Pet Lovers

[nougat]

when I took her for her Cushins Test the vet said he had one more urine marker test for showing cushions before the big test for it.

if 34 and under there is no chance of cushings disease.

if over 34 there is a chance. Tote's was 35 !  that is as "on the fence as you can get" the vet said.

He still does not think she is a cushings dog but perhaps has Diabetes Insipidus, a very complicated disease, not the regular Diabetes. for which she would need to be sent to a specialist in another city.

he said the specialist would start with a cushings test so I am having my vet do it this Wed. but I am worried because another poster said their first one came out negative and was repeated 3-4 months later with a positive. very worried this will be the case with sweet little Tote!  And this will drag on & on ! 

[pupwhipped]

@nougat, I haven't been following Tote's story all that close so forgive me if you've answered this already. Did you collect the urine at home yourself first thing in the morning and then take it into the vet's? Or, did the vet collect it at their office? For the urine cortisol/creatinine test, you should collect it at home where the pet is most comfortable and not stressed.  

[nougat]

@pupwhipped

yes, i collected at home, always do. i actually took her in that day for the cushings test and the vet said he was thinking about some research I took in on the urine cortisal/creatinine ratio and said he could do just one more urine marker before the cushings test which he was all ready to do but the urine cortisol test  may tell us she doesnt need the cushings test.

so I took her home and collected several urines throughout the day for a good sample and took it back to him.

[NickNack]

I'm glad he's finally going to do the Cushings test.  Her symptoms  are just so exact for Cushings.

[Witchy Woman]

@nougat

I'm so sorry to hear you have yet to learn what Tote's health problems might be.  It is so difficult to NOT know exactly what is wrong.

It is agonizing having to do test after test and have the diagnosis drag out.

I'm not familiar with cushings in dogs, but I do have a kitty with diabetes.  However, I've never heard of diabetes insipidus.

Thankfully, my boy can be treated with a shot of insulin twice a day, but it took us almost a year to hit on the right amount for him.  Again, we had to do tests every few months.

It's just so difficult not knowing.

I hope you can get some solid answers soon!

[nougat]

@Witchy Woman

@NickNack

thank you! your concern and words are very heart warming in difficult times.

im almost hoping for a cushings diagnosis so as not to have to travel to a specialist and the cost involved!

[Jackyl]

Both of my dogs (twins) were recently diagnosed with Cushings disease.  It's been hard.  I hope Tote gets well. 

[NickNack]

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@nougat wrote:

@Witchy Woman

@NickNack

thank you! your concern and words are very heart warming in difficult times.

im almost hoping for a cushings diagnosis so as not to have to travel to a specialist and the cost involved!

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It does take a while to get the dosage right if it's Cushings.  She'll have to go through blood tests each time, and then I think it's every three or four months.  She'll have to stay all day for the blood tests, because they do them several hours apart.  The medicine is a liquid, and the dosage is a very small amount.  My sister puts it in turkey and gives it to her shih tzu.  It has helped her dog tremendously.

I know you'll be so glad to get a diagnosis and get Tote on her way to being well.

[Drythe]

Hearts and best wishes to you both.  

[jaxs mom]

I hope you get a definitive answer finally.