Originally Posted by
Ace-a-Rue
a great looking dog!:up:...what is more amazing; people are taking better care of pets than many years ago.
my dog, pete, has cushing's disease..it is easy to google to find out what it is but basically, it generally is a small tumor (in about 75% of most dogs) which interferes with the pituitary gland which regulates the hormone controling the adrenal gland...thus, the adrenal gland is overproducing cortisol, which is as dangerous as is excessive glucose in the bloodstream, if not more...cortisol affects every cell.
the treatment is to administer an approved human chemotherapy drug that was designed to kill the outer layers of the adrenal gland so only one layer is left to produce minimal amount of cortisol....the drug has to be administered regulary (every other day) since the adrenal gland will regenerate.
plus, i give him four other drugs to control thyroid gland deficiency to incontinence, blood pressure and arthritis in one foreleg.
BUT..he is WELL worth it!!!:up:...as you found out, a dog or cat is a friend for LIFE and he/she will give unbridled love and affection to his/her pack leader, which is YOU!:yepp: