[Dailydrool] Buford/Cushings Update

[Heidi I Sarver]

Thanks so much to the folks who emailed me off list with their  
thoughts, advice and guidance as Buford and I start our journey down  
the Cushings road.  First, I was guided toward a FANTASTIC forum  
called CanineCushings.net  !  I looked around, registered, made a  
general post, and BAM!  people started posting with all sorts of  
stuff, but most importantly, they were asking me all the questions I  
forgot to ask my vet--which made me immediately get the vet on the  
phone.

Buford is on Trilostane (120 mg) once a day.  He is on day 5 of  
treatment and tolerating it very well.  His water intake/output has  
already decreased a bit--more in the form of not being frantic to go  
out or "reload" after going out.  He is also able to sleep 3-4 hours  
during the night without waking up with the "OMG I need to go"  
reaction.  Up until now we've been going outside every 1.5-2 hours  
throughout the night ...I passed exhausted back in May!

His appetite is good.  Still a little ravenous when meal times start  
to loom, but less so during the day.  Just normal basset hound "hey!  
you got food and I don't--fix that now!" stuff.  His energy level is  
also a little better (he's almost 10 so couch potato is his usual  
state).  If he's outside and I hold up a biscuit he runs to the deck  
all perky and happy.  I currently have guests for the next few days  
and for the first time in over a year he got into "trouble" by  
inspecting everyone's suitcase, taking out socks and underwear and  
racing around the house with them.  He just SEEMS more at ease and  
more like the Buford I remember.

He will undergo an ACTH test next week at the 10-day mark and we'll  
see where we stand and whether we need to make adjustments in his  
prescription. The pills are expensive (approx. $5 each!!) but if it  
helps my baby I'll eat Mac 'n' Cheese for the next year to pay for them!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

--heidi (oh how I love that boy!)
--buford (but the underwear WANTED to be in the living room!)
--della (who ARE all these people and WHY are they in MY house?!)
--guinness (yup, outta here!  open that door and let me out!) the cat.