Cushing's Disease

[twomunchie]

Canine Cushing's disease? Is it as prevalent in dogs as it seems to be getting much more so in the equine world these days?

[EmmaGirl]

Here are a couple of links that may help! Good luck.
Canine Cushings Disease illustrated

Cushing's Disease in Dogs: Canine Hyperadrenocorticism - Diagnosis, Symptoms a

[janice bronson]

I've never heard of it in dogs, myself --- but I know a woman with it. Took a long time to diagnose it.

[weezyNollie]

It's among the diseases that are rare. It's opposite, Addisons, is more rare than Cushings though.

[RoughCollies]

I believe Cushings is what killed ESLover's Sheltie, Dakota at 6yrs old. She could give you a ton of info on it. If you need info, pm her.

[tigersmom]

My dog tiger has full blown Addisons diffucult and expensive to treat.
tigersmom

[weezyNollie]

Originally Posted by tigersmom

My dog tiger has full blown Addisons diffucult and expensive to treat.
tigersmom

Addison's is much easier to treat than Cushings. Are you sure your dog has Addisons? How is your vet treating the dog?

[tigersmom]

Oh yes not only my vet but vets all over, the complications of my dogs Addison's are that he is steroid sensitive the (cheep easy treatment )has heart problems ,allergies to food and airborne and A host of other problems. We use shots to treat.
tigersmom

[weezyNollie]

Originally Posted by tigersmom

Oh yes not only my vet but vets all over, the complications of my dogs Addison's are that he is steroid sensitive the (cheep easy treatment )has heart problems ,allergies to food and airborne and A host of other problems. We use shots to treat.
tigersmom

Then it sounds like the other issues are whats making treatment expensive.

Normal Addison's with nothing in addition to, is very simple to treat. You place them on their pathophysiologic dosages of steroids and they are set. You monitor electrolytes every 3-6 months, and thats it. Cushings, however, is a constant up and down trying to get correct dosaging and different methods of treatments. It's not like Addison's which is just based on weight of the dog.

My dog has Addisons, and she is only treated with prednisone. Which costs about 11 cents/tablet, and she gets one a day. Then, the bloodwork every 3-6 months costs about 50 dollars. And that's it!

Cushings medications cost about 3-4 times that, depending on which method the doctor chooses. And then the bloodwork to monitor/get correct dosaging of meds is about 150 a pop.

How do you treat your dogs Addisons if the dog is steroid sensitive? That is how you treat it. So i'm a little confused. And the shots are used to treat the Addisons or the allergies?