Cushings Disease

[{Dakota}]

My parents dog has been to the vet, who thinks that she has cushings disease.

None of the 3 of us can find much information about it on the net. Do any of you have experience with your dog having this? How did affect your dogs life? What treatment was available for your dog? Did your dog get better?

The vet just took blood samples today so we would all be really grateful for information before the results come back.

Thanks
Dak

[Eels]

Cushing's disease is quite a complex disease which has two separate types, so it's possibly best that your vet explains the situation to you in depth.

It is difficult to diagnose sometimes, and treatment is fantastically expensive, so insurance is usually necessary. However, it isn't a terminal or painful disease, so it isn't essential to treat it. Many owners find the symptoms (excessive thirst/urination, panting, lethargy, behavioural changes) hard to deal with though.

The symptoms vary widely between animals. The severity is also very variable. A full explanation is probably best given by the vet - get them to draw diagrams - I can't explain it well without doing so myself, anyway!

[lankeela]

Another useful link:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/cushing_s_disease.html

[lankeela]

If you cannot get this link, then go to the marvistavet homepage, click on pet web library, then scroll down to cushings disease.

[{Dakota}]

Thank you so much guys, your answers mean so much to my parents and I - and Ellen too, poor wee soul :(

[Toureman]

Try this, where do you search on the net? i just put cushings disease in google and loads of sites come up!

http://www.vetinfo.com/dcushing.html

[Eric Git]

I had a dog diagnosed with this condition, it wa my springer, the same one who had his crutiate done. Anyway I was told by my vet that he had to take medication for the rest of his life, two tablets per week. The medication came in bottles of 100 tablets and cost just under �400, he also said that Eric woulnd't finish the bottle and that he would buy back all the tablets unused due to Eric passing. He eat his words, Eric was 7 when he was diagnosed and lived until he was 15, the disease got him in the end but he never slowed down once. get your vet to explain everything to you, but don't lose faith in your dog, the medication is great, his quality wasn't affected at all.