Why is my senior dog with Cushing's fainting after meds were cut?

Question

My 16 year old wired haired snouser mix has cushings he has been getting 10 mg twice a day but lately he has started fainting a lot with mor drinking and panting my vet advised that he should go to only 10 mg a day now he is passing out more what is going on please help. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 20 lbs

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM · Accepted Answer

I am very sorry that Yager is so ill. Unfortunately Cushing's disease is a progressive disease and cannot be healed. There are two possible causes for Cushing's: 1) a pituitary tumor (a tumor in the brain) that is telling the adrenal glands to make more cortisone that the body needs and 2) a possible adrenal tumor that is overproducing cortisone. Most of the time the cause is a pituitary tumor. Unfortunately the medicine your dog is taking is only affecting the adrenal glands, ie basically reducing cortisone production. In the meantime the tumor in the brain keeps growing slowly, Sometimes the medicine works too well and the body is not getting enough cortisone because the adrenal glands are not producing enough anymore (the medicine destroyed too much tissue). This can cause the signs you describe and therefore your vet recommends that you halve the dose. The other problem is that your dog's tumor is growing and may be pressing on vital structures in the brain now, which can cause seizures, wobbly gait, fainting spells. So I suggest that you trust your vet and follow his recommendations. Unfortunately the day will come that you need to say good bye to Yager when the tumor is causing too many problems. Listen to your dog: he will tell you when it is time.

Why is my senior dog with Cushing's fainting after meds were cut?

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