Hello.
I'm very sad to hear to hear about Mei Mei, and I pray that your girl, Gurkan, lives many more happy chow years.
With Leo's Cushings, I really don't know what type it is. I have read about the pituitary tumour and the adrenal gland type. The vet said that there would have to be a whole set of other tests to establish which one it is.
Usually the pituitary tumour requires surgery in the brain, which most owners don't opt for. But the end result of both cases, is that there is an over-production of the cortizone hormone, which can be treated by using drugs that can bring it down to the normal levels.
Trilostane acts at the very last stage of the process inhibiting the enzyme that produces cortizone. Since it's not a chemotherapy drug like Lysodren which eats away layers of the adrenal gland, it has less damaging side-effects.
Whether Leo takes to this well, only time will tell.
So far he has been on the drug for 10 days.
I feed it to him at 7am in the morning with concealed in a piece of chicken.
He did vomit the first day, as well as on the day he had the first ACTH test. But he was back to normal afterwards.
He still has a very good appetite. Still his bubbly, energetic self. No lethargy. So this was a good sign for me.
However, he was only put on the minimum dosage of 2mg/kg.
His weight is about 27kg. And each capsule is 60mg.
He doesn't eat as often, but his appetite is still there.
I took him in today for his first ACTH test after his 10 days of treatment, and I will post the results as soon as I receive them.
I have some pics to show you. Mind the quality. It was taken at the spur of the moment with a mobile phone.
Here's a picture of Leo at around 4 years old with full coat:

Here's how he looked when he started losing alot of his coat:

Here's Leo completely shaven by vet's orders to investigate the skin. Leo wasn't very impressed


Here's Leo with first regrowth after the shaving approx. 4 months later. Notice how certain areas symmetrical areas have grown, whilst other symmetrical areas where his skin has darkened, has not grown at all:

Here's how he looks as at 27/10/2010. Hair on darkened skin areas, have still not grown.

I've read that Trilostane has successfully treated Alopecia X in dogs like Pomeranians, Keeshonds, Alaskan Malamutes...
Leo was also diagnosed with this as well through the skin biopsy.
But lets see if it helps with the hair growth as well....if it does, it's a bonus, well at least on his tail. His tail looks really sad even when it wags when his happy. Poor boy.