Hey
I am posting this regarding a friends dog which I see/walk quite frequently. The dog in question is a 13year old border collie. For a while now her appetite has increased massively - food/treats have not been changed. She used to be the type of dog that if you held a treat for her she would sniff it for ages before taking it, all the while the other dogs are waiting - now she about takes your hand off! Her meals(twice a day) are eaten really fast - again she used to need encouragement to eat it. She finishes first then tries to get the others food. I was walking her the other day and she almost pulled me over to get to some chips on the ground. This is just so unusual for her.

She is on metacam for her arthritis which are hips seem to be quite stiff with. She is also on a drug for urinary incontenance - can't remember the name. I was reading an article about cushings disease and some of the symptoms she has would suggest this but her hair is not affected. Does anyone have experience of this? Does the hair need to be affected? I have never known a dog with it although I have known a horse and her coat certainly went very funny.

The dog also drinks a bit in my opinion. She always has to get up in the middle of the night to get a drink - this is maybe common but with my dogs they never get up in the middle of the night to get a drink. She has also had the runs quite a bit recently and has made a mess in the house a few times. She now no longer gets any human food whatsoever - even bits of cold meat through her food(JWB by the way)

I would be very grateful if anyone could give me thoughts on this or have experience with symtoms or if you think this could be cushings? Any help greatly appreciated

I am guessing that she is on steroids for her incontinence?

If she is then that will explain the increased eating and drinking which are side effects - look up prednisolone on the web

Just an idea

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Just had a look on the internet about her incontinence drug - recognised the box and it is Propalin Syrup she is on and this is the active ingredient:
The active ingredient in Propalin Syrup is phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (PPA), an alpha-adrenergic agent that acts on the alpha-receptors within urethral smooth muscle

Hia,
It does sound a bit like cushings and I would think that the change in coat is 1 of the later symptoms due to the fact the body is producing too much cortisone (steroid) and the skin n coat are an extremity so to speak so the effcts would take longer to become apparent.
If worried best speaking to vet as this is something that needs to be confirmed by a blood test but is also managable through medication.
Good lk

Thanks for that - just wanted some opinions before speaking to friend - didn't want to worry him without needing too. Will speak to him and get the dog booked into the vets. When I read the article the dog did tick most of the boxes unfortunately, just the coat thing put me off but you are right that may be the last thing to change. The dog is still happy in herself and acting normally apart from the increased appetite.