Ein Straeon

Hi there, A-peeps. For Addison’s Awareness Week, I thought we would share a little bit about our Addison’s journey.

It all started sometime in June 2018. Ghost wouldn’t eat, and for a Bully not to eat, something is definitely up. At first, it was thought he had a bad back. Five days on and he still hadn’t eaten anything, so it was time for a blood test. The blood test was going to take about 20 minutes, so whilst we waited, we took Ghost for a walk down the street. When we got back into the vet’s, he pretty well took the lead out of my hand and said Ghost’s kidneys weren’t working. My world stopped there and then. I don’t have any 2-legged children, my 4-legged furry children have always been the centre of my world, so as you can imagine, this was devastating. Anyway, I will try and keep this as short as I can. I left him at the vets, got a phone call within the hour, and was told that it was likely he had Addison’s disease. I’m like WTF is Addison’s disease!!! Ghost’s breeder’s parents bred Bullies before her and she hadn’t heard of it, so this must be bad. So as is the way these days, straight onto Google. There was so much information to try and make sense of, it was pretty tough. Eventually, we were put onto the CARE Facebook group and as far as Addison’s goes, it was the best thing ever. We started on tablets, had another crisis, and eventually changed to the monthly injection and haven’t looked back. While I am still very vigilant about Ghost’s health, I am so much more comfortable with how Addison’s can be controlled with the right medication. I read everything I could get my hands on trying to understand how to make the most of my boy having this disease. CARE’s document page is THE place for all this information. Then, if I had any queries or questions, I would post it to the group, and what can I say about my Addison’s family, well words can’t describe how wonderful they all have been. This journey would have been so much harder and I am 100% sure we wouldn’t be where we are today if it hadn’t been for them and the low dose protocol. Felly, the low dose protocol, well that’s a learning experience in itself but once you get your head around it, it is without a doubt the way to go in my opinion. Ghost started, according to his weight on 1.3 ml of Zycortal and is now on 0.45 ml. My vet has been awesome with coming to terms with this, and he says, “I know the manufacturer says that he should be on a higher dose, but I can see in his behavior and in his blood test that the results don’t lie.” If I had any advice for anyone new dealing with Addison’s, I would say go to this group with any questions you have, learn how to read the blood test results, and adjust the medication accordingly (if I can do it anyone can) and you’re A-dog will be back to normal in no time.

Speaking of back to normal, just before Ghost was diagnosed, he had just started to ride on the back of my Canam 3 wheeled motorcycle. Obviously, this stopped for a while during the first part of his diagnosis, but now there’s no stopping him. If it wasn’t for his medical tag and if you didn’t tell anyone, they would never know he has a disease. As well as our normal frequent rides, we have been on the Pink Ribbon ride, the Bikers against Bullies ride, and the latest was the fundraising ride for the Country Fire Service. As always, Ghost is a massive hit with everyone, takes everything in his stride, and laps up all the attention he gets. Late last year, we were also accredited with Therapy Dog Services as a Community Visiting Dog Team. At this stage, we have had half a dozen visits to a nursing home, but this year promises to be awesome and we can’t wait! We are anticipating on being used for some special visits, special events and appearances to places like Ronald McDonald house, The Cancer Council lodge, universities around exam times, the Youth Courts, and wherever else we can put smiles on faces. It’s a huge win for everyone involved from Ghost himself, the people who we come across, the Addison’s community, and the Bull Terrier breed (which is quite often and unnecessarily very misunderstood).

Ghost is very much a part of our family and participates in most things we get up to. We go up the river, which he absolutely loves, and he even gets invited to Christmas lunch with the rest of our extended family. He is such a sweet gentleman.

So on finishing up, I suppose my message is this, if you have a dog that’s been diagnosed with Addison’s, you will shit yourself at first, I know I did, but take a deep breath and with the right frame of mind, taking note of all the information available, trusting this wonderful group, asking loads and loads of questions, you WILL get through this and you and your dog can do anything and be anything that you want to be. Look at Ghost, a goggle wearing, community visiting Bull Terrier who rides on the back of a motorbike and puts smiles on the faces of everyone he meets. I reckon that’s a pretty good thing. A-dogs rock!!!

Anyways I hope this has put a bit of a smile on YOUR face and don’t worry, there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.

Lots of love and big Bully hugs to you all.
Jarrod and Ghost

Ghosty Rider - Typical Addison's
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! Scroll down and you will also find her story auf Deutsch and en Español!

Ym mis Chwefror 2016, I lived in Cholula, México, with my three Shepherds (German and Belgian, all rescued) when a friend called me that she had found a small puppy in a closed garbage bag, close to suffocation. Felly, I went, picked the tiny bundle up, and presented her to my vet.
Four weeks old, something about one kilo. We immediately found a family willing to adopt her, so she just would stay some days until this family would go for her.

Yes…just that it never happened.

She adapted quickly to the life in between the large Shepherds and grew rapidly. My students named her ‘Piña’ and she won the hearts of everyone, but nobody adopted her. She was a really brave, fearless, and intelligent puppy, so I started her training. She was brilliant in obedience, and as small as she was compared to the Shepherds, she was brave and ‘strong’ in protection work as well. After 6 months with me, I declared her mine officially and we started her search and rescue training, as we had noticed her very capable of nose work.

She was the only cross-breed in the training but after some negative experiences, we finally found a trainer from the Red Cross who saw her potential. She grew stronger and demanded her a lot of skills. She learned quickly and we saw impressive results. After a heavy training session, at night I noticed that she was leaking urine and she appeared more tired than usual, so the next day I went to my vet to check her for an infection. Negative. We gave her some days of rest and she was back to normal. A week later, she got back to training and the same happened: tired, leaking urine. There, my vet noticed her heart rate was very low, so she asked me to go to a large clinic for a heart check. They did an echo of her heart, abdomen, blood work, the complete program.

When I went back to pick her up, the cardiologist said that her heart was heavily ‘overworked’, as well as her kidneys, so this would be the reason of her leaking urine and fatigue. She told me she was suspecting Addison’s, as her electrolytes were a little bit off, but not as strong as it could be. Piña had a shot of Dexamethasone two weeks ago because she got stung by some bees, so the definitive test for Addison’s we couldn’t do until four weeks later. But she was very sick and we decided we would try to stabilize her with IV fluids as long as possible to do the test.

After some days with the fluids, her situation got worse and all the vets at the clinic, together with my vet, decided to start treatment for Addison’s as Piña was weaker each day. When we started with the Prednisone and the Fludrocortisone (Astonin), she was herself few days later, with all the side-effects of the Prednisone, but active, strong heart rate, and her happy self.
Over the weeks, we reduced the Prednisone and she went back to the search and rescue training, happy happy happy. She was one and a half year old at that time. She got stable, I got used to managing her medicine, and finally, we had our first search and rescue events, where she gained attention because of her incredible happy nature and strong will to work.

We specialized in high mountain rescue and collapsed houses, where her weight (18 kilos) is a huge advantage compared to Shepherds or Labradors and their usual weight. Felly, Piña and I learned rope work as well.

Last summer we moved from Mexico to Ecuador, where we kept training, but suddenly (and unexpectedly), I got the permission to work with my dogs at my college, with the students. Piña is a search and rescue dog, but not a therapy dog as two of my older ones, so she was just like a backup. But, due to a heat wave, one of the therapy dogs could not go to classes with me sometimes and we took Piña…and she adapted quickly. Nawr, some months later, she is adored by the students and a huge part of the college and a favourite on school excursions and events.

In the 2 years since her diagnosis we had to adjust her medication just twice, I always carry around Prednisone everywhere I go but besides of that she is a normal search and rescue and soon-to-be-therapy dog. In our free time we go hiking in the mountains, go swimming in the river, or just go around by bike. She does absolutely everything a non-Addison’s dog would do, just with an excess of energy.

My Ecuadorian vets use her as an example for their vet students as they have never seen an Addison’s dog before.

Deutsche Übersetzung

Im Februar 2016 lebte ich in Cholula, Mexiko, mit meinen 3 adoptierten Schäferhunden (deutsch und belgisch), als eine Freundin mich anrief, dass sie einen winzigen Welpen in einer geschlossenen Mülltüte am Straßenrand gefunden hatte, kurz vor dem Ersticken. Ich fuhr hin, holte das kleine Bündel ab und stellte sie meiner Tierärztin vor. 4 Wochen alt, ungefähr ein Kilo. Wir fanden ziemlich sofort eine Familie, die sie adoptieren wollte, sich aber noch ein paar Tage organisieren musste bevor sie sie abholen. Nunja, das ist leider nie passiert.
Sie gewöhnte sich rasend schnell an das Leben mit den großen Schäferhunden und wuchs fröhlich vor sich hin. Meine Schüler gaben ihr den Namen PIÑA (also Ananas), weil wir da gerade die Früchte durchnahmen. Sie gewann alle Leute für sich, aber niemand adoptierte sie.

Sie war ein sehr mutiger, starker und extrem intelligenter Welpe/Junghund, also begann ich, sie zu trainieren. Sie war großartig in Gehorsam/Unterordnung und —obwohl so klein im Vergleich zu den Schäferhunden— war sie auch sehr mutig und forsch im Schutzdienst.

Nach 6 Monaten bei mir wurde sie ganz hochoffiziell ‘meine‘ und schließlich begannen wir auch ihr Rettungshundetraining, da wir ihren hervorragenden Naseneinsatz bemerkt hatten. NATÜRLICH war sie der einzige Mix beim Training, und wir gerieten leider auch an einen Trainer, der sie für nicht fähig hielt, das können nur bestimmte Rassehunde. Schließlich fanden wir ‘unseren‘ Trainer, der ihr Potential sah und so ging es sehr schnell aufwärts und sie überraschte uns oft mit ihren Fähigkeiten.

Im August 2017, nach einem sehr intensiven Training, bemerkte ich, dass sie deutlich erschöpft war, ein bisschen undicht und einfach nicht die fröhliche Wildsau wie sonst. Ich ging am nächsten Tag zu meiner Tierärztin mit dem Verdacht auf eine Blasenentzündung, negativ. Sie bekam ein paar Tage Pause und war weitestgehend wieder normal. Beim nächsten Training passierte dasselbe: totale Erschöpfung, Urininkontinenz. Diesmal bemerkte meine TÄin eine extrem niedrige Herzfrequenz und überwies uns an eine Klink zum kardiologischen Check. Dort machten sie einen Herzultraschall, Bauchultraschall, Blutbild, EKG usw., das volle Programm. Als ich sie dort nach der Arbeit abholen wollte, sagte mir die Ärztin, dass Herz und Nieren total überlastet seien, das sei der Grund für die Erschöpfung und die Inkontinenz. Die Ärztin vermutete Addison wegen einer leichten Elektrolytverschiebung, aber auf Grund einer Bienenattacke knapp 2 Wochen vorher konnten wir den ACTH-Test nicht machen, wir müssten 4 Wochen warten…also beschlossen wir, sie soweit mit Infusionen zu stabilisieren um den Test machen zu können. Leider ging es ihr trotz der Infusionen zunehmend schlechter, so dass alle beteiligten Tierärzte beschlossen, dass sie auf Addison behandelt würde. Wir begannen mit Prednisolon und Fludrocortison (Astonin) und nach wenigen Tagen war sie wieder fast die Alte. In den Wochen darauf reduzierten wir das Prednisolon, dadurch verschwanden auch die Nebenwirkungen, aber das Herz war stabil und sie wieder aktiv. Ich gewöhnte mich ans das Medikamentenmanagement und lernte, selber ihr Herz abzuhören und schließlich kehrten wir zum Rettungstraining zurück und hatten bald unsere ersten Einsätze, wo sie immer im positiven Sinne Aufmerksamkeit bekam, weil sie so fröhlich ist aber zeitgleich auch extrem professionell und zuverlässig bei der Arbeit. Wir spezialisierten uns auf Hochgebirgsrettung und Trümmerarbeit, wo ihre kompakte, aber sportliche Statur (18kg) ein großer Vorteil gegenüber größeren und schwereren Hunden wie DSH oder Labradoren darstellt. Also lernten wir gemeinsames Abseilen, Aufstieg in Seilen, Seilbahn fahren und vieles mehr.

Sommer 2019 zogen wir von Mexiko nach Ecuador, wo wir weiterhin trainieren, aber sehr plötzlich bekam ich von meiner Schule die Erlaubnis, mit meinen Hunden an der Schule mit den Kindern und Jugendlichen zu arbeiten. Nun ist die kleine Wildsau ein Rettungshund, aber kein Therapiehund, und so war sie erst nur als Reserve gedacht, falls einer meiner richtigen
Therapiehundesenioren ausfällt. Bei einer extremen Hitzewelle, wo die beiden Senioren nicht arbeiten konnten, kam also ihr großer Tag, und wie vorher bei allem anderen auch, sie lernt rasend schnell. Jetzt, ein paar Monate später, wird sie von den Schülern (und Kollegen und Chefetage und Service- und Sicherheitsleuten der Schule) angebetet und wir werden zu jeglichen Events und Exkursionen eingeladen, führen alle ihre coolen Tricks vor und lassen sie mal einen Schüler suchen…

In den knapp 2 Jahren seit ihrer Diagnose mussten wir ihre Medikation nur 2mal anpassen, einmal fiel sie aus uns unbekannten Gründen in eine Krise und musste einige Tage in der Klinik am Tropf bleiben, aber davon abgesehen ist sie ein normaler Rettungshund und ein baldiger Therapiehund. Das einzige, was ich beachten muss, ist, immer Prednisolon dabei zu haben, weil sowohl Sucheinsätze als auch Arbeitstage an der Schule stressig sind. Im positiven Sinne, aber eben dennoch stressig.

In unserer Freizeit wandern wir im Hochgebirge, gehen schwimmen oder fahren auch mal Fahrrad. Sie macht absolut alles (oder noch mehr), was ein nicht-Addison-Hund machen würde, nur mit einem Überschuss an positiver Energie.
Nebenbei: meine ecuatorianischen Tierärzte benutzen sie als Beispielfall für ihre Vetmedizinstudenten, da die allermeisten nie zuvor einen Addisonpatienten zu Gesicht bekommen haben.

yn Sbaeneg

La historia de Piña
En febrero de 2016, vivía en Cholula, México con mis tres pastores (alemánes y belgas, todos rescatados) cuando una amiga me llamó que había encontrado una cachorra en una bolsa de basura cerrada en la banqueta de la calle., a punto de asfixiarse. Entonces fui, recogí la cachorra y le presenté a mi veterinaria. 4 semanas, alrededor de 1000gramos. Inmediatamente encontramos a una familia que le quiso adoptar, solo que necesitaban organizarse antes de llevarla. Pero…nunca pasó y se quedó conmigo más tiempo que esperábamos.

Se adaptó rápido a la vida entre los pastores grandes y creció sanamente. Mis alumnos le llamaron PIÑA porque en ese tiempo estuvimos viendo las frutas. Ella enamoró a todos pero nadie la adoptó. Estaba una cachorra muy valiente, segura e inteligente, así que empezamos a entrenarle. Brillaba en obediencia, trucos y –a pesar de ser chiquita comparada con los pastores– aún se lanzó a guardia y protección. Cuando llevaba 6 meses conmigo le declaramos ‘mía’ oficialmente y también empezamos su entrenamiento de búsqueda y rescate, como le notamos muy apta para trabajo de olfato.

Claro que estaba la única cruza callejera y a principio nos encontramos con un pseudo-entrenador que dijo que no sirviera y blabla, pero por fin encontramos a un entrenador que vio su potencial y pronto vimos resultados impresionantes.

En agosto 2017, después de una sesión fuerte de entrenamiento, ella pareció exhausta, triste y le salió orina cuando durmió. El día siguiente le checamos por infección de las vías urinarias, era negativo. Le dimos algunos días de reposo y pronto estaba como normal. Cuando volvió al entrenamiento pasó lo mismo: cansancio extremo, incontinencia. Esa vez mi veterinaria notó su frecuencia cardíaca muy baja y nos mandó a una clínica para un chequeo cardiológico. Hicieron un eco cardíaco, sonografía de corazón y abdomen, tomaron la presión, análisi de sangre…todo. Cuando fui por ella, la cardióloga me dijo que tanto el corazón como los riñones tienen una sobrecarga y por eso estaba tan cansada. La doctora sospechó Addison por una leve desbalance de los electrolitos y el problema cardíaco. Por un ataque de abejas dos semanas antes Piña había recibido una inyección de cortisona, así que no pudimos hacer el test de estimulación del ACTH. Los doctores dijeron que se tendría que esperar 4 semanas para poder hacer el test, a lo mejor se podría estabilizarle con sueros de cloruro de sodio por algún tiempo y finalmente hacer el test.
Desafortunadamente, aún con los sueros su situación empeoró y después de algunos días todos los veterinarios involucrados decidieron juntos empezar el tratamiento por Addison. Empezamos con Predisona y pastillas de Fludrocortisona (Astonin) y en pocos días estaba fuerte y alegre como antes. Su frecuencia cardíaca se normalizó u poco a poco pudimos bajar la dosis de la Prednisona, con eso desaparecieron los efectos secundarios.

Piña tenía un año y medio cuando le diagnosticaron.

Ella estaba estable, yo me acostumbré a manejar sus medicinas y por fin pudimos volver al entrenamiento. Pronto tuvimos los primeros operativos de búsqueda y rescate y ella ganó los corazones con su carácter amigable y alegre y su profesonalismo en cuanto al trabajo de búsqueda. Nos especializamos en rescate de alta montaña y escombros/estructuras colapsadas donde ella por su estatura compacta y atleta (18kilos) tiene ventajas con los pastores o labradores más pesados. Así, aprendemos hacer rappel, subida en cuerdas, andar en teleféricos y cualquier tipo de vehículo.

En verano de 2019 nos mudamos a Ecuador, donde seguimos entrenando, pero de repente recibimos el permiso de mi colegio, a trabajar con los perros en el colegio. Piña como perra de búsqueda y rescate solo era planeada como reemplazo para mis dos perros de terapia. En una fuerte ola de calor, cuando los dos perros de terapia por su edad no podían trabajar, llegó la hora de Piña y…aprendió rapidísimo. Ahora, meses después, es adorada por todo el colegio (alumnos, colegas, jefes, padres de familia, empleados) por su alegría permanente, por saber hacer tantos trucos y por brindar seguridad a excursiones.

En los dos años de su diagnosis solo dos veces tuvimos que ajustar sus medicamentos, siempre llevo algo de Prednisona conmigo (tanto la búsqueda como el trabajo en el colegio le exigen mucho y tengo que darle más Prednisona en los días de trabajo) pero al lado de eso es una perra de búsqueda y rescate normal y perra de terapia futura.
En nuestro tiempo libre hacemos senderismo, escalamos montañas, andamos en bici o vamos a nadar. Piña hace absolutamente todo (o más) que hace un perro sin Addison, solo con exceso de energía.
Mis veterinarios ecuatorianos le usan para enseñanza de Addison a sus estudiantes de medicina veterinaria como la mayoría nunca ha visto un caso de Addison antes.
Por ganar tantos corazones, mis amigos me regalaron un tatuaje en forma de Piña y la mitad de mi casa tiene decoración en forma de Piña. Su apodo es “la cola inquieta” por ser tan alegre, y cuando la ven, nadie sospecha su enfermedad.

Piña - Typical Addison's
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This is Ozzie! We adopted him as a 6-month-old rescue. Border Collie/Australian Terrier mix according to the DNA test. His weight is 48 bunnoedd. We started noticing changes in him when he was about 3.5 mlwydd oed (early 2016). The first indication (missed by me as a medical issue at that time) was a drastic change in his coat. His hair grew longer and turned from black to brown. He looked like a little bear!

Then in June, we went camping and I noticed he was peeing a lot. Copious amounts and very dilute. Then also occasional diarrhea.

Still energetic, we continued agility all this time. Then one morning, he didn’t want to eat. That was my indication that something was wrong. He always loved food. I also noticed that he would pant a long time after playing ball. Too long.

To the vet that day in June 2016, just before his 4^fed pen-blwydd. They asked me what his symptoms were because he looked like such a happy camper. I told him about the not eating and the panting. I could pick him later that day and was told to give him chicken and rice. They had taken blood and results would be back the day after.

I just went to agility training that next morning, and when I came back the vet had called to bring Ozzie in ASAP. They suspected Addison’s disease. They did the ACTH test and he didn’t stim at all. Diagnosis was in!

He was on fluids for a day, was given Percorten (1.75 ml at regular dose), and Prednisone. I soon learned about low dose; I did learn so much in just a few days. It was worth my time, because I have been able to lower his Pred to only 0.25 mg per day and we went with low dose of Percorten (0.6 ml) for his second shot. Cymerodd 3 months for his K level to go up to 4.9! Then after several months of electrolyte tests, we have him now on 0.25 ml of Percorten every 28 diwrnod. That is lower than many other dogs, but he does really well on this.

Then the best part: after three months of healing, I went back to Agility, Treibball, started Nosework, and started Trick training. I had my sweet boy back. Like nothing happened. He still runs Agility at the highest levels, received his Excellent Treibball title plus his Trick Dog Champion and Stunt Dog Professional title in 2018. He is close to getting his Masters Jumpers and Standard titles in AKC agility and I hope to attend the Nadac Championships in September this year. He earned his Nosework 2 title a few months ago. Going for level 3 this year!

I am so proud of this boy; he really loves life and he keeps me busy! Here is a link to one of his Treibball runs he so loves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTC1jBJR_jM

Ozzie - Thyra P.
Typical Addison's
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Stirling is my sweet, amazing Border Collie. His fancy AKC registered name is Premiere’s Stirling Status, UD, P-UTD, FDC. From the start, I believed he was supposed to be my dog. I have been training and showing dogs in competition obedience for nearly 20 years and I was ready for my first Border Collie. I drove out to California to pick up my black and white ball of fluff. The puppies were running about like little chickens, this way and that. Since they were interested in running about the room, the puppies were not paying much attention to the new stranger (me). Then the puppy pack ran past me and one scooted to a stop and attempted to jump right on me; he was enthralled with me. He was adorable and I loved him at very first sight, but this puppy was already promised to another home. I was a bit disheartened but trusted our breeder and her matching of the dogs. She picked up this other adorable puppy and placed him in my lap; this was the puppy picked for me. He was cute and wiggled directly out of my arms to go play. The breeder put the puppies in the crate and we chatted a bit. She took the puppies out at least four more times. All the puppies would run directly past me to play and this one little puppy would run past me and put on the brakes to try to jump in my lap, as I said earlier, he was enthralled and I was starting to have heartbreak as this was not my puppy. Yn olaf, the last time the breeder took the puppies out and they all ran past me but the one, she picked him up and shared she’d not seen anything like this, and well; he was my pup. That puppy, as you likely guessed, is my amazing Stirling.

Stirling and I went off to enjoy our busy, active life together, training and running. I loved having my first border collie.

Around the time he was a year old, I noticed he seemed to have periods when he did not feel well. He would have loose stool and seem tired; not as active. I would take him to the vet and he would get some medicine to calm his stomach. His labs were fine. I would notice he would have loose stool after a training session. The next symptom Stirling demonstrated was a full body rash. Stirling had pus like lesions all throughout his body. It was so scary! Off to the vet we went. At this point, as I am a nurse, I started to put together this seemed like an autoimmune or autoinflammatory condition. As quickly as the rash developed, it went away. From there, Stirling would go on to have periods of loose stool, lethargy, and high fever. I would rush him to the vet for treatment and part of the treatment was steroids. After treatment, Stirling would be back to his amazing self and off we would go running and training until the next episode. There were a number of these episodes. Yn olaf, after one of the episodes, we saw a different vet as we were on holiday. I shared our story and I was so upset. She blurted out, “I think he has Addison’s disease!” She ran the tests, gave him steroids, and fluids to stabilize him. For this final episode, Stirling’s blood glucose was low; he had an atypical presentation of Addison’s. At least now we knew! Stirling’s presentation of Addison’s was an atypical presentation making an already challenging diagnosis even more challenging. We returned to Arizona, ran more tests to discover Stirling has primary Addison’s disease, but remains with glucocorticoid deficiency —or with Atypical Addison’s disease. Stirling has remained in Atypical Addison’s since 2012. Since he tested for primary Addison’s we follow his labs every 4 mis.

After the initial stabilization period, which was hard, Stirling has been feeling wonderful, running and competing. Our team for Stirling is amazing. Our Vet is very supportive of our treatment and we work together for the best treatment plan for Stirling. She is supportive of low dose prednisone and our feeding plan.

For brags, Stirling and I run together and recently we ran a 6-minute mile! We show in competitive obedience and are almost always in the ribbons. The UD (Utility Dog title) is one of the top obedience titles. Stirling is my first obedience dog to achieve the UD title. I adore every minute we have together. Strangely enough, I believe we enjoy a stronger bond because of the Addison’s.

Outside of the difficulty of diagnosis, and the initial stabilization period which was scary; we have an amazing life together. I am forever grateful for our medical care and our Canine Addison’s Resources & Education group (C.A.R.E). I do not believe I would have gotten through this without the expertise and guidance of our C.A.R.E group. The support and knowledge C.A.R.E provides is critical. I cannot count how many times I have reached out for guidance and support. The group also brings friendship and encouragement. I remember second guessing if I should be running and showing Stirling. Then I saw dogs in our C.A.R.E group doing agility. I was touched by a wonderful Border Collie named Idgie in our group. Watching Idgie’s brags gave me the encouragement I needed. At that moment, I decided Stirling was always supposed to be my dog and we would live the life we were intended. You will see me singing Team Stirling’s praises occasionally, in case someone needs just a little encouragement.

Stirling is well loved by both me and my wonderful, supportive husband who is also critical in supporting Stirling in his care. Our Addison’s dogs rock and can do it all!

Stirling - Candice V.G.
Atypical Addison's
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Time to tell our story, and to share some good news. When we joined the CARE Facebook group, it was following a suggestion by a friend in another Facebook group about the Belgian Shepherd breeds. I had no idea that we needed help and that I could improve Ali’s care. Ali had her Addison’s crisis over 5 years prior, and she had been stable with 2.5 ml of Prednisolone daily and a monthly shot, at the vets, o 2.5 ml o Percorten – carefully calculated according to her weight (which I later discovered is not the way to adjust the medication).

My husband and I more than once had ‘that talk.’ Were we really doing the kindest thing treating her illness, keeping her alive? Bless, she was so ‘wired,’ jumpy, and nervous of everything. My brave fearless girl no more. She was ravenous! Starving hungry the whole time. It was painful to see. I was so sorry for her I used to buy her big shells of lettuce leaves to try and fill her up. Anything to put something in her stomach without fattening her up. She wolfed them down.

Despite giving her cranberry capsules everyday, she had countless bladder infections. Seemed like she was never clear of them and was constantly getting antibiotics to control them. Her fur had gone very sparse and coarse. Belgian Shepherds have a double coat, but she no longer had any soft warming undercoat of fur. Just the outer fur, with bald spots even in that. Neither of us ever got a full night’s sleep. Every night she needed to go out twice, some nights as many as three times.

But then I read the documents here and the advice which was helping others to reduce their dogs from the therapeutic dosage level which Ali was on to the biological replacement level of both Prednisolone and Percorten V. I’m a life scientist by training and it all made such good sense that I decided to give it a try. I just quietly got on and reduced Ali’s prednisolone, gradually and gently. And what do you know, she did great. It took a while, but she is now stable on 0.5 ml daily – one-fifth of her original dose!

As soon as I could see that she was doing better on a reducing dose of Prednisolone, I started telling our lovely veterinarian I wanted to reduce her Percorten and to base her dosage on her electrolytes, not her weight. We had quite a tussle to start with, but once he realized I wanted her treatment to be based on the results of her ‘lytes, he was fully supportive. We’ve been gradually reducing her dosage, and her last shot was 0.5 ml Zycortal (we switched from Percorten). Maybe down to 0.4 ml this time, but we’ll soon know. A few months ago, I started doing her shots myself. Partly to mitigate the additional costs of the monthly ‘lytes tests, but more to avoid Ali having to go to the vets so often. She’s very brave, but she’s been to the vets far too often in her little life.

Why am I telling you this now? Wel, we’ve just come back from Ali’s 28 day ‘lytes blood draw and our vet proudly told me that he has convinced the owner of another Addison’s dog in his care to start the same reducing treatment regime. And, bless him, he has suggested that they could start doing the monthly shot themselves to help offset the initial costs, citing me as an example.

Felly, apart from being chuffed to bits that another dog will soon be feeling a lot less wired, I’ve learned another lesson. In convincing our veterinarians to treat our dogs the way we have learned is what they need, with just a replacement dosage, they will then take that knowledge and use it with other Addison’ dogs in their care. Having said it, that seems blindingly obvious that they would do so, but it honestly had not occurred to me.

Update: Another two years have passed since I wrote this. Thank you to everyone here at CARE for all they do to help our precious A-dogs and us, their anxious helicopter pet parents. I’m honored to have been asked to update it for the Canine Addison’s Awareness Week 2020.

My darling Ali continues to flourish. For over 2 years now, she has been stable on 0.5 ml of Prednisolone daily. I continued reducing her monthly Zycortal, guided by monthly ‘lytes tests, until we reached the level that kept her stable for 28 diwrnod. My poor girl, who had been given 2.5 mls of Percoten V every month for 5 years only needs the tiny monthly dose of 0.3 ml.

Last year we got a male Belgian Shepherd puppy. I thought Ali might appreciate not having the responsibility of being top dog in our little pack of two. What did we know! Having just celebrated his first birthday, Shadow is now a strapping big boy, taller, and heavier built than Ali. But my darling brave fearless girl is still determinedly top dog. Her coat is full, soft, and shining with health. I have to admit that she still bolts her meals, but that desperate hunger resides only in my memory. We both sleep through most nights. Nowadays, it’s me who needs to get up, not her. And she’s happy. Bright eyed and bushy tailed. She’s beside me now, cuddling up on the sofa, making typing very difficult.

Even I forget she’s ill. It’s just part of my routine to give her meds with her breakfast, quick, easy, and not a big deal at all. Her monthly shot is now routine. Collar off the night before. Draw up her meds into the syringe while she’s elsewhere, and then quickly give it to her while she’s enjoying her breakfast. But let her get sick, with anything, and I’m immediately that anxious A-dog mom again. Some things never change!

Ali - Shirley C.
Typical Addison's
Cliciwch ar y llun i'w wneud yn fwy

 

Roedd Simba eni ar Chwefror 23, 2007. He was trained as a Service Dog for an autistic boy and was loved very much by his “brother.” Just before his 2nd birthday, efe a syrthiodd i lawr rhai grisiau. Roedd yn dod i ben i fyny yn y milfeddyg, disgrifio fel hynod swrth ac yn methu cerdded. Dan arweiniad Bloodwork at ddiagnosis o "rhagdybiadol Addison" (dim prawf ACTH). Cafodd ergyd o dexamethasone a rhai hylifau IV, Yna anfonodd adref i gymryd Florinef, "Ar gyfer 2 mis, Yna, stopio a chadw Prednisone wrth law os bydd yn dechrau i ddamwain yn y cartref. "Mae ei ffeil meddygol yn darllen fel stori arswyd. Ym mis Tachwedd y 2010, yr oedd ganddo "posibl" argyfwng Addisonian, gyda'i potasiwm yn 5.6 (yn amrywio hyd at 5.8). Yn ôl pob golwg roedd gan Simba gyfanswm o 3 argyfyngau tra gyda'i deulu cyntaf, ac yna dioddef 4ydd ar adeg yr ildio i'r pwdl Achub Safonol.

Ar oed 6, Cyrhaeddodd Simba yn y achub & gofal maeth. Y achub ac aelodau o'r gymuned y Addison helpu i gael Simba ar y llwybr cywir, newid ef o Florinef i Percorten a dechreuodd ar y cam nesaf o'i fywyd, sydd yn llawer hapusach!

Keith ac yr wyf yn chwilio am frawd neu chwaer ar gyfer ein Afon, sydd nid yn hollol ddim yn hoffi bod yn "unig ci". Roeddwn wedi bod yn dilyn llawer o'r cŵn ar gael yn y achub, ac yna ymddangosodd Simba. Yr oedd fel clôn o Afon o ran golwg, Dim ond hyd yn oed yn fwy prydferth. Rwy'n na allai dim ond yn cymryd fy llygaid oddi ar y bachgen hyfryd. Roedd Rydym newydd golli 2 cŵn mewn cwpl o flynyddoedd, un o ganser, y llall oherwydd cymhlethdodau o siyntiau afu lluosog anweithredol. Mae fy cyswllt ar achub ceisio siarad fi i ffwrdd o Simba, gan ddweud ein bod yn haeddu un heb unrhyw faterion, ond rywsut roeddem yn teimlo ein bod yn bobl gywir ar gyfer Simba ac yr oedd yn iawn i ni. Cyrhaeddodd Simba yn ein teulu ar Fawrth 23, 2013, yn fuan wedi ei ben-blwydd 6ed, gydag amrywiaeth o daenlenni, pils, a chyfarwyddiadau. Roedd fy mhen yn troelli. Roeddwn i'n gwybod dim am Addison, ac eithrio ei fod yn air frawychus iawn. Roedd ei fam maeth, Katey, fy sicrhau y byddem yn cael ei chefnogaeth lawn ynghyd â hynny o gymuned yr Addison. Ymunais grŵp cymorth yn weddol gyflym, ond yn aros dro cyn postio. Mae bod yn berson swil, roedd yn anodd i siarad allan i griw o ddieithriaid, hyd yn oed os oeddent yn unig ar-lein. Wel, dyna oedd y peth gorau a wnes. Ar gyfer Simba, roedd yn dda gan fy mod got help ar unwaith delio gydag ef, ac i mi roedd yn dda - yr wyf yn gwneud llawer o ffrindiau gwerthfawr newydd, pobl gen i un peth yn gyffredin â nhw - rydym i gyd yn caru cŵn ein Addison. Roedd Simba bod yn "hysbysebu" ar hyd a lled y cyfandir a hyd yn oed yn y DU, felly efe a ddaeth gyda'i grŵp ei hun o edmygwyr, a Keith ac yr wyf yn llithro i mewn i'r grŵp gydag ef.

Ar ddiwedd mis Mehefin 2013, dim ond 3 mis ar ôl i ni ei fabwysiadu yn ei, Simba neidio allan o lori Keith yn y garej a thorri ei goes. Beth nesaf ar gyfer darling hon bachgen! Roedd toriad gwael iawn ac efe a ddaeth i ben i fyny gyda phlât dur yn ei fraich yn ogystal â gwifren lapio o amgylch ei arddwrn. Dywedwyd wrthym ei fod yn 90% siawns ei fod yn ganser, felly yn cael eu paratoi ar gyfer torri aelod i ffwrdd posibl ac yna driniaeth chemo. Simba yn lwcus ac yn ffitio i mewn i'r 10% glir! Yr oedd yn filwr ifanc o'r fath gyda'i sblint ac yn gwisgo ei "bonet,"Ac yna dim ond pan gafodd ei iacháu, roedd yn rhaid i fynd yn ôl 6 fisoedd yn ddiweddarach ei fod wedi y plât tynnu.

Felly rydym yn dod i fyny at 2 mlynedd ers i ni fabwysiadwyd Simba - mae wedi bod yn bleser o'r fath. Ef yw "ei hun berson,"Nid yn hoffi cŵn eraill. Mae'n loner, ac yn cael ei "ymarfer anoddefgar." Mae ei rhestr o meds bron wedi diflannu - unwaith medicated yn briodol, Materion croen blaenorol diflannu, shedding stopio. Gwyliodd Simba cŵn eraill yn chwarae, ond byth yn dysgu sut i gymryd rhan pan oedd yn iau. Rhoddodd i fyny llawer o ei "ieuenctid hwyl" drwy fod yn Wasanaeth Cŵn Awtistiaeth, a thrwy fod mor sâl iawn. Ond mae ei amser wedi dod - mae ganddo pen-blwydd 8fed fin digwydd - ac mae ganddo Mom & Dad sydd yn ei garu ef ddrud a byddai'n gwneud unrhyw beth iddo, Afon brawd sy'n mwynhau cael iddo yma, a chwaer Pinot newydd nad yw wedi hollol anghofio ei fod yn growled ar ei diwrnod cyntaf ei bod yma, ond mae hi wedi llacio i fyny. Simba yn golygu "Prince" a dyna beth mae'n!

Pinot yn sbaniel Cocker / cymysgedd pwdl mini, a anwyd ar Fai 4, 2009. Mae hi'n byw am 5 flynyddoedd mewn teulu yr wyf yn gwybod dim. Ond ychydig cyn iddi 5^fed pen-blwydd, cafodd ei ddwyn i Clinig Argyfwng gyda rwystr wrin ac unwaith eu bod wedi cael digon iddi cryf, ganddi systosgopi wrinol. Cafodd ei anfon adref ond dychwelodd mewn diwrnod neu ddau mewn argyfwng. Mae'r milfeddyg yn awyddus i brofi am Addison ond erbyn hynny ei theulu wedi cyrraedd pen eu tennyn a gofynnodd iddi ei roi i gysgu. Trefnodd y milfeddyg i gael ei ildio iddo ef ac roedd hi'n diagnosis o ACTH ar ddechrau mis Mai. Yna, bu'n byw am y nesaf 4 misoedd yn y clinig. Roeddem yn y clinig gydag Afon un diwrnod ac maent yn dweud wrthym am Pinot a dod â hi yn i gwrdd â ni. Mae hi'n ffinio mewn, bownsio i fyny ar y fainc, ac ni allai dim ond rheoli ei ynni. Roedd hi'n pêl o fflwff a cuteness. Symud ar hyd, SPIN (Poodles safonol mewn Angen) cymryd rheolaeth dros hi a Keith ac yr wyf yn eu maethu hi. Pinot yn wych! Ei diwrnod cyntaf, hi latched llythrennol ar y ddau Keith & Afon, a hyd heddiw mae'r ddau ei phrif gwasgu. Yn y clinig, eu bod wedi bod yn rhoi iddi 1.0 mg o Prednisone bob dydd ac mae hi'n pwyso am 14 bunnoedd. Felly, Roedd gan Pinot broblemau anymataliad difrifol. Rydym yn gweithio yn gostwng ei Pred ond hyd yn oed pan oedd yn i lawr i 0.2mg, roedd hi'n dal yn gollwng. Rydym wedi ceisio rhoi ei Propalin (Microdon) gyda dim ond rhywfaint o lwyddiant. Ond unwaith iddi ddechrau cymryd Stilbestrol (DES) bob dydd, mae hi wedi bod yn hollol sych.

Gallwch ddychmygu nad oedd SPIN yn frysiog yn union oddi ar eu traed gyda phobl a oedd am i fabwysiadu'r hyn creadur yn hollol darling. Roedd rhai yn ddigon o ddiddordeb i ddysgu am Addison & ystyried ei, ond mae'r gollwng yn chwalu bargen. Drwy'r amser, Roeddwn yn ysgrifennu am pa mor wych oedd hi, Roeddwn yn disgyn yn fwy a mwy mewn cariad â hi fy hun. Byddwn yn symud cyn bo hir a fydd yn gofyn am 7 taith ar y ffordd dydd ac ers i ni eisoes wedi 2 poodles safonol, doedden ni ddim yn meddwl y gallem fabwysiadu 3^ydd. Rydym yn olaf penderfynu "adain iddo" - Pinot yn llawer rhy arbennig i adael i unrhyw un arall yn mwynhau ei. Mae hi'n perthyn gyda ni, ac yr ydym yn perthyn gyda hi. Ac ar wahân, sut y gallem hyd yn oed yn meddwl am fynd â hi i ffwrdd o Afon! Felly, ar Rhagfyr. 21, 2014, Daeth Pinot ein un ni am byth. Mae hi'n bleser o'r fath. Mae hi'n dwylo sliper chi pan fyddwch yn dod i mewn, er y gallai fod NI fydd un chi, ond mae'n cael ei gyflwyno gyda wiggle pen ôl darling fel bod dim ond rhaid i chi gymryd beth bynnag. Mae hi'n hollol gaeth i squeaky teganau - po fwyaf a'r squeakier y gorau - mae hwn yn gaeth bod hi'n rhannu gyda Afon ac mae ganddynt ychydig o ffraeo dros y "gorau" un. Pinot wedi dal ein calonnau ac yn eu cadw am byth.

 

Roedd Klara eni ar y 12 Awst 2009. Roedd hi bob amser yn ci bach siriol a bywiog, yn tomboi gyda chwilfrydedd gwych ar gyfer popeth newydd. Daeth Newidiadau ar ôl ei wres cyntaf. Daeth yn fwytawr picky, yr oeddwn yn meddwl yn perthyn i'r newidiadau hormonaidd. Daeth yn dawel ac yn ymateb yn ymosodol pan ddaeth cŵn yn rhy agos, hyd yn oed ei gyfeillion chi orau. Mae'r ffwr du ar ei choesau blaen troi llwyd.

Yna, unwaith eto roedd cyfnodau hir pan oedd yn ymddangos i bopeth fod yn iawn. Yn fuan ar ôl ei phenblwydd yn 3, popeth gwaethygu. Roedd ganddi haint y glust wael iawn â bacteria aml-gwrthsefyll. I gael y llid a reolir, y camlesi clust eu glanhau o dan anesthesia cyffredinol. Dechreuodd y tirlithriad. Dechreuodd i wrthod ei bwyd. Weithiau, hi yn bwyta dim am 3 diwrnod. Weithiau, roedd ganddi dolur rhydd neu chwydu. Mewn anobaith, rydym yn dechrau i jôc bod yn fuan byddem yn cael ein fynedfa ei hun yn y clinig. Mae'r haint y glust yn dal i achosi trafferth a Klara cael ei hail glanhau glust o dan anesthesia cyffredinol.

Yn y cyfamser, hi oedd dolur rhydd dro ar ôl tro, chwydu, a rhwymedd. Rydym yn treulio Noswyl Nadolig a'r Flwyddyn Newydd yn y clinig. Profion ar gyfer parasitiaid yn negyddol. Roedd y bloodwork yn ardderchog. Mae'r haint y glust gedwir dod yn ôl.

Gaeaf 2012/2013, cawsom dywydd bendigedig. Llawer o eira a haul. Mae fy cŵn wrth eu bodd eira a Klara llusgo ei hun trwy'r eira. Nid oedd ganddi unrhyw hwyl. Gallech weld nad oedd yn gwneud yn dda. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r amser mae hi'n cysgu. Mae'r milfeddygon hyd i unrhyw achos.

Ym mis Chwefror 2013, yr oedd hyd yn oed yn waeth. Dolur rhydd, chwydu, hi yn ymddangos i fod mewn poen, Gwrthododd ei bwyd, ond yn yfed llawer o ddŵr. Dywedodd y milfeddygon, "Dylem aros. Gallai fod oherwydd ei wres. "Y diwrnod wedyn pan ddes adref, Roedd gen i deimlad rhyfedd – Aeth rhywbeth o'i le iawn yma. Gyrrais eto at yr ysbyty a'r milfeddyg yn awyddus i anfon 'm ffwrdd, “Ni allwn ddod o hyd i unrhyw beth. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn ei wres!”

Roedd hyn yn ormod. Roeddwn yn ddig ac yn gofyn am ymchwiliad pellach. “Mae rhywbeth o'i le Klara. Nid af!! A yw eich swydd!” Gwnaethant prawf gwaed cyflawn ac yna, y milfeddygon yn bryderus iawn. Ei potasiwm oedd 7.6 mewn ystod o 3.5-5.8. Ei sodiwm oedd 139 mewn ystod o 144-160. Mae'r bloodwork dweud wrthym ei bywyd mewn perygl. Cafodd ei dadhydradu yn gyfan gwbl. Yn olaf, maent yn edrych dros yr achos. Gwenwyn, uwchsain arennol, leptosbirosis. Cafodd ei rhoi IV gyda bagiau trwyth. Gallwn fynd adref Klara. Aethom bob dydd i'r clinig ac maent yn gwneud profion pellach. Maent yn siarad o fethiant arennol, ond dod o hyd i unrhyw achos. Gwerthoedd gwaed Klara yn cael eu cynnal yn unig gan y trwythau ond hyd yn oed nad oedd yn helpu llawer. Mae'r gwerthoedd gwaed yn waeth. Ar gyfer diwrnodau, ei bod yn rym bwydo, ond mae hi'n colli mwy a mwy o bwysau. Cafodd ei gludo i'r ICU ac rydym yn barod i golli ei. Dywedodd y milfeddygon eu bod eisiau i brofi un peth olaf. Maent yn dweud y gallai fod Clefyd Addison's ac eisiau gwneud y prawf ACTH. Yr achos ei ddarganfod. Roedd gan Klara Addison a thriniaeth Dechreuwyd. Y diwrnod nesaf, Gallwn fynd ei chartref.

Mae hi'n hadfer yn gyflym ac mae popeth yn ymddangos i fod yn iawn. Fodd bynnag, Nid oedd hi'n mor gryf ag y gwn iach. Dyna pam yr wyf i wedi newid o Florinef i Percorten.

Gyda chymorth y grŵp, buom yn gweithio i ddod o hyd Klara's dos gorau. Nawr, mae hi'n pwyso 27 kg ac yn derbyn 0.40ml o Percorten pob 28 diwrnodau a 1mg o Prednisone bob dydd. I mi, mae'n debyg i wyrth i weld sut mae hi'n mwynhau ei bywyd heb unrhyw gyfyngiadau. Nawr, bron 2 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, Klara yn teimlo'n well nag erioed. Newid i Percorten oedd y penderfyniad gorau erioed. Klaraismentallybalanced,siriol, beiddgar, a dewr. Ac ar ôl ar hyd y dydd yn y gwaith(hi yw fy hyfforddwr cynorthwyol, Rwyf yn hyfforddwr cŵn) mae hi'n dal i wedi egni ar ôl i chwarae llawenydd yn llawn gyda'i brawd a fi!

I am Annet and I live in The Netherlands. We have 4 cŵn, two English Cocker Spaniels, a Boomer and a Belgian Griffon. One of the cockers – his name is Flip and he is 4 mlwydd oed – has Addison’s since April 2014.

He drank tons of water and wasn’t his exciting self for a few weeks. So when the dogs had to have their annual shots, I asked if the vet could check his total bloodwork, because he was not well. When we got home, Flip disappeared under the table and stayed there, he didn’t even come out for a treat. And that is something that is completely NOT Flip…. After a few hours the vet called and said that his potassium was dangerously high and his sodium very low. So he said I suspect he has Addison’s disease. After travelling in ‘Addison’s world’ for almost a year now, I know that my vet did wonderful by diagnosing it this early! He wanted to confirm with the ACTH test, but it turned out that the test was not available in Holland at that time, not at a vet nor at a veterianarian school! So Flip was never definitively diagnoses with the ACTH test because it simply wasn’t possible. He got fludrocortisone and hydrocortisone and after a little while in ‘Addison World’ I weaned him off of the hydrocortisone completely. The Dutch protocol for Addison is ‘Fludrocortisone and high dose of hydrocortisone for the rest of the dog’s life’. My vet said Okay to wean him off the hydro, but afterwards he said to me that he feared it, because of this protocol. Addison’s is of course a rare disease so that is what he knew and never questioned.

But it went very well so Flip only had fludrocortisone. The only thing is that Flip didn’t do his best on it and we ended up adjusting his dose almost every two weeks. Flip weighs 18 kg and he had 0.8175 mg fludro. He had too much glucocorticosteroids in his medication, that was for sure! He has always been an outgoing dog, but this was ridiculous, whining when he got a little bit excited (so by going out for a walk, getting a treat, getting dinner, thinking we were going out etc), poor Flip…….
Luckily I found a person who could provide Percorten (or rather that person found me) and this resulted in a memorable event on 5 January 2015: Flip was the first dog in Holland to get an injection of Percorten!

He is doing great on it, his personality is normalising, his hair is becoming red again (instead of becoming blonder and blonder) and it is growing again.

Rwyf wrth fy modd i ysgrifennu, ond yr wyf yn eistedd yma yn syllu ar sgrin wag, ofn na allaf wneud cyfiawnder stori Pepsi yn. Rwy'n rhannu stori hon gyda phob un ohonoch yn gobeithio y bydd yn helpu rhywun arall. Mabwysiadwyd Pepsi pan oedd hi tua 6 mis oed ym mis Rhagfyr 2003. Roedd yn gi unigryw ac anhygoel o'r fath, ond nid ydynt i gyd yn eu ffordd eu hunain arbennig?

Roedd gan Pepsi ci bach-cwfl arferol bennaf, ond ddim yn dioddef o fwy o salwch na'r rhan fwyaf o gŵn yn ei wneud. Ar ôl iddi droi tri, datblygodd briwiau yn ei fylfa. Ar ôl sawl deithiau at y milfeddyg, ac yna newid milfeddygon, a cheisio mwy o ddewisiadau, oeddem yn ystyried llawdriniaeth i ail-greu ei fylfa. Fodd bynnag, dechreuodd fod yn i lawr y rhiw yn gyflym. Roedd hi'n colli pwysau, ysgwyd, ac yn bennaf oll, Fi jyst yn gwybod rhywbeth yn anghywir. Aethom i milfeddyg ar ôl filfeddyg lle y maent i gyd yn diswyddo i mi ddweud bod ei bod yn "dim ond mynd yn hŷn ac yn setlo i lawr." Erbyn hyn rwyf wedi cael iddi yn swyddfa'r milfeddyg bob wythnos am fisoedd. Rydym hyd yn oed yn ceisio newid milfeddygon o weithiau cwpl. Roedd ei egni yn lleihau yn gyflym. Cyn bo hir, ni allai hyd yn oed yn cerdded allan o'r iard heb orfod gosod i lawr a chymryd seibiant. Ei bod yn cael trafferth cael symudiad y coluddyn. Cymerais hi i swyddfa'r milfeddyg eto, lle maent yn ei diagnosis o colitis. Rydym yn cael cartref, ac ni allai fynd allan o'r car.

Roeddwn i'n gwybod hyn yn ei, felly Fi jyst got yn ôl yn y car a gyrru i Chicago - y ddinas fawr. O fewn 10 cofnodion ni fynd i mewn i'r ysbyty ar frys yn Chicago, ei bod yn rhagarweiniol diagnosis o Glefyd Addison, a dywedwyd wrthyf ei bod mae'n debyg na fyddai wedi ei gwneud yn noson arall heb driniaeth. Arhosodd hi yno 3 neu 4 dyddiau tra eu bod yn cael ei hylifau i fyny, ac mae ei chryfder yn ôl. Roedd hi wedi prawf ACTH wneud i gadarnhau Clefyd ei Addison. Fel rhyddhad fel yr oeddwn i nôl ei hyd o'r ysbyty, Rwyf hefyd yn devastated i ddysgu y byddai ei driniaeth yn costio bron $400 y mis. Doedd gen i ddim syniad sut yr oeddwn yn mynd i fforddio, ond rydym yn mynd i chyfrif i maes ffordd.

Dyna pan ddechreuais ymchwilio fy hun, a dod o hyd grŵp K-9 Addison sy'n ddyledus i mi bywyd Pepsi i. Maent yn fy helpu i ddeall y clefyd, sut i ddehongli ei brofion, a chael hi ar y dos cywir o feddyginiaethau. Ar ôl hynny, ni fyddwn byth yn edrych yn ôl.

Yn ogystal â 1.4 ml o Percorten-V pob 28 diwrnodau a 1 mg o Prednisone bob dydd, Hefyd yn cymryd Pepsi nifer o atchwanegiadau. Yn y diwedd aeth byw 7 mwy o flynyddoedd gwych ar y dos cywir o'i meddyginiaethau sy'n, gan y ffordd, Dim ond yn costio i mi llai na $80.00 y mis. Pepsi yn byw i fod yn 11 ½ mlwydd oed, sydd yn eithaf gwych ar gyfer 130 ci punt. Bu farw Pepsi o ganser y diwrnod cyn Diolchgarwch yn 2014.

Gall Cael diagnosis o Glefyd Addison yn frawychus a brawychus, ond roedd Pepsi brawf eich bod yn gallu byw bywyd ystyrlon hapus gyda'r meddyginiaethau cywir. Oherwydd Pepsi, pawb sy'n cyffwrdd ei dysgu cymaint am fywyd a chariad a chyfeillgarwch. Bydd yn golled fawr.

 

Daeth Valentino i mewn i fy mywyd yn Chwefror 2007 pan ddaeth yn fy maeth ar ôl galwad yn fanwl ar lloches lladd uchel. Yr oedd hanner awr rhag cael eu euthanized. Roedd yn crwydr emaciated goll rhan fwyaf o'i wallt ar ei ochr (ei groen yn binc sgleiniog llachar!) a llain o wallt blond fel MOHAWK i lawr ei gefn, pwyso prin £ 30 – mae bellach yn £ 55 iach. Cymerodd 3 misoedd i adfer iddo iechyd, ac yn ennill pwysau. Erbyn hynny, Rwyf wedi dod yn fethiant maeth, ac roedd yn Valentino pob pwll! Roedd yn cysgu rhan fwyaf o'r rhai cyntaf 3 mis rhwng prydau ac yn mynd poti cyn iddo ymddangos i wedi adfer. Dechreuodd cael symptomau syrthni, diffyg egni ac anallu i fynd i mewn / allan o'r car am ychydig o fisoedd ac er ei fod byth yn colli ei archwaeth yn gyfan gwbl, Dechreuodd pigo ar ei fwyd ceisio bwyta, Roeddwn i'n gwybod bod rhywbeth o'i le, ond mae ein milfeddyg ar y pryd (y tro diwethaf!) diswyddo ei ymddygiad fel “actio”. Yna efe a aeth i'r wal ym Rhagfyr 2007 ac mae ein taith gyda Chlefyd Addison Dechreuodd. Ni allai Ei milfeddyg “ffitio” Aeth Valentino mewn am wythnos arall ac ni milfeddyg ffrind a lwyddodd i gyd-fynd â ni yn. Mae'n anodd gwybod os gallai ei AD wedi bod yn gwyro a gwanhau cyn gan ei fod wedi bod mor sâl pan gyrhaeddais ef yn gyntaf. Roedd ei gwymp oedd ar Rhagfyr 19, treuliodd 2 ddyddiau yn yr ysbyty arbenigol, ac erbyn Rhagfyr 25, teimlo'n ddigon da i geisio dianc gyda'r hwyaden Nadolig a oedd yn draenio yn y sinc y gegin – yn ffodus cafodd ei nabbed en flagrante a goroesodd yr hwyaden i'w gyflwyno ar gyfer cinio Nadolig yn ôl y bwriad!

Valentino was started on Florinef/compounded fludrocortisone at .4mg (yn is nag a argymhellir ar gyfer ei bwysau) ac 2.5mg Prednisone mewn 12/07 – ond mae ei electrolytau yn berffaith (!) am flwyddyn. Ar ôl blwyddyn, Aeth ei electrolytau allan o reolaeth, and he had weekly increases in his Florinef, nes iddo gyrraedd 2mg ond mae ei electrolytau yn dal nid o dan reolaeth.

Rydym yn dod o hyd i filfeddyg 1.5 awr i ffwrdd a oedd yn barod i weithio gyda ni a dechrau Valentino yn 1.8ml, a gafodd ei ystyried y “dos isel” mewn 2009, y dos safonol oedd ychydig dros 2ml (Dwi'n cofio meddwl fyddwn i ddim hyd yn oed yn ei gael 2 dosau allan o bob ffiol ar gost fisol o tua $100 yn unig ar gyfer y Percorten-V!) Dros y blynyddoedd, rydym yn gostwng yn araf gan 10-20% ar y tro. Rydym yn dechrau yn 1.8ml mewn 7/09 ac nid oedd hyd yn oed yn dod i 1ml tan 9/10, .75ml mewn 6/11, .5ml mewn 10/13, .4ml cyfredol mewn 9/14. Rydym i gyd yn llawer mwy ceidwadol bryd hynny ac nid oedd gennym ddigon o wybodaeth ar fynd i ddognau is………ac eithrio drwy brofiadau aelodau eraill y grŵp. Yr oedd yr holl dir newydd! Os yw'r astudiaeth dos isel wedi bod ar gael yn 2009, gallem fod wedi dechrau ar .95ml ac gotten i dos effeithiol isaf Valentino bod llawer cynt ac wedi arbed llawer o arian ar Percorten-V ac electrolytau misol profion fel bonws. Ni allaf ddweud digon am y gwahaniaeth fod ar ddognau is wedi gwneud yn y modd Valentino yn teimlo drwy gydol y mis gyda'i electrolytau yn aros yn eithaf agos at y canol amrediad rhwng dosau. Treuliodd flynyddoedd yn ei wneud “ok” – mopey, swrth i 2 wythnos ar ôl pob ergyd, teimlo ychydig yn fwy perky tua wythnos cyn ei ergyd nesaf oedd ddyledus, Yna, teimlo'n swrth eto pan gafodd ergyd arall – ond erbyn hyn mae'n ei wneud “mawr” pob mis o hyd ar ddogn llawer is o Percorten-V! Ynghyd â'r gostyngiad Percorten-V diweddaraf, Rwyf hefyd wedi gallu lleihau ei Prednisone i .5mg – ei fod wedi bod yn hofran rhwng .75mg yn y gaeaf i 1.25mg yn yr haf ar gyfer y blynyddoedd. We have also switched to liquid Prednisolone as his liver enzymes became elevated and he was shedding a lot……….

PS – Sefyllfa Valentino fel sâl, crwydr digroeso oedd yr ysbrydoliaeth ar gyfer fy ymrwymiad dwfn a chyfranogiad mewn materion lles anifeiliaid yn San Antonio! Faint o gŵn yn union fel Valentino wedi marw oherwydd nad oedd un i gamu i fyny ar eu cyfer cyn yr gorfodol 72 hr cyfnod dal crwydr dod i ben?

 

Roedd y achub wedi pob un o'r lloi spayed neu hysbaddu cyn cael eu cymryd adref. Roedd Argus hysbaddu am ddau fis oed, ac yr ydym yn dod ag ef adref yn hwyrach y diwrnod hwnnw. Dau ddiwrnod yn ddiweddarach ef oedd rhew oer ac yn crynu galed iawn. Rydym yn gwylio ei safle toriad am arwyddion o haint a rhwymodd ef mewn blancedi i geisio gynhesu iddo. Y prynhawn hwnnw yr ydym yn mynd ag ef i mewn i'r milfeddyg a oedd wedi gwneud y feddygfa (45 munud i ffwrdd). Dywedodd y milfeddyg fod yn cael adwaith i'r feddygfa ac yn iawn. Rhoddodd iddo ergyd ac yn rhoi i mi rhai tabledi i roi ar gyfer yr ychydig ddyddiau nesaf. Erbyn y bore canlynol, ei fod yn llawer gwell. Aethom i weld ein milfeddyg hun ar gyfer yr archwiliad ci bach newydd. Maent yn syth yn cymryd ymaith y pils a roddwyd inni a dywedodd Ni ddylid byth ci bach yn cael ei roi yma. Dydw i ddim yn cofio beth oedd y pils, ond mae'r ergyd yn dexamethasone ac rwyf bellach yn credu dyna'r hyn dynnu ef allan o'r hyn oedd yn digwydd.

Roedd yn pup wahanol iawn nag unrhyw rydym wedi cael ger ei fron ef. Yr oedd llawer mellower nag unrhyw pup wyf erioed wedi hysbys. Wrth edrych yn ôl, mae'n amlwg ei fod yn dangos arwyddion ei Addison o'r diwrnod cyntaf. Roedd cwyr a Pylodd am bron i ddwy flynedd. Yn ystod y cyfnod, rydym yn colli ei "frawd mawr,"Eu maethu dau gi bach am ychydig o wythnosau pob, ac yna dod ci bach arall i mewn i'n cartref. Ar Rhagfyr 6, 2010, Argus roi'r gorau i fwyta. Bob dydd ymlaen i symptom arall (gwendid pen cefn, crynu, oer iâ, ac ati). Dywedodd ein milfeddyg ei fod bacteria yn ei bol – bydd yn cael drosto - fwydo iddo reis wedi'i ferwi (unrhyw brofion yn cael eu cynnal). Mae dyddiau cwpl yn ddiweddarach, aethon ni i milfeddyg gwahanol a ddywedodd ei organau yn cael eu cau i lawr ac ei fod yn marw – gadewch iddo fynd!!!! Wrth i mi ei Argus, draped dros fy mreichiau i'r trydydd milfeddyg, Yr wyf yn meddwl y byddwn i byth yn dod ag ef adref. Rhoddodd y milfeddyg hylifau ef a rhedeg prawf gwaed, profion carthion, pelydrau-x, y gwaith cyfan, a'u cadw ef yno. Y noson honno yr oedd yn galw, a dywedodd, “Yr wyf yn amau ​​rhywbeth yr wyf am ei brofi am yn y bore.” Erbyn y noson honno eglurodd yr holl beth i mi. Arhosodd ar hylifau a chael ei ergyd gyntaf. Hyd at y pwynt hwn, tra bod fy ngŵr a minnau yn cymryd eu tro yn eistedd gydag ef, rhoddodd ychydig o ymateb i ni. Nid oedd y milfeddyg yn awyddus i adael iddo fynd adref oherwydd ei fod na fyddai dal i fwyta. Y diwrnod canlynol, Cerddais i mewn a dweud wrthi fy mod am i fynd ag ef adref. Mae hi yn olaf y cytunwyd arno os addewais i ddod ag ef i mewn os nad oeddwn i wedi gotten ef i fwyta yn y nesaf 12 Oriau. Pan ddaeth hi ef allan, efe a neidiodd ar hyd a lled ni a dywedodd y milfeddyg, “Yep, mae angen iddo fynd adref!” Felly efe yn araf daeth o gwmpas i fwyta ac rydym yn symud dathliadau'r Nadolig i dy fy chwaer ac yn dawel a gofalus gyda phopeth a wnaethom. Nawr milfeddyg hon dweud wrthyf am ddod ag ef ym mhob 28 diwrnod ar gyfer ei ergyd, rhoi ei Prednisone iddo bob dydd a bydd yn byw bywyd normal.

Argus yn 60 pwys, a rhoddwyd 2ml o Percorten pob 28 diwrnod ar gyfer naw mis gan y dechnoleg milfeddyg. Cafodd 5mg o Prednisone am ychydig o fisoedd. Y peth cyntaf i mi dod o hyd oedd gwybodaeth am Prednisone. Roeddem yn ei roi yn y nos ac yr wyf yn dod o hyd dylai fod yn ei gael yn y bore, felly rydym wedi newid y. Yna mi ddarllen erthygl am y dosio a chawsom bod i lawr i 2.5mg. Erbyn yr wythfed mis welais nad yw bywyd yn Argus 'yn arferol. Nid oedd ganddo unrhyw spunk. Roedd yn ymddangos yn swrth. Roedd ganddo fwy o fodolaeth na bywyd! Dyna pan fyddaf yn olaf dod o hyd i grŵp Rhyngrwyd. Profion gwaed ac electrolytau - BETH? Nid yw hyn yn cael ei wneud. Roedd yn amser i saethu arall ac fe es i mewn i siarad â'r milfeddyg (nad oeddwn wedi gweld mewn sawl mis). Roedd hi wedi symud i fyny i'r gogledd i agor ei arfer eich hun. Gofynnais i siarad ag un o'r milfeddygon eraill. Mae'r milfeddyg sy'n berchen ar y cyfleuster dweud wrthyf profion hyn yn cael eu gwneud unwaith y flwyddyn a byddai'r dos o Percorten dim ond newid os yw ei bwysau newid ac allwn byth wneud yr ergyd fy hun. Ni fyddai'n gwrando ar un gair a ddywedais nac edrych ar y wybodaeth yr wyf yn ceisio i gyflwyno iddo. Mae ei hagwedd dweud wrthyf roedd rhaid i mi fynd yn gryf ac yn dechrau gwneud galwadau ffôn. Rwyf ffôn a gafodd eu cyfweld nifer o milfeddygon yn ystod y dyddiau nesaf. Maent i gyd yn gwybod popeth am Addison. Mae un milfeddyg a elwir yn olaf i mi a chyn y gallwn i ofyn iddi unrhyw beth, mae hi'n gofyn i mi pan fydd y electrolytau (“Lytes”) Profwyd ddiwethaf. Pan fydd hi'n dweud wrtha i fod angen i ni wneud hynny yn gyntaf i weld a oedd yn barod i'w ergyd arall ac os bydd angen ei ostwng, Roeddwn i'n gwybod dyma oedd y milfeddyg roedd angen i mi roi cynnig. Ar ôl cael y lytes canlyniadau y milfeddyg dweud wrthyf, "Mae gennym aros am amser hir, nid yw'n syndod nad yw wedi teimlo yn dda, ei fod yn iawn yn ystod meddyginiaethol. "Little wnaeth hi yn gwybod yn union pa mor hir o aros! Rydym yn profi ei lytes unwaith yr wythnos am dros dri mis. Roedd ychydig dros 100 dyddiau pan o'r diwedd got ei K hyd at ychydig uwchlaw canol amrediad. Dechreuodd ef yn 0.5ml ar y pryd ac ar gyfer y sawl mis nesaf, cafodd ei ostwng nes i ni gyrraedd 0.3ml. Ar ôl sawl mis, roedd angen i ni ddod ag ef yn ôl i fyny at 0.32ml. Mae hynny dos wedi bod yn gweithio gwych i lawer o fisoedd yn awr. Mae hyn milfeddyg yn wych gyda'r Percorten, ond nid oedd yn wir yn meddwl y dylai'r Prednisone ei ostwng. Gofynnais iddi a fyddai hi'n gadael i mi roi cynnig, gan wybod y byddwn yn gwylio ef yn agos, a chytunodd. Ef yn awr yn cael 1mg bob dydd.

Ac yn awr, dyma ni, gyda'r meddyginiaethau optimized, ar bron 6 mlwydd oed, mae gennym y ci bach y dylai fod wedi bod yn y lle cyntaf!

 

Mabwysiadwyd Lexie gan ein lloches leol ym mis Gorffennaf 2010. Mae hi amcangyfrifwyd i fod tua 4-5 mis oed ar y pryd. Mae fy ngŵr a minnau yn dod ei chartref ar “treial” tra bod ein 2 merched i ffwrdd yn y gwersyll haf, fel fy ngŵr wedi alergeddau ac roedd angen i weld sut y byddai'n ymateb. Wel, Roeddwn yn gwybod hyn o bryd oedd gennym Lexie yn ein gofal nad oedd yn mynd yn ôl i'r lloches – Byddai yn rhaid hubby i fyw gyda'i alergeddau!!

O fewn dyddiau o fod gyda ni, Roedd gan Lexie episod o chwydu a dolur rhydd, a thaith i banig at y milfeddyg lle bu'n brawf negyddol ar gyfer parvo a anfonwyd adref gyda chyfarwyddiadau i atal bwyd am ddiwrnod ac yna cychwyn deiet ddi-flas. Mae hi'n gwthio yn ôl dirwy, a thros y nesaf 2 Byddai mlynedd yn mynd ymlaen i gael pyliau achlysurol o chwydu a dolur rhydd, ond nid oedd yn ymddangos i fod yn unrhyw beth yn rhy ddifrifol. Roedd hi'n hapus a gweithgar, a oedd yn ymddangos i fod yn iach yn bennaf. Yn ystod y gwanwyn a'r haf 2012, rydym yn sylwi symptomau eraill, gan gynnwys llygaid goopy, heintiau ar y glust, a materion croen a ffwr. Dechreuodd llyfu ei bawennau ormodol, at y pwynt rawness. Mae'r materion stumog parhaus a oedd yn gwaethygu. Mae hi'n blino yn hawdd gyda ymarfer corff a byddai'n cysgu yn ystod y boreau, Nid yw hyd yn oed yn trafferthu i gael hyd at fwyta brecwast. Un Dydd Sadwrn yn gynnar ym mis Rhagfyr, 2012, rydym yn mynychu'r orymdaith Nadolig lleol ac yna gwneud ymweliad â'r parc ci. Lexie yn union gosod yno fel cŵn eraill yn dod o gwmpas ac yn anadlu yn ei – felly yn wahanol i Lexie. Yn ddiweddarach y noson honno, Yr wyf yn gwneud ymweliad ar ôl-oriau at y milfeddyg gyda hi, gan ei bod yn ysgwyd a harogli ddoniol (fel amonia). Mae'r milfeddyg Archwiliodd hi ac nad oedd yn gweld unrhyw beth amlwg o bryder, ac a ddywedodd wrth ddod yn ôl y diwrnod nesaf ar gyfer bloodwork os bydd yn ymddangos i fod yn mynd yn waeth. Wel, y noson honno yn ofnadwy, gyda Lexie ysgwyd ar fy nhraed wrth i ni geisio cysgu. Yn ôl i'r milfeddyg y diwrnod nesaf ar gyfer bloodwork. Diolch byth, fy milfeddyg amheuir Addison pan welodd y bloodwork. Erbyn y cyfnod hwn, Lexie yn sâl iawn ac yn ei derbyn i'r ysbyty ar gyfer hylifau a'r prawf ACTH, a ddaeth yn ôl bositif.

Casglu Lexie i fyny i ddod ei chartref yn anhygoel, amser emosiynol, gan ei bod yn rhedeg i ni gyda hapusrwydd o'r fath ac nid oedd llygad sych yn y clinig milfeddyg!! Erbyn y cyfnod hwn, Roeddwn i wedi dod o hyd i help drwy'r gymuned Addison ar-lein ac wedi cael milfeddyg gwych a oedd yn barod i roi cynnig ar rywbeth newydd – Isel Dos Percorten. Heddiw, Lexie yn 70 pwys ac yn cymryd 0.4 ml o Percorten, ynghyd â'i dos dyddiol o Prednisone.

Credaf fod Lexie ddaeth i fy mywyd am reswm. Byddai Aros ar y lloches wedi golygu marwolaeth penodol ar ei chyfer, Yr wyf yn argyhoeddedig, ac mae ein teulu yn gallu rhoi iddi gyda'r gofal arbennig ei angen arni. Oherwydd ei, Mae gen i newydd “ffrindiau” ar draws y byd. Gallaf ddweud yn onest bod Lexie erioed wedi bod yn well – Diagnosis Addison oedd o bell ffordd dedfryd marwolaeth, ond yn lle hynny roedd prydles newydd ar fywyd!!

 

Aethpwyd Dharma o'r lloches sir pan oedd yn 8 wythnos oed. Roedd hi'n un o 7 cŵn bach, byw mewn cartref maeth. Rwy'n ei enwi am ei natur pensive; ei llygaid yn adlewyrchu ddyfroedd dwfn. Rwy'n aml yn jôc ganddi bersonoliaeth yn unig y gallai mam caru; mae hi yn unig yw hynny ... UH, od. Mae hi y gwrthwyneb o bopeth ci ystrydebol. Pan oedd hi'n 5 mlwydd oed, Fe ddes adref o'r gwaith, ar ddydd Mercher, i ddod o hyd 7 yn chwydu, ac 4 diarrheas. Cymerais hi at y milfeddyg y bore wedyn. Dros y nesaf 3 wythnosau(ac ychydig gannoedd o ddoleri), fy milfeddyg o 10+ Rhedodd flynyddoedd profion gwaed a, yn y pen draw, anfon adref gyda diagnosis o ganser (yn seiliedig ar "25 mlynedd o fetio"), potel o dabledi Prednisone 20mg, a pat gydymdeimladol ar y pen. Es i am 2il farn. Bythefnos a rhai cannoedd o ddoleri (mwy) yn ddiweddarach, rydym yn glanio mewn ysbyty llawn o arbenigwyr. Ar ôl y gwaith, ar nos Dydd Mercher, Gwnaethant sonogram. Still dim atebion; fel y "arbenigol" fyddai er y diwrnod nesaf. Rhywun a grybwyllir profi am Addison (i un arall $250). Roedd y sonogram oedd $500+, ac yr wyf yn cyfaddef, Roeddwn yn ar ddiwedd fy ffraethineb yn, meddwl tybed sut y gallwn i gadw talu am brawf ddiddiwedd heb unrhyw atebion. Dywedais wrthyn nhw byddwn i'n cysgu arno, ac yn aros am ddehongliad pellach o'r sonogram, y diwrnod nesaf.

Y bore canlynol, yn 4:20 a.m., Roeddwn yn teimlo teimlad od ar fy gwddf. Roedd yn anadl Dharma yn, prin. Roedd ei phen ar fy ysgwydd, ac mae'n cymryd i mi ychydig i sylweddoli bod ei anadlu yn wan ac yn afreolaidd. Yn sydyn, Sylweddolais ei chorff ei ystumiedig ofnadwy, fel pretzel. Roedd ei llygaid yn gwbl wag. Yr wyf yn neidio allan o'r gwely, taflu ar ddillad, Enillodd hi i fyny gyda blanced, ac yn rhedeg i'r car. Yr wyf yn rasio ar draws y dref, i'r lle rydym wedi bod y noson cynt. Diolch byth, Roeddwn wedi digwydd i hysbysiad eu bod yn 24 gyfleuster awr. Yr wyf yn gwneud y 45 taith munud mewn 25. Wrth i mi rhedodd drwy'r drws gyda Dharma yn fy mreichiau, stopio ei chalon. Ac felly y gwnaeth ei anadlu. Wyf yn ei rhoi i'r cynorthwy-ydd a dywedodd, "Os gwelwch yn dda ei helpu".

Mae'r milfeddyg argyfwng ar ddyletswydd perfformio gwyrth, a daeth Dharma yn ôl yn fyw, heb unrhyw niwed parhaol. Ond rydym yn dal ddim yn gwybod beth oedd o'i le gyda hi. Mae'r prawf ACTH ei pherfformio, ond byddai'r canlyniadau yn cymryd 24 Oriau. Nad oeddent yn siŵr y byddai'n para mor hir. Gwnaethant llawdriniaeth archwiliadol, seiliedig ar yr hyn a welsant yn y sonogram. Maent yn amau ​​rhwystr. Mae pob daethant o hyd oedd chwarennau adrenal anarferol o fach. Nid wyf yn gwybod sut mae hi'n goroesi y feddygfa. Dwy gwyrthiau mewn un diwrnod.

Nesaf, rydym yn aros. Dywedwyd wrthyf fod, os nad oedd Addison, Yna, nid oedd bron ddim y gallent ei wneud, fel y byddem yn profi eisoes ar gyfer, ac lawdriniaeth chwilio am, pob un ond y rhai mwyaf aneglur.

Y diwrnod nesaf, pan gefais yr alwad yn dweud wrthyf ei fod yn, mewn gwirionedd, Clefyd Addison, I cried dagrau hapus na ellir ei reoli. Yn y hyn o bryd, y cyfan y straen a'r gofid ein ddioddefaint golchi drosof mewn llifogydd o ryddhad. Yr oedd yn olaf dros. Rydym yn olaf wedi cael ateb.

Rydw i wedi ers hynny ei adlewyrchu ar y dilyniant o ddigwyddiadau. Y swm wallgof o arian y mae'n ei gostio i gyrraedd y diagnosis (gadewch i ni dim ond dweud y cyfrif terfynol yn fwy nag yr oeddwn ei wario ar fy nghar) yn ddigon i achosi unrhyw un i adlewyrchu. Fy unig ofid yw dioddefaint ofnadwy sy'n dioddef Dharma. Mae fy unig her yn maddau y milfeddyg gwreiddiol ar gyfer anfon ni i lawr y llwybr hwnnw. Mae hyn yn brofiad a addysgir yn fam i ddau o blant tyfu am fath newydd o gariad. Un sy'n bodoli, er nad yw o reidrwydd yn WEDI i.

 

Gracie is a 10 year old 134 pound English Mastiff. Gracie was abused until she was 6 months old. At that time she then went to a loving family. Unfortunately, that life ended all too soon with the tragic accident. The husband and the child of her family were killed in an automobile accident. Gracie comforted the mother for the next 6 mis. The mother then had to move and could not take Gracie with her. This pained her so much. She looked into a rescue group.

The foster mom promised her that she would wait for the perfect family to adopt Gracie. Gracie stayed in foster for much longer than normal.

I had a mastiff who was diagnosed with Addison’s at 7 months old. She was the runt of her litter and was on death’s door when I rescued her. Once we found out she had Addison’s, she lived to 4 ½ mlwydd oed. Her kidneys, which were never formed correctly finally gave out on her. She was my first mastiff and I fell in love with the breed despite the issues she had. I decided that I needed to rescue another one.

I found Gracie on the website of the rescue group I had started helping with. I was just drawn to her and her story. I talked to her foster mom for hours about her. We both knew that she was going to come to her forever home with me. She was several hours away so the foster mom and I met halfway.

Right away Gracie came up to me and my daughter and she leaned on my leg and sat on my foot. The lean is everything for a mastiff. If they lean on you they like you. It was love at first sight for me and my kids.
Fast forward to 7 months later, Gracie crashed and could not get up my stairs. My son carried her up and into the car and we rushed her to my wonderful vet. I will never forget that day. Gracie was on IV’s and in a kennel with me sitting on the floor next to her. My vet walked in and sat on an empty kennel. He told me that he was going to do the test for Addison’s or that she could have some type of cancer.

The next day all four of my vets came into the room and told me that she indeed did have Addison’s. One of them said he stayed up half the night looking for mastiffs with AD and there just were not too many (at that time he could find none). They told me they were sorry that I now had my second Addisonian Mastiff.

I told them I was happy that it was indeed Addison’s. I already knew Addison’s was manageable and a dog could live a full and normal life with it. I even had some meds left over from my first girl. My first girl took .8 mg of Florinef 2 times a day. We started Gracie on that dose and kept playing with it over the next year. She finally ended up on 1.5 mg Florinef 2 times per day. She has been on that dose for 7 years now.

No one can tell me that this girl was not meant to come to live with me. Her foster mom had turned down other potential adopters because of the promise she made to Gracie’s owner former owner to find the perfect family.

When Gracie was 4 she somehow got out of my yard by going under my fence. I never thought a 134 pound dog would go under my fence but she did. She got hit by a car and Animal control had to get her by the pole neck chain because she was being aggressive. My neighbor saw animal control with her and told them that she lived with me. They knocked on my door on this Sunday. They had her good side facing me so I did not know she was hit. Then they turned her and she had a deep gash in her chest. My car was in the shop and I had no way to get her to the ER vet. Animal control drove me.

I went running in the door screaming that she had Addison’s.

The vet on call was the husband of one of my vets that cared for Gracie. Gracie was on death’s doors; she went gray and limp. They dosed her with high amounts of prednisone and put in a chest tube. She had air around her lungs. Since the ER vet could talk to my vets that night, the plan was to Gracie to my vet in the AM for surgery. The ER vet was just not comfortable working on a dog with Addison’s.

The next day my wonderful, amazing vets waited until their lunch hour to do her surgery so all four of them could be in there and monitor her. Her sternum was broken and they could not do anything about that. They were able to close the wound and keep her safe. She recovered from that.

I fixed all of my fencing however, from that day forward she is very scared of cars on the roads.

About a year after that, Gracie started to gain lots of weight. My wonderful vets (have I mentioned how much I love my vets) did a thyroid test and sure enough she had low thyroid. The weight came off as soon as she was put on meds and she was back to her happy healthy self.

In 2011, tragedy struck my household. My children’s father was killed in a car accident. Gracie is the kind of dog who reads people so well. She comforted me and my children the same way she did with her first owner.
Gracie continues to be by our side whenever we are feeling down. Once again, no one can tell me that this girl was not meant to be in our lives.

About a year ago Gracie developed acute onset glaucoma and went blind in her left eye. My vets were able to shrink her eye so she would no longer be in pain. She could lose her other eye at any time, but so far the drops I put in her good eye are working.

Gracie also has chronic subcutaneous cysts all over her body. She has two that keep popping and becoming infected. She now takes antibiotics every 30 days for 10 days and that is working well. Because of her age and her Addison’s, the vets and I have chosen not to remove the cysts.

Through all of this, Gracie has always been a fighter and a champion. Nothing gets her down. My vets continue to be amazed by her.

Gracie turned 10 on Feb. 5, 2015.

No one thought she would live this long. She is still a happy girl, gets around great and is the love of my life. She is truly my heart dog.

This is more than a story of a dog with Addison’s; this is a story of a dog that was put on this earth to comfort her families though the good and the very bad times.

Addison’s is just one part of her story but it also shows that a dog with AD can live life to its fullest and get through the tough times also.

 

Kindle is a grey Belgian Shepherd (Tervueren) born in 2007. She was always (hindsight is a wonderful thing) a fussy puppy with food but otherwise normal for the first few years of her life and excelled both in the breed show ring and in her first agility competitions.

In August 2011, she started to appear a little lethargic – seemed fine otherwise but just didn’t have her normal drive in training and was just a bit quiet. A week later, she threw up a whole chicken neck which she had been given for dinner 2 nights prior so off to the vet we went. By this stage her litter sister had just been diagnosed as Typical Addison’s so I made the vet aware but as her sodium and potassium readings were normal, the vet dismissed this possibility. He did pick up an issue with her heart so we had a full heart test done which did show some anomalies in the rhythm. We were referred to the National Veterinary training facility who listened to our story and the first they did was run an ACTH test and bingo we had our answer. Kindle had Atypical Addison’s.

For the next 18 mis, she was maintained on Prednisone alone and got her drive back, continued to compete in agility and was very well indeed. We had moved cities and really fell on our feet finding a relatively young vet who had been really involved with a few Addison’s cases during his first couple of years in practice.

In the December of 2012, we were out of town at a show and she just didn’t seem “right” on the Saturday morning. We whipped her to the vet who did bloods and told me she was in full renal failure and would probably not last the night. Fodd bynnag, one look at her sodium and potassium levels told me she was in an Addisonian crisis and I convinced the vet that this was what was going on. It is often hard to get out of town vets to listen to you as he did not know her history and also happened not to know anything about Addison’s either. He was great, however, and went along with the mad woman who insisted he write a script for Florinef which I grabbed from the local pharmacy. He looked up starting doses and she stayed at the clinic overnight. I will always be grateful that he listened and tried for me as the prospect of driving around a strange city on a Saturday afternoon trying to find someone who knew about Addison’s really did not appeal.

He rang first thing in the morning to say that she was bouncing around the cage, had ripped out her drip line and was generally being a pain in the butt. He could not get over the difference to the very sick dog who had arrived the previous afternoon. They ended up keeping her in for 48 Oriau, at the end of which I think they were well pleased to get rid of her 🙂 . She was “helping” in the kennels and getting cuddles from everyone.

Like most, I have learned a lot about the disease in the years since her diagnosis. She is now a happy, healthy, energetic, nearly 8 year old who screams around like a puppy with absolutely no side effects at all. She is the biggest gannet around food and will eat anything – we now have to be careful she doesn’t get overweight – what a difference!

She retired from agility at 7 years only because she had broken her leg as a 2 year old (she really has been my problem child) and I wanted her to stop before it caused a problem for her later on.

Her medications are just part of our everyday life and you would never know she has the disease. Her Florinef dose is pretty high but it is what it is and she is fine on it. Those out there promoting information and assistance to people with Addison’s dogs are amazing. Thank you all!

 

Skye is a beautiful Tervueren who shares her life with Denise Strom in Sweden. To save you some “googling”, a Tervueren (alternate spelling Tervuren) is a Belgian Shepherd, named after a village in Belgium. Skye now weighs 24kg (53 lb) and is 6 mlwydd oed. She was diagnosed with Typical Addison’s just one year ago early in 2016 at the age of 5. She was treated with Florinef initially and managed very well although her sodium levels were always on the low side.

Then throughout October & November 2016 she suffered numerous bouts of bloody diarrhea. Increased doses of Florinef, up to 0.8mg daily, and extra prednisone failed to prevent recurrences. Denise joined CARE in November and presented Skye’s symptoms while asking for advice. She credits Merrie Gahr Spiekerman who asked if Skye had been checked for pancreatitis. Denise was pondering this possibility when Skye got diarrhea again and this time she could not stand up. Skye was rushed to the Emergency Clinic where they performed a “quick test” which was positive & pancreatitis was later confirmed by the specific cPLI test. Luckily, it was a mild attack. Skye received pain relief, an increase in prednisone, and most importantly, her food was changed to a low fat diet.

Denise waited two months before reporting on Skye’s progress to make sure that all went well. Since the change in diet almost 2 months prior, Skye has been healthy and stable on Florinef 0.6mg and 5mg hydrocortisone, and her electrolytes are great. Denise’s vet is reluctant to reduce the hydrocortisone at this time since Skye has been doing so well.

Skye had never had bloody diarrhea before she got Addison’s so this was one symptom that stood out. Denise wanted to tell Skye’s story because she suspects that Skye is not the only dog with increased susceptibility to bloody diarrhea and/or pancreatitis following an Addison’s diagnosis. Wrth gwrs, this may not be applicable to others, and in fact it has not presented as a highly probably issue among the many canine members in CARE, but it is worth bearing in mind.

Skye – Denise S.
Cliciwch ar y llun i'w wneud yn fwy

Denise sends her sincere thanks to the members of CARE, in particular to Merrie. She notes that the Florinef information in CARE’s files does make reference to avoiding fatty foods, something she was not aware of before.

Daisy is a Jack Russell Schnauzer mix who shares her life with Amanda Hutcheson & her husband Justin. She currently weighs 14.8 lb and is treated with 0.2ml of Percorten every 28 diwrnod. Daisy is roughly 8-10 yrs old, she certainly didn’t come with a birth certificate!

Daisy was picked up from an older couple in Texas who was coming to visit family in Beaufort SC where Amanda lives. They listed her in many online “dogs available” groups with no success. Amanda heard of her and immediately took her in, with her hair completely matted and basically looking & smelling very gross. Daisy was shaved down, bathed, and got a clean bill of health from the vet. She had found her forever family!

Two years later, in March 2014, Daisy got run over by a golf cart driven by Amanda. About a month later, Daisy’s mood started to change, her appetite decreased, and she was dehydrated. A visit to the vet for a steroid shot and some IV fluids seemed to perk her up & she was back to her normal self.

Another month went by and the same things happened again, so back she went to the vet. This time they did bloodwork along with the usual steroid shot & IV fluids. The vet’s conclusion was that everything was perfect.

Another month, and now it’s June. Daisy crashed – hind leg weakness, dehydration, no appetite, not drinking, basically doing nothing. The vet who was contacted told Amanda to bring her in the next morning. Amanda slept in the bathtub with Daisy that night & got her to the vet early the next day. Daisy was barely alive. The team sprang into action to save her and she stayed at the clinic for over a week, fighting to stay alive. The vet suspected it was either Kidney Failure, Canser, or Addison’s. Thousands of dollars and about a week later, Addison’s was confirmed with the ACTH stim test on June 23, 2014.

Daisy came home weighing only 4.3 lb. and she was initially treated with Florinef. Amanda joined CARE early in July 2014. After her diagnosis, Daisy had 3 more Addisonian crises throughout the remainder of 2014. Ar Rhagfyr 3, she was switched to Percorten & daily Prednisone and she has remained stable ever since.

Daisy continues to impress everyone she encounters & loves them all. Florinef is a great option for dogs with Addison’s if their bodies can absorb it & they are on the correct dose. Daisy’s body just couldn’t metabolize it properly.

It’s been an amazing journey over the last two years with everyone that we’ve met in CARE. We are so very thankful that we still have Daisy with us and cannot thank this group enough for the knowledge & understanding everyone has. You all are a blessing and we are glad you all are a part of our lives.

One added note from CARE is that because of her experience with Daisy, Amanda decided to become a vet technician & has only one year left in her studies. Congratulations Amanda, and thank you Daisy.

 

We noticed that Lucydog seemed to have a bladder infection. I took her to the doctor on my Friday off. It was confirmed that she had a UTI and also an ear infection. They drew blood, but waited to send it at my request since that would be another $200. They were concerned that she hadn’t been eating, but figured it may have been because she just didn’t feel good.

She got antibiotics and seemed a bit better, but still wasn’t eating. She was having tremors/shaking, but she tends to do that a lot when sick or stressed. I started to get concerned when she wouldn’t even eat a marrow bone, though. Then we were both at work Wednesday. When I got home, I went in to let her out of her kennel to go potty…and she couldn’t stand up. Couldn’t even get her paws to cooperate to get them flat on the ground. I freaked and immediately went and got the phone, called Will and said “Lucy can’t walk.” I then called the vet, which thankfully had not closed yet (they would in 15 minutes) and they told me to bring her ASAP.
Will got home an hour and a half later or so, and they had been able to stabilize her. They thought it might be Addison’s disease, which was thankfully treatable. It presents in young dogs, is more common in females, and had lots of symptoms in common. Will still thought it may have just been severe dehydration. After 2 scary nights with her in doggie hospital because she still was not strong enough to walk, the blood test results confirmed Addison’s Disease. The UTI and ear infection pushed her body into crisis and she was probably close to death (what if I had been stuck at work for 45 minutes longer that day? omg). Diolch byth, it is treatable with a monthly injection, one she will need for the rest of her life. But that life will be long and happy.

Felly, we still have a Lucy-lifetime to regulate her disease. But I am happy to report that as I type this, Lucy is loudly chomping a rawhide bone that I bought her in her cage right behind me. And other than a shaved paw where she had an IV and super-frequent peeing because of her recovery meds, she’s pretty much back to the same ol’ Lucydog. And we love it. I am very thankful that our vet gave her a quick and correct diagnosis and got her back on her feet (literally) quickly.