Anyone have a dog with Cushings Disease? (vet, beagle, shots)

[Blondie621]

My 82 year old Mom recently found out her beagle has Cushings Disease. I am trying to find out some first hand info. for her if possible. She has incurred some expensive vet bills with no results as of yet. Right now her dog is on a chemotherapy pill form of medication for 12 days. She was on a lesser strength one a couple of weeks earlier that did nothing.
Any help would be appreciated since my Mom does not have the internet. I did a search but did not come up with too much except the standard info.

[elston]

I think Cushings syndrone is a condition of the adreanal gland producing too much of the adrenal hormones....it will require chemo to manage and that can swing it to producing too little of the hormones resulting in Addisons disease. Both conditions require long term management and medication. We recently lost a very geriatric dog who had had Addison's Disease for quite a few years, her condition was managable....but chronic, requiring careful monitoring and daily medication and monthly injections....but that was Addisons...the opposite but related condition.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by Blondie621

My 82 year old Mom recently found out her beagle has Cushings Disease. I am trying to find out some first hand info. for her if possible. She has incurred some expensive vet bills with no results as of yet. Right now her dog is on a chemotherapy pill form of medication for 12 days. She was on a lesser strength one a couple of weeks earlier that did nothing.
Any help would be appreciated since my Mom does not have the internet. I did a search but did not come up with too much except the standard info.

Our pit had Cushings, she was about 8 at the time. Hers was inoperable and she was maintained on meds. I also didn't really see any big improvement; she urinated alot and her body started to resemble that of a pig which is normal with this disease. Our Dakota also had severe arthritis and she was treated for that. We tried everything posible for her. We spent alot of money on our baby at the Vet.

She had the Cushings I'd say for probably a little over a year. At the very end the last resort for her was weekly shots which supposedly would give her pep and help her walk better. She got to where she couldn't get up without help; us lifting her butt for her to get on her legs.

It got to the point where one day she couldn't get up at all and we had to have my baby girl put to sleep; she was miserable. She had that look in her eye where you know they have had enough.

I'm sorry I can't remember the name of the meds she took for the Cushings but I know it was not a chemotherapy type drug. She was given Rimadyl I believe for her arthritis.

I would question the vet as to just "what exactly" is this medicine supposed to do for the dog. I wish you're mom luck with her dog and wish I had more info for you. Our Vet is pretty good (darned expensive though for some things), and she didn't paint a pretty picture for our's with the Cushings; basically one where not a whole lot can be done.

[FiveHorses]

You might try sending a message to "Rural Lady" - she's involved with some support group or similar for people with dogs with Cushings. She might have some good info for your mom to read &/or advice.

[Blondie621]

Originally Posted by FiveHorses

You might try sending a message to "Rural Lady" - she's involved with some support group or similar for people with dogs with Cushings. She might have some good info for your mom to read &/or advice.

Is she on the dog forum anywhere? The name does not sound familiar here.
Thanx!

[FiveHorses]

Originally Posted by Blondie621

Is she on the dog forum anywhere?

Yup. Just do a search for Cushings disease and her posts come up.