Addisons

[Czhowa]

Just a quick word of warning signs.
My dog who's just turned 5 seemed a bit lethargic for a couple of days. He was even off his food a bit. I didn't think too much of it until I tried to take him out one morning and he was moving very badly, like he'd suddenly aged 10 years. Fearing it could be a hip issue I booked him at the vets that afternoon. He worsened over the morning and collapsed while cocking his leg. I picked him up and rushed him to the vets. They had him on a drip for two days and did extensive testing and it turns out his adrenaline glands had packed in producing some hormones.
He's back on form now and has steroid injections monthly and tablets daily.
Apparently it's rare and usually only occurs in bitches (trust me to get an unusual dog).
Just a heads up incase any of you experience these symptoms

 

[Buchan]

IT is rare, I think I've only seen a few in 30+ years. Glad you caught it in time and I hope he does well on the steroids (the missing hormone)

 

[Czhowa]

IT is rare, I think I've only seen a few in 30+ years. Glad you caught it in time and I hope he does well on the steroids (the missing hormone)

Yeah he's back to his usual self.. stubborn, selective hearing, massive flirt with the ladies and a terror to farmyard animals. Brilliant .
Wouldn't swap him for anything though!

 

[jb243]

My old lab bitch was diagnosed with addisons around the same age as yours and lived a normal life with the steroids and daily tablets until old age got her at 13. So all is not lost, i hope the same for your boy.

 

[hcm1]

I've seen a few cases and they can be managed pretty successfully. One word of warning though, once you have found the dose of Zycortal (I assume he is on Zycortal injections?) do not be tempted to stretch out the treatment intervals. Once you find what works, stick with it. I have had to re-stabilise several cases where people have felt that they could stretch out the treatment intervals and often the destabilisation creeps up and you can end up with a crisis again.

 

[Czhowa]

Thanks for the tip. I'm not risking anything so he goes for his monthly injections, daily tablets and I think we've moved onto blood tests every quarter unless I see any changes in him

 

[tommee]

I’ve got a Lab bitch that was diagnosed at around 6 months with addisons after we nearly lost her within a few days of her crisis trigger. (My spaniel escaped from the kennels and she spent the day having a meltdown)
Now happy and healthy 8 months later on steroid tablet daily and injection once a month.

 

[hcm1]

Its worth chatting to your vets about whether they recommend increasing the daily steroid dose around times of stress or not. Some do some don't and it can also depend upon the patients temperament etc but it's worth having a chat.

 

[Czhowa]

My vet said I could (if I wanted) start reducing the dosage by half a tablet (he's on 3 at a time) but he's happy and stable so I'm reluctant to mess around

 

[tommee]

Its worth chatting to your vets about whether they recommend increasing the daily steroid dose around times of stress or not. Some do some don't and it can also depend upon the patients temperament etc but it's worth having a chat.

We “double drop” her meds if a stressful day is planned etc.
we’ve just had a baby which has definitely changed her mood a bit.

 

[Czhowa]

I've never noticed stress to be a factor. Mind you he's not had a flare up yet so I don't know his trigger. To be fair he's a pretty laid back lad, however I might try the double drop next time we take a ferry to France. Cheers for the tip

 

[sh1kar]

I've never noticed stress to be a factor. Mind you he's not had a flare up yet so I don't know his trigger. To be fair he's a pretty laid back lad, however I might try the double drop next time we take a ferry to France. Cheers for the tip

From that avatar he looks pretty stressed to me

 

[Czhowa]

Haha it was a photo I snapped mid-yawn