Cushing's Disease

[JD102175]

The vet thinks that my 12 y.o. Husky,Misha, may have Cushing's Disease. I have done some searching on the internet but I still don't fully understand what it is. What I have read though, doesn't make sense to me. She is not exhititing any of the symptoms that supposedly go along with this disease. Has anyone ever experienced this disease with their dog/s. I know it is not curable. I did post more about this under "Weight Loss" in Chit Chat(I posted there by mistake )

Any information or experiences any of have had would be greatly appreciated!!


Jaime

[JD102175]

I found a very informative web-site about Cushing's. It is at http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html

As I said earlier from the list of symptoms, which are:

• 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

The only one that would fit would be the first. But her drinking is not excessive, she just drinks a little more than she used to when she was younger. I noticed the drinking thing well over a year, almost 2 years ago.

I will find out more in a couple of days after my mom takes in a Urine sample and they run more tests.

Jaime

[JD102175]

I just found out that Misha's urine sample and her bloodwork results are being sent up to Michigan for testing, so I won't find out anything until late next week. It's going to be a loonngg week:(


Jaime

[Rottlva]

Jamie, do a thread search on Cushings disease as there was alot of discussion on it! Many dogs have lived many more years after diagnosis, so do not despair! You are doing best in learning!

Good Luck! Jessica