It'll be easier to test for Cushing's and as that's more commonly seen, albeit in dog's, the vets will be on more comfortable ground there.

Probably the easiest and least invasive test would be a urine cortisol:creatinine ratio - a positive test won't prove cushing's, but a negative result will rule it out. It tests the amount of cortisol in the urine compared to creatinine (which is excreted as normal), so should be taken at home as stress can increase cortisol levels.

If there is cortisol in the urine then the next step would be bloods for an ACTH stim test. A base line blood sample is taken, then a synthetic version of ACTH (called synacthen) is injected then 1-2hrs later a 2nd blood is taken - they then test to see how much cortisol is released by the adrenals (too much = cushings).
If cushing's is confirmed via this then a low dose dexamethasone suppression test may be done to confirm if it's adrenal or pituitary in origin.


Hope you get to the bottom of it soon PP

Thanks for that Doolally....a home urine test should be easy enough to do. Can Cushings be treated successfully though, I have read that it cannot.
I have a link for some info/advice on DI
Diabetes Insipidus and your pet - What is DI?
Oh, I am panicking now as I hope he has enough water in the cage with him and that vet does put a drip in tonight so there is no danger of dehydration.

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Nellie Paddy Mitzy Milo Peggy Murphy

Millie and Monty, the White Devils!

If they've not got someone on 24hrs awake then they should have a vet or nurse popping down a few times during the night to check - call them and see??

Cushing's in dogs is easily treated with trilostane - but in cats it seems the only treatment if cushings is confirmed is an adrenalectomy, which is a big operation which should only be undertaken at a specialist vet as blood pressure needs to be monitored very careful arterially during surgery..Sorry PP I don't know enough of Paddy's history to know if this is something he could cope with

Is he on steroids at them moment?

Will read your DI link now as I really don't know enough about that.