I wrote this once for you Pamela but I do not think you saw it so I copied and pasted it here.

Hi Pamela, Since you asked me what Cushings Disease is I will try to explain it the best I can.and then I will list some of the symptoms. There are even more than I will list.

Cushings disease is also called hyper adreno corticism. This is the production of too much adrenal hormone. It is caused either by a tumor in the adrenal glands or a tumor in the pituitary gland.

It causes increased drinking and urination, a ravenous appetite, lots of panting and hair loss, calcified lumps in the skin, weaking of the heart and skeletal muscles, and high blood pressure. They get bruised easily and often have infections.

They have a pot bellied appearance when it is in the advanced stages such as Snookie is. It causes hind leg weakness and they are prone to diabetes, pancreatitis, and seasures. It also causes them to distance themselves from you sometimes. There are many other things but I have given the ones that are most seen when they have Cushings Disease.

This is a picture of how Snookie looked when she came home after being in hospital not this time but the first time she was sick. This is when my world changed and it was the beginning of when my heart broke when I learned she had cancer and cushings disease. They shaved her sides for the ultra sound and that in itself made her look so pitiful. She got the pot belly that made her look like she gained weight but she had lost wieght instead. I still shudder when I look at this picture.

Oh my, I had no idea I had heard of it before but did'nt know what it was. I can see where your world changed, it has been a long journey for you. I hope Snook is comfortable and every thing is okay. Thanks for the infor on cushings. Pamela

I wanted to bring this post of for Julie to see since her little Roxy might have cancer and cushings. This is a terrible thing to have to go through with your baby. I lived through this for around 11 months and it just hurts so much. My darling held on until the day after Christmas 2004. I dearly miss her and hold her in my heart everyday.
Love, Ann

Hi Ladies,
I know all about Cushing's Disease. It is one of the things Indy suffered from too. His little belly was so distended. Sadly, it was not the disease that caused his deterioration. Cushing's can be well controlled with medication and for over a year after diagnosis Indy did very well on a drug called Lysodren. Unfortuanntley, as Ann pointed out, the disorder can lead to the development of others. Indy did end up with severe (difficult to control) diabetes, a thyroid tumor and ultimatley a huge liver mass.
My little boy lost most of his hair in his last months. His belly was bloated and bald. The Lysodren is a tricky drug to monitor and my vet felt Indy would not be able to tolerate it with his other diseases.

I learned that Cushing's is not unusual in dogs...I had no idea. As a nurse I was familair with the disease but didn't know our furry little pals are prone and get it just like and maybe more often then humans.

I know I've been away...have thought of you and hope everyone is progressing in their grief healing.
Love & peace to you.
Fran

It's good to see you back Fran I missed you. I am here on the board so much I notice when someone has not been on.

In a lot of cases they can treat the cushing's disease with Lysodren. It does have some side effects and can cause a lot of problems too. Snookie was not one that they could treat for it, she had so many other things wrong with her. The vet did not think she could tolerate the medicine and it would have done more harm than good.

My poor Snookie was so hungry all the time and her belly hung so low. Her hair was getting pretty thin to and it was just so heart breaking with each new thing that came about. It often brings on the diabetes and then often the pancreas shuts down like Snookie's did.
Love, Ann

Thanks Ann for the info on Cushings disease.
This is the strange thing. Roxy has none of those symptons. That is what
has me so baffled. The vet asked me alot of the questions about her
activity when he suspected Cushings and like I told him, none of those
describe her. She is eating normal. Not a large appetite at all. Her drinking
and urinating is normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. She is not losing
any hair. I guess that is what is making it worse just not knowing what
is going on. I just pray it is something that they can control with medication
because I don't want her to suffer. We have the test done on May 3rd.
I will let you all know what they find out.
Please keep us in your prayers.

Julie

Hi Ann!!
Thank you for the info!! I have heard about people having cushings and am still shocked how our furbabies have the same dieseases we do. I cant imagine how you must have felt bringing your Snook home that day. It gives me a knot in my stomach just thinking of how that day must have been for you.
You have went through so much this last year. And you have a place for Snookie in your heart to put her saftely tucked away until that great day of no morning and no evening when we as believers go home a place where our father knew us before we were in our mothers womb. A place where it will feel like we have went home, a home with every thing restored and our cups will overflow!!!!! And my heavenly spirt will love you for all the encourgement you have given me here in our earth school.
On a lighter side, when I read about the pot belly and many trips to the bathroom....I could relate to that...just age on me though!! Talk to you soon dear Ann. Love Pamela