Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. Cushings Disease

Cushings Disease

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • D

    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

    0
  • KipawaK

    @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.

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • D

    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

    0

Suggested Topics

  • imbjI

    Early Kidney Disease - Difficulty Getting Her to Eat

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    3k Views
    senjisillyS
    One of my Basenjis is also diagnosed with early kidney disease. The vet prescribed Enalapril Maleate (generic for Vasotec). My vet allowed me to choose whatever prescription food I wanted to use. After some research I chose Blue Buffalo BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet KS Kidney Support. I looked into and tried a more holistic food, Dr. Harvey's - a dehydrated food, but Kushika couldn't manage to eat it without getting it all over the walls, kitchen floor, and herself so we went back to the kibble. I liked the Dr. Harvey food AND you can call to talk to Dr. Harvey, who asked me to send Kushika's lab results to him so he could make specific recommendations dependent on those results. Kushika came to live with us at almost 10 years old and was immediately diagnosed with kidney disease. At age 12+ she is still with us, going strong and looking better than when she arrived.
  • Tayda_LennyT

    Unexplained seizure leading to Kidney disease diagnosis - advice for feeding

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k 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
  • R

    Old dog vestibular disease

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    1k Views
    No one has replied
  • DebraDownSouthD

    Kidney disease… food?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    29
    0 Votes
    29 Posts
    18k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Thank you all.
  • D

    Cushings

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    nomrbddgsN
    I haven't had a lot of experience with it. But I am researching it because I think the Boxenji has it, and, for those interested, here are some items about Cushing's Disease. There are different types of Cushing's as follows. Pituitary Dependant Hyperadrenocorticism-Most common Adrenal-based Hyperadrenocorticism Iatrogenic Hyperadrenocorticism The most common symptoms include: • increased/excessive water consumption (polydipsia) • increased/excessive urination (polyuria) • urinary accidents in previously housetrained dogs • increased/excessive appetite (polyphagia) • appearance of food stealing/guarding, begging, trash dumping, etc. • sagging, bloated, pot-bellied appearance • weight gain or its appearance, due to fat redistribution • loss of muscle mass, giving the appearance of weight loss • bony, skull-like appearance of head • exercise intolerance, lethargy, general or hind-leg weakness • new reluctance to jump on furniture or people • excess panting, seeking cool surfaces to rest on • symmetrically thinning hair or baldness (alopecia) on torso • other coat changes like dullness, dryness • slow regrowth of hair after clipping • thin, wrinkled, fragile, and/or darkly pigmented skin • easily damaged/bruised skin that heals slowly • hard, calcified lumps in the skin (calcinosis cutis) • susceptibility to infections (especially skin and urinary) • diabetes, pancreatitis, seizures There are three tests they use to diagnose Cushings-depending on what type of cushings they have. Either there is too much cortisol or too little in the blood. Urine Cortisol/Creatinine Ratio Test ACTH Stimulation Test Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test High Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test The high dose test is generally used as to diagnose which type of cushings the dog has. The low dose test is the one generally used to diagnose that the dog has cushings and is said to be about 90-95% accurate in diagnosing.
  • SweetpeaelfS

    Disease

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k Views
    Ninabeana26N
    Yea my vet told me that during our last appointment. He said not to let Dallas sniff other dogs poop no matter where we are because the poop can contain diseases. I see poop all around our community because people don't pick it up after their dogs but Dallas [so far] never really gets too near ti that I have to pull him away.