has been diagnosed with Cushings. We have not yet put her on any meds but we did do the accupuncture route.  We did all the blood work before her disease was diagnosed and her liver enzymes were sky high.  She went for the accupuncture treatments, 5 in all, and then had her blood work redone and her liver enzymes were still high but had come down alot.  Out vet believes in homopathy treatment and I am glad we were open to this.  We are just taking it one day at a time.
I just discovered this web site and I must say that this forum is such a good and helpful idea.  It lets us all know we have someone to talk to about our dog's problems and know we are not alone.
It is so wonderful to see so many people that love their dogs so much.

[suzi-q]

I had to put my dog down in December and I could not have made it through without the people on this site.  Welcome and we hope to help in anything we can.

[tish517]

We just discovered that our 11 year old golden retriever has cushings disease.  She is now drinking lots, still eating good, is having accidents at night, sleeps on a cool floor, snores loudly, coughs once in a while, a dry cough, barking alot more even at all the family, has had trouble getting up the stairs, we have found a few lumps.  We can not afford the medicine and really don't want her to suffer, which at this time, she does not appear to be, is there anything else we can be doing?, and how far along does this appear to be?  Thank you for any information you can give me!

March 20, 2008
Tish

[JackinAtl]

We have a 7 year old flat coat retriever who was diagnosed with Cushings about 2.5 years ago.  We put him on vetoryl (imported from the U.K.) and it has helped his symptoms tremendously.  I think he is getting in the later stages of the disease and gets very anxious and barks constantly at nightime.  He has to go out alot more often and seems to be running overly warm all of the time.  The vet said the tumor on his pituitary (which is in the brain) is probably growing and causing cognitive problems (he could even be hallucinating).  It is very sad to us to be losing such a valuable member of our family.

[Sue179]

Our 9 year old beagle was diagnosed with Cushings in late Jan after having a horrible seizure.  He was so sick and we were ready to let him go, when our vet gave him Lysodryn.  The result was incredible.  He still staggers around like a little drunk dog, and we had to get a harness for him to help stand him up when he has to go outside, but he has been doing very well.  He takes the Lysodryn (not sure of the spelling) 2x a week and the tablets cost about $7.50 a piece.  We know that our time with him is limited and we make the most of everyday with him. But the Lysodryn for him, was a life saver.  

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

hi i just put my sweet baby kizmoe to rest 3 weeks ago he had cushings to, , he had been on predsone for years for shin problems ear problems so he took the shots. he had the pot belly and drink a lot to. the last 3 days he was with us he really went down fast he stop eating as much on weds , than thursday i notice he was breathing harder and not eating as much. friday morninghe got up real early went into the living room and laid on his bed when i got up to check on him he had wet on the rug near the back door, he just could not make it out the doggy door i guess, i called the vet, took him in he was laboring for air , he took x-rays said his heart and liver was inlarged( that explained why he no longer laid on his tummy always on his side last 3-4 months) said he had water in his lungs gave me pills to gave him , but told me his out look was guarded and that i would be making a decision in 5 days, took him home he locked his teeth together would not take pill for me or husband , called his dr back , he said if he not take pill he would be gone by sunday but that pill not save him just help him to breath better . i laid on floor for 3 hours loving him and talking to him, he looked right through me, was very uncomfy and sad, i could not go whole weekend with him suffering, so called  vet back took him in , he never walked to the back rooms on his own always trying go out front door but this time he walked back and stop looked at me like its ok am ready. i miss him so much, he took a part of my heart with him, yes he was a dog but to me jhe was my baby boy. he was 17 years old so he out lived his life span and gave me so much love,he was a shihtzu so plz love them and lay them to rest when time. God Bless ya for being great Parents to your babies. Barbara