My dog has Cushing's. What medication works and will he lose weight?

There are a couple of different treatments that can be used to treat Wexford's Cushing's Disease, such as Vetoryl (trilostane) and Anipryl (selegiline) which are both approved by the FDA for use in dogs. Another drug, Lysodren (mitotane), can be used off label to treat Cushing's. Off label means that it's a human drug that can be legally prescribed by vets for uses not listed on the label. Ultimately, however, it will be up to your vet to decide medication is best for Rexford. Cushing's Disease can be pituitary or adrenal-dependent, and the choice of medication will depend on which type he has. Speak with your vet to discuss the best medication for use in him. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Interesting question! Cushings can be a very difficult condition to manage and can in itself give low thyroid readings (as can any illness such as urinary tract infections common in cushings patients). This syndrome is known as euthyroid sick syndrome where although the thyroid my be capable of working it is not as active as expected - this occurs in almost 50% of cushings patients. True failure of the thyroid gland is also possible but much more rare. Extensive testing may be required in order to differentiate the two conditions but if confirmed, thyroid medication can be given alongside cushings medication

Vetoryl (trilostane) is the best medication for managing Cushing's disease, but I'm sorry to hear that Lacy has not been tolerating it well. I have anecdotally heard of some vets using a variety of supplements for managing Cushing's disease signs, but these supplements will not ultimately decrease the cortisol production by the adrenal glands and generally seem ineffective. I don't know how long Lacy was receiving Vetoryl, but some dogs can initially become lethargic, vomit, have diarrhea, or a decreased appetite. Fortunately, these signs typically resolve after a few days to a few weeks on the medication. It may be worth discussing a temporary dose adjustment with Lacy's vet to see if she tolerates a lower dose better before gradually increasing to her 30mg dose. Some dogs also benefit from supportive measures (anti nausea medications, bland diets, etc.) in the first few days to weeks of treatment. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

As you know, Cushing's disease causes excessive cortisol (steroid) production, which can lead to an increased appetite. With the cortisol levels under control, Lucy's appetite may have regulated, but 13 pounds is a pretty significant weight loss. Normally, you should be able to easily feel (but not see) a dog's ribs and see a waistline when looking down on them from above. We can easily become accustomed to seeing overweight dogs as "normal" and can perceive a healthy weight as being too thin. (Without examining Lucy, I can't comment as to if she is truly underweight, or if her weight is appropriate.) Since her appetite has become picky and her Cushing's disease seems to be well controlled, there is also a chance that she has developed some primary intestinal issues (such as inflammatory bowel disease) chronic pancreatitis, or intestinal parasites. At this point, I recommend taking Lucy to her vet for another exam to assess her overall body condition and consider additional diagnostic testing (CBC, chemistry and abdominal ultrasound) to try to get to the bottom of this issue. I hope that all goes well!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Darla. Is she taking new medication to help manage her disease? If so, you will need to contact her veterinarian to discuss her dosing and if any laboratory work needs to be rechecked. Medication typically works by suppressing adrenal gland function. The symptoms you have described can be the result of over suppression. If she is not on medication for her disease, her symptoms are still worrisome. You will need to contact her veterinarian today. I hope this information helps!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I will strongly discourage you from giving Sophia Trilostan without knowing for sure that she has Cushing disease. She may have, for example ascites, diabetes or internal organ enlargement, which makes the belly look potted. In that case, giving Trilostan can lead to a life-threatening hypoadrenal crisis. Please, take your dog to your local vets to confirm the diagnosis and then start the treatment, if necessary.

It's never a good idea to stop or make any dosing changes in a prescription medication without your vet's input, so I would definitely recommend giving him/her a call to discuss your concerns before you change anything. In general, I can tell you that if your dog has symptoms like lethargy, vomiting or diarrhea, or not wanting to eat, this may be a sign that the trilostane dose needs to be reduced. So this is definitely cause for concern - I would call your vet today to let them know. They may recommend having Max come in for blood work to check his cortisol levels - this will help determine what needs to be done regarding his medication.