How long do lab-sized dogs with Cushing's disease typically live?

It is common for people to decide not to treat their dog for Cushing's disease. Unfortunately, the treatment is expensive and has side effects. The biggest concerns with Cushing's disease are the side effects of the disease (drinking more, urinating more, etc) and the potential for the dog to develop other infections from a suppressed immune system. So, I recommend that a dog with Cushing's disease be closely monitored at home for any changes in clinical signs and have them evaluated in case the dog is developing a secondary infection. That will often mean checking urine samples on a regular basis to make sure a urinary tract infection isn't hiding. I have attached more information on Cushing's disease below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=635 At almost 15 years old, if Bullwinkle has other health problems, then Cushing's disease may or may not shorten his life. But the most important thing is to closely monitor him and make sure any infections are treated right away. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

There are studies that show it does not affect their life span ! It is a disease of symptoms and can be frustrating to live with. It will cause an increase in drinking and urination which can lead to accidents, it causes thin skin and a pot belly appearance with weight gain a muscle loss. In severe cases it can lead to a skin infection and calcifying of the skin

Addison's Disease cannot be cured, but it can often be managed with life-long medications. It does usually require frequent vet visits for monitoring in the future. However, it can be life-threatening if a dog is sick when it is first diagnosed (or the suspected diagnosis). Without aggressive treatment, dogs can easily die from dehydration and shock caused by the effects on their fluid volume. Here is a great article on Addison's Disease and what to expect from diagnosis and treatment: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=608

Whatever decision that you make for Gizmo will always be the right decision. If Gizmo has not responded to the treatments and medications from his vet visit, I would recommend seeing the vet sooner than 5 days. He may need additional medications to control his symptoms. It sounds like his current issues are expected to be manageable with medications. However, there is a possibility that the stomach wall thickening could be cancerous, in which case Gizmo may not feel better, even with medications. You may discuss pain medications or treatments such as acupuncture with the vet to help with Gizmo’s comfort. Here is a website you may find useful in deciding when it may be “time”: https://www.lapoflove.com/Mobile-Menu/EDUCATION/When-it-is-time

I'm sorry Buckaroo has Cushing's disease! Cushing's is commonly caused by a pituitary tumor, although a small percentage of dogs develop Cushing's due to a tumor on the adrenal glands that may or may not be cancerous. Should he has a pituitary tumor and it's left untreated, then the tumor can grow large enough to press on the brain leading to neurological symptoms such as difficulty seeing and walking, or other conditions such as diabetes and seizures. I would speak with your vet to see if there is a way you can set up payment plans so you can afford to treat Buckaroo. If you truly cannot afford the treatment, I wouldn't put him down just yet. Enjoy as much time as you can with him, and if he develops any of the symptoms I mentioned above or his other current symptoms begin to get worse and his quality of life decreases, then yes I would put him to sleep. I'm sorry you are in this position and I hope my advice helps.

The prognosis is definitely guarded to poor. Especially if the ketoacidosis isn't treated aggressively and right away.. Cushing's disease is a slow progressing disease that can take months to sometimes years to finally take its toll on pets when left untreated. Diabetic keroacidotic dogs can live if the ketones are removed from the body quickly before they cause serious complications. I hope this helps and best wishes with your pet Rasta. If you wish to discuss the case more in detail then feel free to request a consultation. Best wishes.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bruno. I base quality of life decisions on several factors. Is the patient eating and drinking on his own? How is his mobility? Can he navigate stairs safely, move freely around the house and get outside to go potty? This tends to be a significant problem in large breed dogs. Any time a pet has a chronic illness, there will be good and bad days. Are the good days still outnumbering the bad days? Finally, does he still seem happy? I would recommend carefully thinking about these questions and seeing what his blood work shows. Cushing's can be managed most cases. The seizures are worrisome though. They are unpredictable. He might never have another one, but they could go on to become a frequent occurrence. His blood work will determine if he is healthy enough for anti-seizure medications. I hope this information helps.