Dog - Cushings testing info

I'm interested in hearing about peoples experiences in having a dog tested and treated for cushings. I gather that its quite complicated, drawn out, and costly. I have a 14 year old Huntaway that has cushings symptoms, but also symptoms of canine cognitive dysfunction, and fluid on the lungs. Really..... he is happier than all that makes him sound ! Initial blood and urine tests didnt show up anything too drastic. I'm just considering options of how much to put him through. I've read heaps on line, but often personal experiences are the most helpful.

Hi Bunter

i am in a similar situation with a 10yr cross bred..we suspected cushings when he went blind with SARDS last year.. i spoke with the vet and yes the testing is abit of a pillava, and not entirely conclusive.. the treatment is horrendously expensive.. we estimated 10k per year and the life expectancy is only about 2 years..
now given that a cushings dog lasts about 2 years without treatment, will stroke out, liver or kidney failure, heart attack.. we chose not to test..
it now appears, as he has not realy showing any other symptoms, mine is prob not a cushings.. but what he is doing is symptomatic of senility..
so blind and daft..[]

with your hound getting on abit now, do you realy want the expense etc just for a another couple of years?..if hes well and happy in himself,..oh another thing, cushings can mask arthritis and other old age issues, so you may decide to treat the cushings and find that the old man is lame from arthritis..

James Hart makes a herbal mix for horses with cushings - I assume its the same thing in dogs (it is in humans too). "Cushy Life" - why don't you get a bottle and try adding some to his feed - 20 ml / 500 kg body weight 2x / day for horses - I'm sure if you e-mailed James he would tell you the dose rate for dogs. It makes quite a difference for horses and although still expensive, is cheaper than the pharmaceutical treatment.

Hi, our son had a small dog which got Cushings. The vet said treatment would entail a injection every day and then off to the vet every month or so for blood tests to see what the level of the medication in the blood was, then the medication for the injection would be altered if necessary, the injection was a type of steroid from what I remember. We decided to leave her and see what happened, a lot of her hair fell out, she grew some more but much sparser. She just curled up in her basket one night and never woke up, she had been a little restless this particular night. She lasted about 3 years after diagnosis. She led a good life still going for walks most days, having a snooze, and pleasing herself for the rest of the time. Cheers.

Thanks for the replies stephclark and Anne. I think we will just keep on with one day at a time, I won't have him tested. He has another 5 days to go of a month trial of medication for doggy dimentia, that doesnt seem to have made any difference. I will email James Hart as well and see what he says about his product for use in dogs.
Thanks again.

Bunter - I think your love and concern for your dog is awesome. Just remember though that the life expectancy for a Hunterway dog is 12 - 14 years. I have spoken on this site many times (having been married to a Vet) about people pushing the boundaries to keep their adored and loved animals (and I respect that for human reasons) alive but I think we can all find reasons for why our animal is not doing so well (internet is sometimes our worst enemy) so my advise is just to go on loving and appreciating every day you have him.

Perhaps my vision is a bit clouded by having a GS (12.5 years) and an independent Vet putting her on drugs to relieve the pain of no hips (she had never shown a sign until total body XRayed at my choice - Vet said her hips were fine (after palpation) until XRays came back) and three weeks later having put her on a recommended drug, she had a massive heart attack and died in my arms. Not nice! The new pain free burst of energy busted her heart in my opinion.

I just think we should leave our beloved animals to pass when nature picks it unless there is a very obvious cause of issues that can be treated. Not because there may be a drug that might.

Thanks for that post Didi. I promised myself after letting my last dog go just that wee bit too long that I wouldnt do the same with Jake, but he was only 7 then and old age for him was years away...... Thanks too 4trees.
Personal experiences are definately more helpful than all the high tech info on the net.