Cushings diseaseQ: My setter is 9 years old and has cushings disease. i'm sure she has been ill for about 9 months to a year now. she has been leaving wet spots when she sits every now and again and yesterday on her way down the steps she wet all the waydown. she never had an accident in the house before. now when she eats she has to go out side right away because it goes right through her. she doesn't want to be bothered. she has been sitting in my car for the last 3 months for hours at a time. at first i thought she just wanted to ride (i take her everywhere with me), but now she just sits in the car and when i try to get her out she'll growl at me. does she feel that poorly? i can't afford the meds that the vet suggested. the exam was $550 by the time it was over. i love the dog but don't want her to suffer, it's not easy watching her go through this. has the time come to let her go and if so is there something i can give her at home? the vet wants $125 to put her down. i'd just like her to slip away during the night. it would be much easier on all of us this way. she weighs about 60 lbs. thanks for your help john A: There is nothing i can tell you which will let her slip away at home. if you decide putting her to sleep is best for all, then best done at vets office. you may want second opinion as the symptoms you describe are not those of cushings disease which many vets overdiagnose based on blood tests which can have false positive results
Excessive water for catQ: My 13 year old female indoor cat is suddenly consuming huge quantities of water! needless to say the litter box is always drenched (a good sign?) and she is under some extra stress right now with a dog visiting us for a few days....do i need to be worried? A: I would bring cat to vet for blood work to rule out thyroid, kidney and diabetes issues
Hair lossQ: I have a 2 yr old shihtzu who looses patches of hair in warm months and the vet gives him a steroid shot for this about once a month.i do not like the idea of him getting these shots but it seems to help temporaly.he is on the advantage flea protection and goes to the groomer regular.there are no open places on his skin and it mostly falls out from his chest area.any solutions?? A: I hate these long acting steroid shots as they do in my opinion lead to long term health problems when used chronically. if your dog needs cortisone safest route is low dose oral therapy which can usually be tapered to every other day to every third day during allergy seasons. also could try antihistamines as well as fatty acids like derm caps from 1800petmeds. also new drug out called atopica which is alternative to cortisone
Shop for: antihistamine, 1800petmeds, advantage
AllergyQ: I just paid $50.00 for my 8 yr old female dog that weighs 42 lbs. for an allergy shot, she recieves them about three to four times a year. i was hoping to find a different prescription for her allegies she has her bi-annual check-up and it is starting to cost me a lot. i would like to start vaccinating her my self. please direct me to a place where i can order from, thank you darlene barrett A: If you let us know what medication was used we might be able to offer you a means of saving some money.
