Cushings Disease

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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  • PhocoenaGirlP

    Hi Gwen,

    Our family dog growing up - bluetick dalmatian mix Harley - had Cushings. We got his medication filled at a people pharmacy - lived in Michigan USA at the time. We used a little independent pharmacy because that is what was in the tiny town we lived in but I know we specifically got it there because it was cheaper. Now with goodrx you might want to check it at all the big and little pharmacies. People can get Cushing's too so it is probably cheaper through a human pharmacy.

    Also, be prepared for your guy to start having accidents in the house. There's a lot in common between the symptoms of diabetes and Cushing's but they don't have the glucose spillage into their urine. Increased thirst, increased urination that they just can't control. If I had a dog with Cushing's now, I'd work to teach them how to use puppy pads in the house to stay ahead of accidents. My folks just put Harley in the garage all day. Oh the things I wish I could have known when I was a teenager!

    Cushing's either comes from a tumor on the pituitary or a tumor on the adrenal glands. The one upside to the pituitary tumor type is that they also get an increase in a hormone - can't remember the name - but it modulates pain. So while Harley had hip arthritis he actually felt better once he had Cushing's. Until the very end because his tumor spread, he was never in pain from it and actually had some increases in his mobility.

    Prayers for your b! He'll probably still have a couple (if not more) years of pain free happy life as long as you can manage his urination for your own and your house's sake.

    Shannon, Beegin and Brady (…Snow sucks.)

    4
  • G

    Thank you so much for the information! I went to Kroger and asked if I could get the medication there. They said they only provide dog medications that humans also use. I mentioned to her that humans also get cushings disease, but she said they don't offer the medication for pets. I will check around at independent pharmacies and see if I can obtain it elsewhere. Thanks again.

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  • G

    Our basenji, Arrow, appears to be doing fine on the medication. However, we read that the average life span for a dog diagnosed with cushings disease is two years. We will give him a wonderful life as long as possible.

    1 Reply 1
  • tanzaT

    @gwen - Take the scrip from the Vet to a pharmacy and give it to them... 99% of the time they will fill it....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    1
  • PhocoenaGirlP

    @gwen,

    Yes Cushing's is a life limiting disease. Our Harley lived about 2 years once diagnosed as well. If it's adrenal gland based, there may be surgical options but not sure - you'd need to talk to your very and decide what's worth it. I don't know what complications there are if it's in both adrenal glands. For pituitary, there's no good surgical options. The pituitary gland is literally in the center of the brain.

    One thing that you could look into to help combat metastasis is some of the natural supplements out there that are anti-cancer. There's some for dogs now with turmeric (plus peperine) aka curcumin and reishi mushrooms. As with all supplements, read the ingredients and run it by your vet if you have questions. I'd be willing to bet some folks on here might even have recommendations.

    In the meantime, love on your fur baby and enjoy your time with him. You sound like you are a devoted pet owner and he's lucky to be with you!

    Shannon, Beegin and Brady (…Snow sucks.)

    1
  • senjisillyS

    @Gwen

    If you have a Costco near you they fill veterinary prescriptions, usually much cheaper than your vet. Costco also has a form you can fill out for the uninsured and animals count. That plan dropped the cost of one of my dogs medicines substantially.

    Lynn B.

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  • J

    I second the Costco suggestion. In California you're not required to be a member to make pharmacy or alcohol purchases. By law they have to let you in. Might want to check your state laws.

    2
  • G

    Thank you for all the advice. We are bringing in Arrow to see the vet on Saturday, so I'll see what type of cushings disease he has. We had a previous basenji, Teka, who passed from kidney disease. It was terrible seeing her lose weight and her appetite. She's still with us in spirit and we think of her often.

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  • W

    Mine was diagnosed with pituitary cushing's in Dec 2015. I lost him October 2020 and it was to something completely unrelated to cushing's. He never had issues with anything related to cushing's except a gall bladder mucocele easily treated with an inexpensive medication. There are exceptions to the two year average. Yours may be another exception 😊

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  • G

    Thanks for sharing - good to know!

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  • tanzaT

    @gwen - It is not common Basenjis, many breeds, mixed breeds have/develop Cushings.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0

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    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
  • D

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    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.