I asked the vet tech and the LDDST test is where they inject her with something and draw blood a few times during the day. That will cost $66 to run. She said thats the most accurate

I hope she is feeling better soon and you get the bottom of her health issues of late.

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I do what I like and like what I do. Yorkies- Cozy (4/1/06), Roxy & Zoey (2/11/08), Lucy (4/6/09); Golden- Buddy (4/13/09- Rescued 12/11) Maine Coon cats- Mika (1998) and Tallulah (2000)

Very frustrating when you feel like they are just fishing for answers, check around with other local people there is usually one vet in your area that will be the one to go to when it comes to diagnostic.
By that I mean we have one or two vets here that everyone will got to when the regular vet is just not that sure. They are not always a specialist but those who are just really good and figuring out the hard cases or look at the testing done and can give you more acurite ways to proceed. I was planning to go to the one I know here when Tink's UTI would not clear up but first I made my vet leave her on antibodics for six weeks.
Many people here had said they had dogs that just took that long so I figured it was worth a shot and it worked We have been free of UTI for almost two months. The vet I planned to see was not more expensive just really good with reading and interpeting the results. He also stays very up to date on research. For that matter although he is much further away from me I am thinking of moving back to his clinic. I had switched offices to a local one in case of emergancy situations.

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Boots, Sparkles and Tink Bridge dogs, Tuffy, Blueboy, Pudge, Maddie, Broker, Jet, Baily, and Reva

Hope Ruby is ok. How is she doing?

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Dave

I've spent thousands of dollars over the past 2 years trying to get a diagnosis for my dogs elevated liver enzymes and I still don't have a true diagnosis. Everything pointed to Cushings except the LDDST came back negative. This is a test where they inject ACTH at 4 and 8 hours. Ruby will have to spend the entire day at the Vet. If this isn't what the Vet told you then Ruby won't be having the LDDST but most likely the ACTH test. The LDDST is the most accurate to diagnose Cushings. Cushings drugs are very expensive and the dog is on them for life.

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She is doing fine today

The vet wanted the urine on but the tech explained to me (as I have been reading) that the lab will often times want the LDDST test after the urine. So I said I will just go right to the LDDST test where she has to stay all day.

Theres many drugs that can be used in the treatment of Cushings...Lysodren, Trilostane, ketoconazole and L-Deprenyl. I am willing to spend a reasonable amount of money to treat it but if were talking more then $50-$75 a month for her size im afraid I could not afford that long term. She told me the Trilostan would only be about $50 a month for her.

Heres her blood results

I'm looking thru the blood test that was taken by the IMS at the University of Sask Vet Hospital in June and my dogs PH was very similar to Rubys except the ALP was around 2400 and the ALT 300+ at the time. She did have protein in her urine which is also a symptom of a Cushings dog but no Cushings. She had so many symptoms like Ruby but with the LDDST coming back just out of the range for Cushings the IMS was reluctant to put my dog on any Cushings medications. The U of Tenn adrenal panel results recommendation was 3mg of melatonin 2 x day and Flax ligans. I've noticed a huge improvement since we started that back in June. My dog is also on Denamarin to help her liver as well as VLS #3 human probiotic, CurcuVet and some other supplements.
I guess you won't really know what's going on with Ruby until the test. I got a wealth of info from on line dog Cushing sites as those people are experts on the subject and treatment. You might want to join one of those sites if Ruby does have Cushings. Hope Ruby is feeling good and Merry Christmas.

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How is little miss Ruby today? Hope she's getting lots of belly rubs...

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Kathleen, mom to one human, age 17, three canines, and a bunch of fish.

Thanks for asking about Ruby, shes doing well aside from an ER trip last night for her eye. She slept with me all night so I could monitor her with the eye meds. She normally sleeps upstairs in her crate but I just kept her down with me. She needs yo be crated tonight or else we will have another repeat of a few years ago. Woke up one morning, to ALL the presents unwrapped under the tree.

Thanks funny that she unwrapped the presents. What a pup. That is so darn cute. Merry Christmas.. Give Ruby a kiss for me..