Kelly_Louise Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Hi everyone, Just wanting to know if it is common for thyroid function to be affected with Cushinoids? Perhaps leading to hypothyroidism? I have been doing some research as we are having alot of trouble keeping weight off Chloe (and have for some time). She just seems to balloon and having her Cushings under control nicely I would have thought we would have seen the effects of the weight gain. Also the skin around her groin area was pigmented a few days ago (kind of like it was when she first had cushings where the skin blackened) - but her levels from her last test are perfect. Seeing she has pituitary dependant cushings, I was thinking it's a possibility that she may also be suffering from thyroid issues? Does anyone know if they check thyroid function when do the test for Cushings? I will definitely be speaking to her specialist about this as well, but just wanted to know if anyone had more info before I go off rambling LOL. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loraine Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 When my Coco had Cushing's I belonged to a Cushpup board, and noticed that many of the pooches also had thyroid problems. Not sure if they are related, but it is certainly a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glorybea Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 my little one was losing hair and it was thought cushing or thyroid first was thyroid = clear cushings was not done at that time - but it ended up being an atopic virus thank God so those test are separate good luck with yours Glorybea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 (edited) ... I was thinking it's a possibility that she may also be suffering from thyroid issues? Does anyone know if they check thyroid function when do the test for Cushings? Kelly_Louise .... don't know who your Vet is and do not wish to step on 'toes', but if I were you I'd be inclined to contact Dr. Jean Dodds (Hemopet). She's in the USA and is one of the leaders in hypothyroidism/auto immune deficiency matters, and in blood analysis. Even if your Vet did a blood workup for thyroid, the results won't necessarily show the real story. Our Australian laboratories do not provide for a FULL blood panel test to be done. Consequently with our test results only show up once 70% of the thyroid tissue is damaged. A FULL blood panel test shows up thyroid function abnormality earlier than this. You can organise a blood analysis through Dr. Dodds. She'll provide you with the necessary paperwork and information on what's required to get the bloods to her. Dr. Dodds would also be able to inform you of the relationship between Cushings and Thyroid dysfunction/Auto Immune Deficiency. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if one could be affected by the other, but she would be a good person to ask, even if after you've discussed it further with your own specialist. Edited January 9, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 i second Dr Jean Dodds... H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 Thank you for the advice guys! Much appreciated. I think I will investigate Dr Jean Dodds further, but of course I want to keep Chloe's specialist in the loop. Cushings is such an expensive disease... so sometimes you want to be sure that something is wrong or possible before dragging her through all the tests again. Seems to be a very common torture routine for her these days. Poor bugger. Her skin is pigmenting though... so it's either her cushings playing up, or what I suspect to be thyroid issues. She is not unwell as such, but I just know that something is not 100% right. And no one knows your dog like you. Cushings is exhausting... so unpredictable etc. I just want her to be well so she can at least live out the last few years of her life in relative peace and happiness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Good luck KL. Let us know how you go and if you do follow through with Dr. Jean Dodds, I for one will be most interested in what she has to say . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 Thanks Erny. Also, thank you for that information - people would have no idea that Australia does not have the lab facilities to give the same accuracy/details of results. Learn something new everyday... in fact, probably not many people would know that at all. Will keep you all updated. In the meantime, my old girl marches on stoically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Also, thank you for that information - people would have no idea that Australia does not have the lab facilities to give the same accuracy/details of results. Learn something new everyday... You're welcome, KL. The other thing is (and not so many people know or understand this either) that for analysis purposes, out here the 'measurement' graph goes to "small", "medium" and "large" dogs. Dr. Dodds has those scales broken down differently to factor in the dog's breed and I believe age, which can make a difference to the interpretation of the result. So out here, what a Vet might write-off as being within the "normal" range might actually prove to be "low" when analysed by Dr. Dodds labs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkySoaringMagpie Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 You're welcome, KL. The other thing is (and not so many people know or understand this either) that for analysis purposes, out here the 'measurement' graph goes to "small", "medium" and "large" dogs. Dr. Dodds has those scales broken down differently to factor in the dog's breed and I believe age, which can make a difference to the interpretation of the result. So out here, what a Vet might write-off as being within the "normal" range might actually prove to be "low" when analysed by Dr. Dodds labs. Seconding Erny here, I had one of my dogs tested through Dr Dodds recently and she was able to make informed comments about sighthound ranges which can be different from other dogs when it comes to thyroid function. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 Well then, looks like Dr Jean Dodds is the way to go. I have actually sent them an email this morning so hopefully will have things moving soon after I've discussed a few things with Chloe's specialist. I realise that Cushings is a volatile disease, and we'll always be fighting it. But I just want to know for SURE, that nothing else is going on. I just feel that there is something, nothing disasterous as she is really well in herself, but just not right. What I actually dream for though, is a quick fix that will make her 100% well again and not have these setbacks and annoying symptoms.... I know it's not possible, but I just wish for her sake that there was. She's been through enough in the past 3 years. You can't believe how much more grey she is everyday, her face is almost completely white now. Breaks my heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Well then, looks like Dr Jean Dodds is the way to go. I have actually sent them an email this morning so hopefully will have things moving soon after I've discussed a few things with Chloe's specialist. She's pretty good on the response turn-around time. Generally inside 24-48 hours (often 24 hours, but I don't want to 'pin' her to that ). I realise that Cushings is a volatile disease, and we'll always be fighting it. But I just want to know for SURE, that nothing else is going on. I just feel that there is something, nothing disasterous as she is really well in herself, but just not right. Go with your gut feelings. And besides, even if you are wrong, you won't be left wondering on the "what if's". What I actually dream for though, is a quick fix that will make her 100% well again and not have these setbacks and annoying symptoms.... I know it's not possible, but I just wish for her sake that there was. She's been through enough in the past 3 years. I know what you mean. I wished for that for my previous (avatar) girl, bless her cotton socks. I too would have followed the thyroid testing through Dr. Dodds with her (and wished I had) if only I knew then what I know now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 I remember reading when you lost your avatar girl... it was very sad. It's hard because no one else in my family understands the disease, and if I explain it fully, they would only panic - they worry about her terribly. They know she has to have her medication, and follow it religiously. They know she must have testing - but don't really understand why it all happens - and why she isn't perfectly healthy now that she has her meds, and the specialist keeps telling us all her levels are exactly where they should be and appear to be stable. If only it was that easy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now