Cushings Disease


  • Has anyone had a B with Cushings? I am interested in Atypical Cushings. My Missy was recently diagnosed with this. She had a complete blood panel sent to the Univ. of TN. since the other Cushings tests were inconclusive. She had the puffy stomach as a symptom though. She is taking Melatonin for it. She has Fanconi Syndrome, sluggish gallbladder and hypothyroidism. She is 12 1/2 years old.

    Jennifer


  • @dcmclcm4:

    Has anyone had a B with Cushings? I am interested in Atypical Cushings. My Missy was recently diagnosed with this. She had a complete blood panel sent to the Univ. of TN. since the other Cushings tests were inconclusive. She had the puffy stomach as a symptom though. She is taking Melatonin for it. She has Fanconi Syndrome, sluggish gallbladder and hypothyroidism. She is 12 1/2 years old.

    Jennifer

    What medical effect does the Melatonin have on Missy? I take Melatonin as a natural sleep aid.


  • Here is the test information that Missy had done and an article with the portion that includes Melatonin for treatment. I have inlcuded the webpage for the entire article. She has not been on the Melatonin long and I am slowly increasing her dosage but she is definitely not as puffy in the intestinal area as she was.

    The Adrenal Panel with Combined Dex Supp/ACTH Stim Test for Dogs:

    The following hormones are tested in the adrenal panel: Cortisol, Estradiol, Androstenedione, 17-Hydroxyprogesterone, Progesterone and Aldosterone.

    REVIEW ARTICLES
    Steroid Profiles in the Diagnosis of Canine Adrenal Disorders
    Jack W. Oliver, Proceedings 25th ACVIM Forum, Pp. 471-473, Seattle, WA. 2007.

    http://www.vet.utk.edu/diagnostic/endocrinology/pdf/Steroids%20Profiles%20in%20the%20Diagnosis%20of%20.doc

    Melatonin. Results of in vitro cell culture (human H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells) studies in our lab55 revealed that both 21-hydroxylase and aromatase enzymes were inhibited by melatonin. Also, in dogs with adrenal disease that are treated with melatonin, and repeat adrenal steroid panels are done, cortisol levels are consistently reduced, and estradiol levels are variably reduced.29 Inhibition of the 21-hydroxylase enzyme would lower cortisol levels, and inhibition of the aromatase enzyme would lower estradiol levels. Estradiol levels were decreased in a prior study of dogs treated with melatonin.31 Results of in vitro studies with human MCF-7 breast cancer cells also revealed that melatonin inhibited aromatase enzyme, which resulted in reduced estradiol levels.56 Melatonin treatment for cases of mild adrenal disease in dogs may be effective, and particularly in cases where sex steroids are increased.

    Jennifer

Suggested Topics

  • Rare clotting disease

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    2k Views
    N
    I am SO sorry for what you and your sweet boy went through. My heart broke just reading it. I know he could feel your love and knew you were doing everything to take good care of him. God bless you and your Cassius.
  • Cushings Disease

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    634 Views
    B
    Yes, my Naomi had Cushing’s. You will need to work with your veterinarian for the best treatment. Lysodren was the first drug we tried. Trilostane was the drug that really worked for her. She regained her muscle tone and she strength and brightened back up. She did very well. She had her ACTH tested regularly, sitting quietly and patiently in the waiting room with me as she never liked the kennels at the veterinarian’s and threw unending basenji fits. I do remember the first signs of Cushing’s. Naomi’s tail developed a strange kink. None of the veterinarians in the practice could find anything wrong with her tail. She was otherwise healthy and bright. Next, she dropped a bar in agility. She never touched a jump before that, and could of course, jump much higher than her designated jump height. It did take a while for her to get to the point where she could be diagnosed. Naomi fought inflammatory bowel syndrome for a good part of her life. She often had bad tummy days. We did the best we could to keep her comfortable and happy. In the end, a tumor was detected in her bowel, and we made the difficult decision to euthanize. I don’t know how long she would have lived on the Trilostane protocol. She was a darling, beautiful little dog, and I miss her greatly. I do wish you the greatest of luck with your baby, and pray that your sweet pup and you have many, happy, healthy years ahead of you.
  • 0 Votes
    12 Posts
    3k Views
    R
    Hi Michelle, Did you get in touch with Kelli to let her know about Lenny? Sorry to hear you're having issues. Rocky is doing great now, no more cancer. Lenny as you know is Rocky's older brother. Kathryn
  • Kidney disease… food?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    29
    0 Votes
    29 Posts
    18k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Thank you all.
  • 0 Votes
    1 Posts
    797 Views
    No one has replied
  • Cushings Disease :(

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    8k Views
    tanzaT
    @MaxBooBooBear: Yes–I was trained how to do it--and did do it at home a couple of times, but it was really a struggle for me. Both my dogs reacted very, very poorly to the procedure--and it really took two people to do it comfortably. Since I live alone, it was best for me to go have it done at my vets who is only about 5 minutes from me. They also got a special contraption for the bag of fluids that expressed the fluid out so it went much more quickly. But I know many people who are able to do it at home because their dogs or cats are more tolerant than mine were. It's much cheaper that way :) One of the best ways is to have a grooming table that comes complete with a "noose"…. It supports the head and keeps them standing.... you can fairly easily hang the IV bag off the same support.... while I agree the first couple of times it helps to have two, one to hold the dog, one to "stick" the needle in.... but once you get the hang of it.. it usually works.... But whatever works... and that is great that you could just run down to your Vet...