Endings for Untreated Cushings in Dogs

[SpartacusGeorge]

My 14.5 yr old beagle was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease a few months ago. He is nearly blind and deaf already - we decided not to put him through the treatment. My question is how do most older dogs with untreated Cushing's begin to fail? I would really like to minimize any suffering in his final days. Right now, I am red-flagging every little twitch and thinking if I knew what to expect, I could calm down a little and hopefully not send any frightened messages to Spartacus. He is currently on Proin to control his urine accidents and that has worked for a few months now. Would just really prefer to look at him with joy rather than fear these days. Thanks, in advance, for your knowledge & stories.

[Just_trying_to_be_real]

My dog is a 14 1/2 year old mix of Havanese Bichon and I love him so much that if he was a man I would marry him.  I lived in Central America for about 10 years and that's where he came into my life.  And changed my life completely. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and when in CA, he actually saved my life.
Since he was 11 years old, he has been on Thyroid medication and has been displaying symptoms of Cushing's Disease for a while now. We recently had some blood work done - showing all the signs of Cushings - elevated Cortisol levels, liver enzymes etc. YET now they want him to spend an entire day at the vet's for more blood work because they want to "be certain" that it is Cushing's.  This makes me sick!  They already KNOW it's Cushing''s. He has every physical sign of the disease.  He is nearly completely blind and deaf with the pot belly and losing control of his rear legs.  An entire day of fasting and not being near me will stress him to the max. We live on a song and a prayer.  
Our Creator blessed mankind with this wonderful gift - a best friend - a dog.
My Creator blessed me with the most wonderful gift - my best friend - Coffee Boy.  And because I love him so much I am going to comfort him and love him and make sure he's not in any pain.  I'll be with him to his end.

[Cathycaz]

What did you decide to do?  I am in the same place with my 9yo teacup poodle.

[1puppydog]

Hi to all, I have come to read this website after months of thinking about my dear little "Pup". We called her pup because she looked like a baby seal when she was tiny.  She was a cross jack russel collie, but I only found out after she died she was likely a cattle dog, which would explain why she was always nipping at everyones feet when she was wee!  The story goes, and this is a heart wrencher, my mother decided to go for a hip op, though I was dead against it as she had so many problems besides.  Six weeks later she had a massive stroke, and there was a mad struggle to drive the 50 mile round trip just to get her to eat a tiny morsel of food,   She survived the stroke, but died of a hospital infection.  For three months, I was driving too and fro, caring for her poorly cat which she adored, trying to cope with Pup who was peeing everywhere on my return from the hospital, and trying to keep my mum alive.  After she died, Pup deteriorated rapidly, seizures, had gone blind and deaf, and died 2 days before xmas while I was still sorting out funeral details for my mum.  Nobody would take the cat so I took her, and am still cleaning her bum every five minutes of the day as she has hypertheroidism and arthritis.  I too this day cannot get over the fact that I did not do the right thing by my dog, but reading all your comments, I can see there is not alot that can be done with Cushings.  I was in the middle of the most intense pain and when I took her to the vet I think he was mostly interested in getting the 90  pounds (in money) to put her to sleep as fast as possible.  However, She must have had cushings for about 2 years, and was to be honest as happy as larry right until about 3 days at the end, and having read all your comments I can see there is no easy way round it.  The problems I had was cleaning up after the dog and the cat and trying to save my mum all at the same time,  I was also left to clear her house, pay for the funeral costs and had almost no help from family members, let alone friends.  I am still trying to come to terms with it all, but my dear little girl was the hardest pill to swallow.  I hope I will see her again, but writing this has been cathartic for me, so thank you to all, yesterday was a mad dash to the vet with the elderly cat (Katie, a maine ****) as skinny as could be but with a feisty character like my mum, it seems she has pulled through!  Still gotta clean up the sh... though!  Heart goes out to all of you.

[minipooh]

Sorry about your schnauzer.  We just lost our 17 year old to what we know was Cushings although when he was tested a year ago the one test was inconclusive although he had all the signs and the vet basically refused to treat him unless we did more expensive testing which I didn't agree on being in the medical field myself.   On hindsight I  believe he had this disease for quite a few years before things really kicked in as the liver enzymes were always elevated.  We took very good care of him from day one with organic food and diet which I think is what made the difference.  We did natural approach in trying to balance his electrolytes and were very strict with his food regimen which I believe kept us with him as long as he was.    The last week of his life was painstaking for him and ultimately we kept him at home and he was with us when he passed.  You definitely have to have a lot of patience as we did and for better or worse we took care of our fur baby who was loyal to our family for many years.  Good luck and prayers to you who are dealing with this.  We have another 11 year old schnauzer and pray she doesn't develop or go through what this baby did.

[Connie2308]

If you use the Harmony Gold from Pet Wellbeing, go very slow with it. It can give your furbaby diarrhea & cause vomiting if the dose is too much. Give half the recommended dose to begin to see how she tolerates it.  I have a 14 yr/old Beagle also, & that was my experience.  

[BARBinKY]

My approx 10-year old beagle just received a confirmed diagnosis for Cushing's.  I brought home Vetoryl for treatment to begin tomorrow, but after reading all the potential serious side effects, I'm having second thoughts.  In reading Adrenal Harmony Gold from Pet Wellbeing, I've decided to give that a try first.  I feel much better about a more natural approach... and praying it will help my baby girl.  Thank you!

[Cooper9]

I have an 8-9 yrs old yorkie just diagnosed also.Except for the mid section of your story I just did the very same thing. Going to give it a try first. Just ordered it.  Good Luck to both ( all ) of us.

[Cooper9]

I have an 8-9 yrs old yorkie just diagnosed also.Except for the mid section of your story I just did the very same thing. Going to give it a try first. Just ordered it.  Good Luck to both ( all ) of us.