Ask the Vet About Cushing's Disease in Dogs & Cats
While efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.
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It may be necessary to consult your pet's veterinarian regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your pet's symptoms or medical condition.
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While efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.
Submit Your QuestionWhat can I give to my 14 year old rescue shihtzu with Cushings disease, heart disease, mumor, arthritis and chronic cough which he is already on prescription medication for besides another prescription drug? Thank you!
Hey! Given all the issues that you mentioned, I recommend that you speak with your dog's vet that is familiar with his case about additional medications/supplements for all of his conditions! -Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Can my dog with Cushings who takes Vetoryl also take galliprant for pain?
Hey! Galliprant should be fine but I recommend that you have comprehensive bloodwork done on him before starting an NSAID! -Dr. Lindsay Butzer
What is the best treatment for calcinosis cutis? My dog has Cushings also.
Hey! Calcinosis cutis is often a secondary condition that can occur due to diseases like Cushing's syndrome. So, managing the primary disease, in this case Cushing's, is a crucial part of the overall treatment strategy. For Cushing's, there are several treatment options available, including medications such as trilostane or mitotane. These can help regulate the amount of cortisol produced by the body, thus managing the symptoms of Cushing's. As for the calcinosis cutis, treatment is typically aimed at reducing discomfort and preventing complications. This might include pain relief, wound care for any ulcerated areas, and antibiotics if there's an infection present. In some cases, if the calcinosis cutis is severe, surgical removal of the larger deposits might be considered. However, this is usually a last-resort option, as surgery can be risky and there's a chance the deposits could return. Diet can also play a role in managing these conditions. A balanced, low-fat diet with plenty of calcium and vitamin D can help regulate calcium levels in the body. Of course, every dog is different, and treatment plans should be tailored to the individual. It's important to work closely with your vet to develop the best plan for your pup. Regular follow-ups and blood tests will also be key to monitor your dog's response to treatment and adjust as necessary. Remember, while it can be challenging to manage these conditions, with the right care and treatment, many dogs with Cushing's and calcinosis cutis can still live happy, comfortable lives. So keep your chin up! Your furry friend is lucky to have such a dedicated caregiver.
Do you think regular use of Regumate in show mares during show season (every day April through September) contributes to the development of Cushings disease? Thanks for any insight
Hey! I am a small animal veterinarian. However, I do have horses myself and Regumate is a hormone drug used in horses to suppress their estrus cycle to help with behavioral modification. Since, the adrenal glands are involved where steroids are released as well as sex hormones there could be some effect on the adrenal glands there. I would discuss this more with your local equine veterinarian who has no experience. I hope this helps! Dr. Lindsay Butzer
My dog takes Vetsulin for diabetes and Vetoryl for Cushing's is it safe to give Comfortis Plus / Trifexis
Hey! Yes it is safe to give this for diabetics on Vetsulin and Vetoryl. There are thousands of dogs in this same position as yours who continue to take their monthly prevention with no issues. I hope this helped! Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Can we give Bravecto or Nexguard to outlr dog who takes Trilostane for Cushings?
Hey! Yes you can! Bravecto or Nexguard is safe. I hope this helps! Dr. Lindsay Butzer
could senilife capsules be broken opened and added to food
Hey! I don't see any problems with opening them and adding it to your pets food. I hope this helped! Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Can my 36 lb Terrier take Vetoryl 60 mg and Galliprant 60mg at the same time. Or should the doses be staggered . He was diagnosed with Cushings about 4 months ago. And now has some arthritis in his shoulder.
Your veterinarian, that prescribed them (and who has access to his history and bloodwork) is definitely the best one to consult about that.
Can you tell me what I can give my 12 year old dog to reduce his liver enzymes without hurting his liver? His ALP is 2500 and his ALT is 780 which are both way high! Thanks
Your veterinarian, that has access to all of his medical records and history and clinical signs, is definitely the best one to ask, but in general, we use Denamarin for most liver specific issues. Here is alink if you would like to read about it: https://www.1800petmeds.com/denamarin+tablets+-prod11008.html
I want to make home made treats for my dog. He is currently eating Hills Prescription original treats. Is carob powder, applesauce, molasses, and rice powder alright for him?
Your veterinarian, that has access to all of your dogs records, bloodwork, etc. is the best one to ask about this. (I can't recommend products that arent specifically made for and tested for dogs on this platform either.)
dog drinking to much
Often this will be a sign of diabetes, kidney failure or Cushing's disease - all treated very differently so see your veterinarian for some blood work and a urinalysis to see what is going on. Keep your dog for urinating for a couple of hours before the appointment, because they will probably want a urine sample as well.
My vet says my dog probably has cushings, however, He does not have any of the symptons that I have seen except for drinking a lot of water and always hungry. The vet suggests a test that will cost $1000. I wonder if that needs to be done. The dog it 7 yrs
Since drinking a lot of water and increased appetite are two of the main symptoms, if his preliminary, routine bloodwork suggest Cushing's, I would go ahead and test for it.
I have a 12 pound, 13 year old Mini Dachshund who has been doing pretty well on 5mg Vetoryl twice a day up until a week or so ago. She now has heavy breathing, reduced appetite, and pretty extreme lethargy (all can be seen with Cushings). She has a significant heart murmur, (which she was born with), but has increased in the last year significantly. She has a vet appointment tomorrow, and will be getting a chest X-ray and bloodwork done. Her vet thinks it is heart related and not Cushings, but I feel like she might respond to a higher dose seeing as how she is only at about 1.8mg/kg. and the dosage recommended for Vetoryl says 2.2-6.7 mg/kg. I was thinking of increasing her to 10mg in the morning and then 5mg in the evening. Would the 5mg increase even be enough to see a change in her physically, or would you recommend she be increased to 20mg? Worried about adverse reactions to higher doses given her heart issues and current condition. Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated. I should also mention that she had bloodwork done about 3 weeks ago (just a singe blood draw and not a full Cushings workup) and the vet said her numbers looked good then. She also had a few vaccinations at that same time and had an allergic reaction to one (face swelling, vomiting). She recovered, however, I wonder if it is relevant to her current meds possibly no longer working. Thanks, Melissa
I would definitely wait to increase her Vetoryl until you see your veterinarian tomorrow to determine exactly what is going on - it can have serious side effects, so it's great that she is responding to the lower dosage.
Can Amoxicillin be given with Vetoryl?
Yes - there is no adverse interaction between the two drugs. I would spread them out throughout the day and not give at the exact same time just to not upset the stomach.
Liver Happy Concentrate
I don't see that we carry that exact medication but this is the Ask the Vet section for medical questions, so contact customer service for that exact product. Here is their contact information: Toll Free Number (Call or Text) 1-800-PetMeds® (1-800-738-6337) Email Address customerservice@1800petmeds.com Denamarin is probably our best liver support product - here is a link if you would like to read about it: https://www.1800petmeds.com/Denamarin+Tablets+-prod11008.html