cushings

I'm sorry to read this Sas. I honestly don't have any help for you, I'm sure someone will come along really soon with ideas.   I just wanted you to make sure to check back a little later..and wanted to wish you good luck!

Sandra and Haley your in our thoughts and prayers.

Sandra - you might look at this website [linkhttp://www.monicasegal.com]www.monicasegal.com[/link] for some information.  I'm sorry you're going through this.  I know there's been discussion on this forum about Cushings before, so you might want to do a search in the archives for something too.

Cushings is one of those nasty diseases where the treatment can be as bad as the disease. 
 
Yes, there are alternative therapies -- but they are both dependant on finding excellent vets.
 
The first, and perhaps easiest, is traditional Chinese veterinary medicine -- there is a locator on the Chi Institute website and I've had really good luck referring people thru that.
 
[linkhttp://www.chi-institute.com]http://www.chi-institute.com[/link] -- not just acupuncture (which can help balance the body) but the Chinese herbals are a whole different thing. 
 
The other thing that I have always sworn I would try if I had a dog with Cushings is homeopathics.  If you do a search for the word homeopathics you will find a huge long drawn-out explanation of what homeopathy is that I did on another thread about a week ago. 
 
It's not easy to find a vet who excells in homeopathy.  I know of two -- Dr. Martin Goldstein (Smith-Ridge   Animal Hospital on Long Island) and Dr. Joel Demers down here in Florida.  There ARE others -- but homeopathy is a very very specific branch of alternative medicine. 
 
Cushings is a body balance problem -- the body (sometimes because a dog has been on some steroid for a long time ... usually for allergies, and sometimes for some idiopathic -- or 'unknown' reason)  begins to manufacture too much of the body's own steroid (called cortisol). 
 
Homeopathy tries to get the body to balance itself.  So does Chinese medicine. 
 
You might want to get Dr. Goldstein's book "The Nature of Animal Healing" -- he says quite a bit about Cushings. 
 
I don't know where you are located -- sometimes homeopathic vets will actually help you via phone -- particularly if they can get hold of the tests and records from your own vet. 
 
Holler if I can help in any way.  Oh and DO contact Monica.  She is excellent and Cushings can often be helped a great deal with diet.   

There are other medical alternatives besides lysodren. They require, as all treatments for cushings, patience and money. Unfortunately. Ask your vet and if they are not giving you other options, get a new vet. But remember that getting your baby regulated does take some time. She should probably not continue the lysodren at this point though.

Dr. Goldstein is not on long island. he is in south Salem, a couple hours north of the island. I'd strongly recommend not seeking his advice for something like Cushings, or any other serious condition.

Good luck.