Our little lass & Cushings disease…

it sure is hard when they get old – all i can say is that i believe they should go over the bridge with dignity and 14 is a brilliant age and you have done her proud to now – only you can decide if the quality of life she has would /have is worth putting her through all this at her age – we are lucky – we have a brill vet that will say things like – well we could do this and this and this but to be honest at her age would you really want to – which makes it clear where his thought are and that helps to relieve the doubts – we lost our holliesocks a couple of weeks back – she was 16 so i know what you are going through…

my thoughts are with you

If the outcome of the test is cushings and it was the type that needed surgery then your mind is already made up,  as Bev says 14 is a great age for any dog, if I was in your position I would let her go now 🙁
Thinking of you :-*

re the dry eye? has she been getting steroid treatment – drops/cream etc over any period of time ? long term use?

to be honest hun – i would not be considering surgery at all – the likelihood is that she has a tumour and that will have spread by now…also at her age then subjecting her to a GA and invasive treatment would have it’s own risks

enjoy what time you have left and then let her go is my advice

hugs

Hi,

If it were me – I would think about how much stress this 24hrs monitoring will cause her.  e.g. how do you think she’ll handle the kennel environment, and the tests themselves.  From what you say she’s already part blind, a good age and showing some signs of confusion – will it be stressful and disorientating ? 

Also, bearing in mind you could put her through all that and still not know any more, or find she needs operating on and you’ve already decided thats too much for her, or its treated with medication – there are bound to be side effects, will she have a happy good quality of life on long term medication anyway – maybe read up what the chemicals do etc… ?

I think I would let her go, tough on you but fair to her.

Claire x

I had a little google and thought these links might be of some help:

http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html

http://www.vetstreamcanis.com/ACI/February08/VMD2/FactSheet052.asp

It does say in the first one about it sometimes causing neurological problems under the pituitary dependent section, and about those sometimes getting worse after treatment under the prognosis bit.  🙁

Good luck with your decision.  :-*

I could write loads on this topic but at his age I personally would not go there just make him comfy love him and be glad he made this age with just a bit of eye trouble, it takes time to try and balance cushing and at this point you do not even know if he has a pituitary or an adrenal tumour.
Hugs to you all
Val