Cushing's Disease in a dog?

[C.Ann]

It's looking like DD's IL's dog may have Cushing's Disease.. At first they thought it was diabetes, but after all of the urine, blood work, etc., at the vet's, that has been ruled out.. The vet has indicated there's a high probability that it's Cushing's Disease and has requested a conference tomorrow..

The dog was saved from a shelter - about 6 years ago.. (Mixed breed..) I think he's 11 or 12 now.. DD's IL's looked it up on the internet (as did my Dson-in-law and DD), but due to one single symptom not being present, they are positive that it's "not" Cushing's Disease.. (I can understand that - as they are probably grasping at any ray of hope that they can..)

I/we have never known anyone with a dog who has suffered from this disease and since my Dson-in-law's cousin (a vet) is in California right now, I thought I would ask here if anyone has had experience with this..

Is it curable? Treatable? Is it fatal - even if treated? Will the dog be in a lot of pain? Is it an extremely expensive disease to treat (meaning thousands and thousands of dollars - with no positive outcome)?

I feel bad for them - especially DD's FIL.. The dog pretty much goes wherever he goes..

Can anyone share their experiences with this?
Thanks..

 

[Jennasis]

We've dealt with Cushing's in horses. It can be pricey to treat but it is treatable, not curable.

 

[sunnyday123]

My lab had it. It's treatable, but not curable.

 

[WDWBarb]

My amazing border collie had Cushings. I lost her to it. She, however, was 16 when she was diagnosed and treatment just wasn't effective. I have a horse now with Cushings and she is doing ok with treatment. In a dog this age, it should be manageable.

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks all! I feel much better hearing that it's treatable..

Does it require medication? Diet? Injections?

I should just look it up myself, but sometimes you get better info if it's from people who have had personal experiences with it..

 

[Abbie]

We lost a beloved dog to what was suspected to be Cushing's. It's not easily identified....I think there were very expensive radiologic tests that would have been required to be definitive but both the vet and I decided it wasn't worth it in his case. It is somehow tied in with diabetes so we just treated him for that but due to the suspected Cushing's it was unable to be controlled. He didn't last long afterwards, maybe a few months, and it was very sad to see his decline. I gave him his insulin each day and he didn't mind that but he became blind and that was heartbreaking to watch, especially when he fell down the steps a time or two when we couldn't grab him in time. We finally had to make the decision to have him put to sleep, which the vet kindly did in my family room.

I hope for better for your dd's inlaws.

 

[C.Ann]

We lost a beloved dog to what was suspected to be Cushing's. It's not easily identified....I think there were very expensive radiologic tests that would have been required to be definitive but both the vet and I decided it wasn't worth it in his case. It is somehow tied in with diabetes so we just treated him for that but due to the suspected Cushing's it was unable to be controlled. He didn't last long afterwards, maybe a few months, and it was very sad to see his decline. I gave him his insulin each day and he didn't mind that but he became blind and that was heartbreaking to watch, especially when he fell down the steps a time or two when we couldn't grab him in time. We finally had to make the decision to have him put to sleep, which the vet kindly did in my family room.

I hope for better for your dd's inlaws.

I'm sorry..

 

[floridascgirl]

We lost our poodle named Toast to Cushings last year. He had been sick for quite awhile and it took many months to get the final, correct diagnosis. We treated him for several months(can't remember the medication) and put him on a special diet, but he just didn't respond. The final suggestion was to try a medication that they were going to compound just for him, but the cost was outrageous and they couldn't guarantee that it would help. We opted not to go that route mostly due to his age...he was already 14 years old. He lived for a few more months until we finally had to put him to sleep. It was a terribly painful decision, but his quality of life was so greatly diminished that we felt it was for the best. Good luck to you.

 

[GSDRescuer]

I lost a GSD to liver disease and Cushing's. The Cushing's was caused by the meds he had to take for his liver disease so it was drug induced Cushing's.

Good luck and hugs.

 

[C.Ann]

We lost our poodle named Toast to Cushings last year. He had been sick for quite awhile and it took many months to get the final, correct diagnosis. We treated him for several months(can't remember the medication) and put him on a special diet, but he just didn't respond. The final suggestion was to try a medication that they were going to compound just for him, but the cost was outrageous and they couldn't guarantee that it would help. We opted not to go that route mostly due to his age...he was already 14 years old. He lived for a few more months until we finally had to put him to sleep. It was a terribly painful decision, but his quality of life was so greatly diminished that we felt it was for the best. Good luck to you.

I lost a GSD to liver disease and Cushing's. The Cushing's was caused by the meds he had to take for his liver disease so it was drug induced Cushing's.

Good luck and hugs.

So sorry - for both of you and your losses..

I'm anxious to hear what the vet has to say tomorrow - although we would all feel a lot better if my Dson-in-law's cousin (a vet) was here right now.. Obviously whatever news the IL's get tomorrow will be run by her first (after she has had the chance to go to the vet's office and review all of the tests and records) - and any decisions will be based on what she has to say..

Diabetes sure would have been an easier route to go..