Comments on: More melatonin and dog cancer

By: lyn

lyn — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:15:25 +0000

Beg to differ with the doc but according to Dr Oliver “STEROID PROFILES IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CANINE ADRENAL DISORDERS” under sub heading melatonin “Also, in dogs with adrenal disease that are treated with melatonin, and repeat adrenal steroid panels are done, cortisol levels are consistently reduced, and estradiol levels are variably reduced.29 Inhibition of the 21-hydroxylase enzyme would lower cortisol levels, and inhibition of the aromatase enzyme would lower estradiol levels. Estradiol levels were decreased in a prior study of dogs treated with melatonin.31 Results of in vitro studies with human MCF-7 breast cancer cells also revealed that melatonin inhibited aromatase enzyme, which resulted in reduced estradiol levels.56 Melatonin treatment for cases of mild adrenal disease in dogs may be effective, and particularly in cases where sex steroids are increased.”

By: Jane DeBlasio

Jane DeBlasio — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:04:46 +0000

I have a question for Dr. Dressler
My dog was diagnosed with atypical cushings (pituitary tumor/sex hormone elevation)
I was told to give 3 mg. of melatonin in the morning and 3 mg. of melatonin at night along with flax. I read your article about the problem with giving melatonin in the daytime. I also spoke with Dr. Oliver from Tennessee who told me that this has been the regimen for atypical cushings for the past 10 years. What is the best way to administer melatonin to my dog? Also, will giving melatonin in the daytime cause health risks for my dog?

Thank you.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:33:06 +0000

Dr. Dressler,

Why do you say avoid melatonin if your dog is epileptic? A lot of canine epilepsy sites recommend it.

Thank you,
Kristen

By: jean brickwedde

jean brickwedde — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:01:43 +0000

Sorry, Rimadyl, not Ridilin
Jean

By: jean brickwedde

jean brickwedde — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:00:35 +0000

I have a 13yr old spayed female Akita, diagnosed with Cushings, not yet determined if adrenal or pituitary, and has hypothyroidism, and have just started her on Ridlin for her weakening ( and I assmue painful ) hind quarter.
Can melatonin help relieve the symptoms of Cushings, regardless of which type, and if not, why not?; and what does the hypothyroid have to do with it?
I appreciate your answer.
Thank you
Jean Brickwedde

By: Karen Bender

Karen Bender — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:08:50 +0000

Thank you, Dr.Dressle, for your response. Mack is getting closer to the end now. I stopped the melatonin (only gave it to him for about 5 nights) and he actually slept better last night. I lowered his prednisone (initially he was on 10mg every other day until our vet raised him to 10mb bid last week.) Maybe that was keeping him up, also. He is still eating heartily, still wags his tail when I come home, and still barks at people passing the house. He is having labored breathing somewhat. I just don’t know where the fine line lies between his feeling well and actually starting to die. I don’t want it to be an emergency euthanasia, but I don’t want to do it prematuely either.
Thank you for helping and listening,
Karen

By: Dr. Dressler

Dr. Dressler — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:28:35 +0000

Karen, I do not see a immediate conflict aside from excessive sedation possibly. There have been no studies though, so the use of these together has not been shown to be definitively safe. In the realm of neurotransmitter modification, nobody knows the whole real story…just not enough info yet..
D

By: karen bender

karen bender — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:02:26 +0000

Hi Doc – I understand melatonin can be taken in addition to prednisone, but what about along with PHENOBARB?

Thank you so much,
Karen

By: Karen Bender

Karen Bender — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:11:19 +0000

Hi Doc – my Mack is an 11 yr golden with meningioma of olfactory lobe. He is on prednisone 10mg every other day and phenobarb 75mg bid. Can he take melatonin for sleep? After sleeping quite well at night since he was diag’d in Sept’08 has recently been up at night panting. His wt is 84-85lbs. How much can he take? Thank you so much in advance,
Karen Bender

By: Eve

Eve — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:32:11 +0000

Where did you come up with this info?
My vet and the vets at the University of Tenn, all have put my dog on this.
Check out Dr Oliver at the vet university of Tenn.
He knows more about atypical cushing’s then most.
So tell us where you got this info, what medical test have you done to prove this?