Possible Cushing's Disease

[Tucker'sMom]

My wonderful dog stopped eating February 12. My husband drives truck and came home for the weekend, got a new bag of dog food thinking the food was stale and Tucker wouldn't eat it (he doesn't eat stale food!). Tucker ate the new food right up...all weekend until Sunday night when my husband left. He didn't eat all the next week. This past Friday he started throwing up with some blood in it. I immediately took him to the Veterinarian. Bloodwork showed elevated liver enzymes, x-rays showed an enlarged liver, but no tumor. My Veterinarian kept him through the weekend and gave him antibiotics and fluids. The Veterinarian mentioned Saturday about the possibility of Cushing's Disease. I did do some research on Cushing's, and found that he does have some of the symptoms: increased diet (an understatement for Tucker!), sores on the skin that look like "hot-spots", increased thirst, increased urination (at times), limping that looks like old age arthritis, pot-belly. This disease mostly affects dogs around 10 years old, as many of the sypmtoms are often confused with the natural aging process. Tucker will be 7 in June, however it has been diagnosed in dogs as young as 6. German Shephards and Beagles (among some other breeds) are at a higher risk. Tucker is a mix of the two. He is obese (weighing in at 82 pounds...I have had him on a diet for about 3 years now, and we started the diet at 86 pounds.) I can see that he is having problems with his legs in part, to the weight. I have tried and tried, and I can't seem to get the weight off him. Here is where I have a problem. I just spent over $600 in the last few days getting him well again, and the test is about $120 and the neds is like $150 more. I found a medication online that treats Cushing's Disease and Addison's Disease (the opposite of Cushing's). I found it at PetWellBeing.com and the medication is called Supraglan. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with Cushing's and/or this medication. Any help would greatly be appreciated.

[Tucker'sMom]

After about a 2 week battle with liver based problems, Tucker had to be put down this morning. He went quickly and peacefully surrounded by those who love him. He will be sorely missed.

[OrangeBlossom]

Although, this is many months late, I was so sorry to hear of your beloved Tucker's passing. I hope that you are doing better now, and have rediscovered the ability to love another in honor of your love for Tucker.

My son found a stray dog this past weekend. The boy dog (9-10 years old) belonged to a nice elderly lady, who had recently lost her dear husband, and has become increasingly unable to care for him. Since my family helps out with a local rescue group, we took the dog in.

He came to us with many health issues, but many pointed to Cushing's; in fact, he's at the Veterinarian's today for full-day testing. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, we'll be in the same boat as your family...trying to make the best of a bad situation. We are concerned that at times Cushing's meds can lead to Addison's, which is far worse. But, we'll take it a day at a time. At least, our new furbaby is experiencing the consistent love and care that has been lacking in his life...and hopefully we'll make his last days (no matter how many of them there might be) the best of his life.