Anyị Akụkọ

ndewo ebe ahụ, A-pepụ. Maka Izu Mmata nke Addison, Echere m na anyị ga-ekekọrịta ntakịrị banyere njem Addison anyị.

Ọ malitere n'otu oge na June 2018. Mụọ agaghị eri, na onye na-emegbu mmadụ ka ọ ghara iri ihe, ihe doro anya. Na mbụ, e chere na o nwere azụ ọjọọ. Ụbọchị ise ka ọ na-eribeghị ihe ọ bụla, ya mere ọ bụ oge nyocha ọbara. A ga-enyocha ule ọbara 20 nkeji, yabụ mgbe anyị chere, anyị were Mụọ maka ije n'okporo ámá. Mgbe anyị laghachiri na vet's, ọ mara mma wepụrụ ụzọ n'aka m wee sị na akụrụ Ghost anaghị arụ ọrụ. Ụwa m kwụsịrị ebe ahụ na mgbe ahụ. 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, ma mechaa gbanwee gaa na injection kwa ọnwa ma eleghi anya azụ. Mgbe m ka nọ na-eche maka ahụike nke Ghost, Enwere m ahụ iru ala karịa ka enwere ike iji ọgwụ kwesịrị ekwesị chịkwaa Addison. Agụrụ m ihe niile m nwere ike ime ka m ghọta otú m ga-esi eme ihe kacha mma n'ime nwa m nwoke na-arịa ọrịa a. Ibe akwụkwọ CARE bụ ebe maka ozi a niile. Mgbe ahụ, ọ bụrụ na m nwere ajụjụ ma ọ bụ ajụjụ ọ bụla, M ga-ezipụ ya na otu, na gịnị ka m nwere ike ikwu gbasara ezinụlọ Addison m, nke ọma okwu enweghị ike ịkọwa etu ha niile siri bụrụ ọmarịcha. Njem a gaara esiri m ike nke ukwuu na m 100% jide n'aka na anyị agaghị anọ ebe anyị nọ taa ma ọ bụrụ na ọ bụghị maka ha na usoro usoro dose dị ala.. Ya mere, obere dose protocol, nke ọma na nke ahụ bụ ahụmịhe mmụta n'onwe ya mana ozugbo ị nwetara isi gị gburugburu ya, ọ bụ n'enweghị mgbagha ka ọ ga-esi gaa n'uche m. Mụọ malitere, dika ibu ya siri di 1.3 ml nke Zycortal ma dị ugbu a 0.45 ml. My vet nwere obi ụtọ na ịbịakwute nke a, ma ọ na-ekwu, "Amaara m na onye nrụpụta na-ekwu na ọ kwesịrị ịdị na dose dị elu, ma enwere m ike ịhụ n'omume ya na n'ule ọbara ya na nsonaazụ ya adịghị agha ụgha." Ọ bụrụ na enwere m ndụmọdụ ọ bụla maka onye ọ bụla na-emekọ ihe na Addison, M ga-asị na-aga otu a ajụjụ ọ bụla ị nwere, mụta ka esi agụ nsonaazụ nyocha ọbara, ma dozie ọgwụ ahụ nke ọma (ọ bụrụ na m nwere ike ime ya onye ọ bụla nwere ike) na ị bụ A-nkịta ga-alaghachi na nkịtị n'oge na-adịghị anya.

Na-ekwu maka ịlaghachi na nkịtị, tupu a chọpụta Ghost, ọ ka malitere ịnya ụgbọ ala n'azụ Canam m 3 ọgba tum tum. O doro anya, nke a kwụsịrị ruo nwa oge n'oge akụkụ mbụ nke nchọpụta ya, ma ugbu a ọ dịghị ihe na-egbochi ya. Ọ bụrụ na ọ bụghị maka mkpado ahụike ya ma ọ bụrụ na ị gwaghị onye ọ bụla, ha agaghị ama na o nwere ọrịa. Ya na ịnya ụgbọ ala anyị na-emekarị, anyị anọwo na-agba ịnyịnya Pink Ribbon, ndị na-agba ígwè megide ndị na-emegbu mmadụ na-agba ịnyịnya, na nke kachasị ọhụrụ bụ ịnya ego maka ọrụ ọkụ obodo. Dị ka mgbe niile, Ghost bụ nnukwu ihe egwu na onye ọ bụla, na-ewere ihe niile n'ụzọ ya, ma na-atụgharị uche niile ọ na-enweta. N'ikpeazụ afọ gara aga, Enwekwara anyị ikike na Ọrụ Nkịta Therapy dị ka otu nkịta nleta obodo. N'oge a, 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
Pịa image iji mụbaa

 

! Scroll down and you will also find her story auf Deutsch and en Español!

Na February 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. Ya mere, 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. Mgbe 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, mana o siri ike ka o siri dị. Piña nwere ogbugba Dexamethasone izu abụọ gara aga n'ihi na ụfọdụ aṅụ tụrụ ya n'anya, ya mere ule doro anya maka Addison's anyị enweghị ike ime ruo mgbe izu anọ gachara. Mana ọ na-arịa ọrịa nke ukwuu, anyị kpebiri na anyị ga-anwa iji mmiri IV mee ka ọ kwụsie ike ruo ogologo oge enwere ike ime ule ahụ..

Mgbe ụbọchị ụfọdụ gasịrị na mmiri mmiri, ọnọdụ ya bịara ka njọ na ndị dibịa bekee niile nọ n'ụlọọgwụ ahụ, ya na vet m, kpebiri ịmalite ọgwụgwọ maka Addison's ka Piña na-esiwanye ike kwa ụbọchị. Mgbe anyị malitere na Prednisone na Fludrocortisone (nke Aston), ọ bụ onwe ya ụbọchị ole na ole ka e mesịrị, na mmetụta-akụkụ niile nke Prednisone, ma arụ ọrụ, ike obi ọnụego, na obi ụtọ onwe ya.
N'ime izu ole na ole, 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. Ya mere, 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. Ugbu a, 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 (nke Aston) 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.

na Spanish

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 (nke Aston) 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
Pịa image iji mụbaa

 

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 pound. We started noticing changes in him when he was about 3.5 afọ (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^nke ụbọchị ọmụmụ. 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. Ọ were 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 ụbọchị. 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
Pịa image iji mụbaa

 

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. N'ikpeazụ, 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. N'ikpeazụ, 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 ọnwa.

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
Pịa image iji mụbaa

 

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, nke 2.5 ml nke 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? Ọfọn, 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.

Ya mere, 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 ụbọchị. 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
Pịa image iji mụbaa

 

Simba a mụrụ ya na-ahụ 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, enye ọduọ ụfọdụ steepụ. Ọ bịara na pụọ, kọwara dị ka oké lethargic na enweghị ike ije ije. Bloodwork dugara a nchoputa nke "presumptive Addison si" (ọ dịghị ACTH ule). Ọ e nyere a ogbugba nke Dexamethasone na ụfọdụ IV fluids, mgbe ahụ zitere obibi na-Florinef, "N'ihi na 2 ọnwa, mgbe ahụ kwụsị na na-Prednisone na aka ma ọ bụrụ na ọ na-amalite ugboelu n'ụlọ. "Ya ọgwụ faịlụ-agụ dị ka a egwu akụkọ. Na November nke 2010, o nwere a "o kwere omume" Addisonian nsogbu, ya potassium na 5.6 (nso ruo 5.8). Simba O doro anya na a ngụkọta nke 3 ọdụdọ mgbe ya mbụ ezinụlọ, na mgbe ahụ tara ahụhụ a 4th na oge nke chịlie aka elu ka Standard poodle Nnapụta.

Mgbe afọ 6, Simba rutere nnapụta & Ezi-elekọta. The nnapụta na ndị òtù Addison si obodo aka na-Simba na ụzọ nke ziri ezi, ịmafe ya Florinef ka Percorten na ọ malitere na-esote frasi nke ndụ ya, nke bụ ihe obi ụtọ!

Keith na m nọ na-achọ a nwanne anyị River, onye nnọọ anaghị amasị ịbụ onye "nanị nkịta". Anọwo m na-esonụ a otutu nke nkịta dị na nnapụta, na mgbe ahụ Simba pụtara. Ọ bụ dị ka a mmepụta oyiri nke Osimiri anya, nanị ọbụna ihe mara mma. M apụghị nnọọ m anya na nke a mara nwa. Anyị na-ama nnọọ furu efu 2 nkịta di na nwunye nke afọ, otu onye si cancer, ndị ọzọ ruru nsogbu si inoperable multiple imeju shunts. My kọntaktị na nnapụta gbalịrị ịgwa m ka m pụọ site Simba, na-asị na anyị kwesịrị otu na-enweghị nsogbu, ma n'ụzọ ụfọdụ anyị chere na anyị bụ ndị ezi mmadụ maka Simba o ziri ezi ka anyị. Simba rutere ezinụlọ anyị na March 23, 2013, adịghị anya mgbe ya 6 ụbọchị ọmụmụ, na agwaogwa nke gbasara, ọgwụ, na ntụziaka. My isi spinning. M maara ihe ọ bụla banyere Addison si, ma e wezụga na ọ bụ nnọọ egwu okwu. Ya Ezi-nne, Katey, mesiri m obi ike na anyị ga-enwe ya nkwado zuru ezu na nke Addison si obodo. M sonyeere a nkwado otu pụtara ngwa ngwa ma na-echere awhile tupu ikenye. Ịbụ onye na-eme ihere onye, o siri ike na-ekwu okwu ka a ụyọkọ ndị bịara abịa, ọbụna ma ọ bụrụ na ha bụ ndị nanị online. Ọfọn, ọ bụ ihe kasị mma m mere. N'ihi na Simba, ọ bụ ihe ọma n'ihi na m nwetara enyemaka ozugbo emeso ya, na m na ọ bụ ezi - m mere ọtụtụ ndị ọhụrụ na ndị bara uru enyi, ndị m nwere otu ihe na-emekarị - anyị niile anyị n'anya Addison si nkịta. Simba nọwo "mara" nile kọntinent na ọbụna UK, O wee rute ya ìgwè nke admirers, na Keith na m gbebatara ìgwè na ya.

Ná ngwụsị nke June 2013, dị nnọọ 3 ọnwa mgbe anyị nakweere ya, Simba jumped si nke Keith ụgbọala na ụgbọala ma nyawaa ya ụkwụ. Gịnị ọzọ n'ihi na nke a nwa nwa! Ọ bụ nnọọ ihe ọjọọ ezumike na ọ bịara na a ígwè efere na ogwe aka ya gbakwunyere waya ọbọp gburugburu ya nkwojiaka. A gwara anyị na ọ bụ a 90% ohere na ọ bụ cancer, otú e kwadebere maka na o kwere omume bepụ ụkwụ sochiri chemo ọgwụgwọ. Simba bụ kechioma na dabara n'ime 10% doro anya! Ọ bụ otú ahụ a trooper ya splint na yi ya "boneeti,"Wee dị nnọọ mgbe a gwọrọ ya, na-aga azụ 6 ọnwa gasịrị na efere wepụrụ.

Ya mere, anyị na-abịa ruo 2 afọ ebe anyị nakweere Simba - enye kemgbe ndị dị otú ahụ a ọṅụ. Ọ bụ "ya onwe ya onye,"Ọ bụghị dị ka ndị ọzọ nkịta. Ọ bụ a loner, na-"egosipụta anabataghi." Ya na ndepụta nke meds nke nta ka okụrede - otu kwesịrị ekwesị medicated, gara aga anụ okwu okụrede, N'INYE nkọwa zuru ezu kwụsịrị. Simba na-ele ndị ọzọ nkịta igwuri egwu, kama mgbe n'ezie mụtara otú isonye mgbe ọ bụ nwata. O nyere a otutu ya "fun ntorobịa" site ịbụ onye Autism Service Dog, na site nnọọ na-arịa ọrịa. Ma oge ya eruwo - o nwere 8th ụbọchị ọmụmụ banyere ime - na o nwere a mama m & Papa m ndị hụrụ ya n'anya nke ukwuu, ọ ga-eme ihe ọ bụla n'ihi na ya, a nwanne River onye na-anaghị enwe ya ebe a, na a nwanna nwanyị ọhụrụ Pinot na-adịghị nnọọ na-echefu na ọ growled ya ụbọchị mbụ na ọ bụ ebe a, ma ọ na-loosening elu. Simba pụtara "Prince" na nke ahụ bụ ihe ọ bụ!

Pinot bụ a cocker spaniel / Obere poodle mix, mụrụ na May 4, 2009. Ọ dịrị ndụ 5 afọ a ezinụlọ nke m amaghị ihe ọ bụla. Ma dị nnọọ tupu ya 5^nke ụbọchị ọmụmụ, ọ na-ada ka Mberede Clinic na mmamịrị mkpọchi na otu ha nwetara ya ike zuru ezu, o nwere a urinary cystoscopy. Ọ nọ na zitere obibi ma laghachi a ụbọchị ma ọ bụ abụọ na nsogbu. The pụọ chọrọ iji nwalee maka Addison, ma mgbe ahụ ya na ezinụlọ ya ha ruru ha na-agbasa ebe ma rịọ ka ọ ga-etinye ụra. The pụọ mere ndokwa ya nyefere ya na a chọpụtara na o na-ACTH na mmalite nke May. Ọ na-ahụ dịrị ndụ na-esote 4 ọnwa na ụlọ ọgwụ. Anyị bụ ndị na ọgwụ na River otu ụbọchị ma ha gwara anyị banyere Pinot na ada ya na-izute anyị. Ọ bounded na, bounced n'elu bench, na dị nnọọ ike ijide ya ume. Ọ bụ a obi ụtọ nke efu na cuteness. N'ịga tinyere, Atụ ogho (Standard Poodles Na Mkpa) were akara nke ya na Keith na m nwee ya. Pinot bụ kpọmkwem! Ya ụbọchị mbụ, ọ n'ụzọ nkịtị latched n'elu ma Keith & River, na taa, ha bụ ma ya isi squeezes. Mgbe ọgwụ, ha anọwo na-enye ya 1.0 mg nke Prednisone kwa ụbọchị na ọ ntukwasi banyere 14 pound. Ya mere, Pinot nwere oké incontinence nsogbu. Anyị na-arụ ọrụ ẹsụhọde ya Pred ma ọbụna mgbe ọ bụ ala ka 0.2mg, ọ ka na-leaking. Anyị gbalịrị enye ya Propalin (Ngwa ndakwa nri) na naanị ihe ịga nke ọma. Ma ozugbo ọ malitere na-ewere Stilbestrol (Des) kwa ụbọchị, ọ nọwo na-kpamkpam akọrọ.

Ị nwere ike iche na atụ ogho e bụghị kpọmkwem gawa ụkwụ ha na ndị chọrọ ịmụta nke a nnọọ nwa e kere eke. Ụfọdụ nwere mmasị iji na-amụta banyere Addison si & tụlee ya, ma leaking bụ a ndibiat emebi. All oge, M na-ede banyere otú magburu onwe ọ bụ, M na-ada ọzọ na ndị ọzọ na ịhụnanya na ya onwe m. Anyị ga-akpụ akpụ n'oge na-adịghị nke ga-achọ ka a 7 ụbọchị n'okporo ụzọ njem na ebe ọ bụ na anyị na-ama 2 ọkọlọtọ poodles, anyị adịghị eche na anyị nwere ike ịmụta a 3^Rebecca. Anyị mechara kpebiri "nku ya" - Pinot bụ nnọọ pụrụ iche ka onye ọ bụla ọzọ na-enweta ya. Ọ bụ na anyị, na anyị bụ na ya. Ma e wezụga, olee otú anyị ọbụna na-eche na-ewere ya n'ebe Osimiri! Ya mere, na Dec. 21, 2014, Pinot ghọrọ anyị ruo mgbe ebighị ebi. Ọ bụ otú ahụ a ụtọ. Ọ na-aka unu a iheukwu mgbe ị na-abịa, ọ bụ ezie na o nwere ike ọ-abụ nke gị, ma, ọ bụ okwu ndị dị otú ahụ a nwa ike wigul na ị dị nnọọ ga-ewere ya na agbanyeghị. Ọ bụ kpam kpam riri ahụ squeaky ụmụaka - na ibu na squeakier mma - nke a bụ ihe riri mmadụ ahụ ọ na-ezisara na Osimiri na ha na-eme ihe ole na ole squabbles n'elu "kasị mma" otu. Pinot ka weghaara obi anyị ga na-ha ruo mgbe ebighị ebi.

 

Klara a mụrụ ya na nke 12 nke August 2009. Ọ bụ mgbe niile a obi ụtọ na na; nwa nkita, a tomboy na a oké ọchịchọ ịmata ihe nile ọhụrụ. Mgbanwe bịara mgbe mbụ ya okpomọkụ. Ọ ghọrọ a picky eater, nke m chere na e metụtara na mgbanwe mmiri ọgwụ. Ọ ghọrọ jụụ na meghachi omume aggressively mgbe nkịta bịara kwa nso, ọbụna ya kasị mma nkịta buddies. Na nwa ajị anụ na ya n'ihu ụkwụ tụgharịa isi awọ.

Mgbe ọzọ ndị ogologo oge mgbe ihe nile yiri ka dịkwa mma. Esisịt ini ke ya 3rd ụbọchị ọmụmụ, ihe niile na-aka njọ. O nwere nnọọ ihe ọjọọ ntị ọrịa na n'ikuku ana enweta n'otutu na-eguzogide bacteria. Iji nweta mbufụt achịkwa, ntị n'ọwara mmiri e kpochara n'okpuru n'ozuzu Nkụnwụ. Mbuzo malitere. Ọ malitere na-ajụ ya ihe oriri. Mgbe ụfọdụ, o rie ihe ọ bụla maka 3 ụbọchị. Mgbe ụfọdụ, o nwere afọ ọsịsa ma ọ bụ vomited. Akw, anyị malitere egwuregwu na-adịghị anya anyị ga-esi anyị onwe anyị n'ọnụ ụzọ na ụlọ ọgwụ. The ntị ọrịa ka na-eme ka nsogbu na Klara nwetara ya abụọ ntị ihicha n'okpuru n'ozuzu Nkụnwụ.

Ka ọ dịgodị, ọ ugboro ugboro nwere afọ ọsịsa, vomiting, na ntachi. Anyị nọrọ Christmas na New Year Eve ke ọgwụ. Ule maka nje ndị na-adịghị mma. The bloodwork bụ magburu onwe. The ntị ọrịa nọ na-abịa azụ.

Winter 2012/2013, anyị nwere ọmarịcha weather. Nza nke snow na anyanwụ. My nkịta n'anya snow na Klara dọkpụụrụ onwe ya site na snow. O nwere dịghị fun. I nwere ike ịhụ na ọ bụghị-eme nke ọma. Ọtụtụ mgbe ọ na-ehi ụra. The vets chọpụtara na ọ dịghị-akpata.

Na February 2013, ọ bụ ọbụna njọ. Afọ ọsịsa na-, vomiting, o yiri ka ọ na-mgbu, jụrụ ya ihe oriri, ma na-aṅụ nza nke mmiri. The vets kwuru, "Anyị kwesịrị ichere. Ọ pụrụ ịbụ n'ihi na ya okpomọkụ. "N'echi ya, mgbe m bịara n'ụlọ, M nwere iju mmetụta – ihe wee nnọọ mma ebe a. Akwọọrọ m ụgbọala ọzọ n'ụlọ ọgwụ na pụọ ​​chọrọ iziga m ka m pụọ, “Anyị can't ịhụ ihe ọ bụla. M na-eche na ọ bụ ya okpomọkụ!”

Nke a bụ nke ukwuu. M bụ iwe ma rịọ mekwuru. “Ihe bụ ihe ọjọọ na Klara. M ga-aga!! Ndi ọrụ gị!” Ha mere a zuru ezu ọbara ule na mgbe ahụ, na vets ndị nnọọ nchegbu. Ya potassium bụ 7.6 na a nso nke 3.5-5.8. Ya sodium bụ 139 na a nso nke 144-160. The bloodwork gwara anyị ndụ ya nọ n'ihe ize ndụ. Ọ nọ na kpamkpam dehydrated. N'ikpeazụ, ha lere anya maka ndị na-akpata. Nsi, gbasara akụrụ ultrasound, leptospirosis. Ọ na-e nyere ihe IV na infusion akpa. M nwere ike na-Klara n'ụlọ. Anyị gara ụbọchị ọ bụla ụlọọgwụ na ha mere n'ihu ule. Ha kwuru nke gbasara akụrụ odida ma chọpụtara na ọ dịghị-akpata. Klara ọbara ụkpụrụ e nwere nanị site infusions ma ọbụna ndị na-enyere ọtụtụ. The ọbara ụkpụrụ ndị njọ. N'ihi na ụbọchị, ọ na-ike nri, ma ọ furu efu ọzọ na arọ. Ọ nọ na ẹka ICU na anyị na a ga-atụfu ya. The vets kwuru na ha chọrọ iji nwalee otu ihe ikpeazụ. Ha kwuru na ọ pụrụ ịbụ Addison's Ọrịa na chọrọ ime na ACTH ule. Kpatara chọpụtara. Klara nwere Addison na ọgwụgwọ malitere. Ụbọchị na-esote, M nwere ike na-ụlọ ya.

Ọ natara ngwa ngwa na ihe nile o yiri ka ezi. Otú ọ dị, ọ bụghị dị ike dị ka ike nkịta. Ọ bụ ya mere m na-Switched si Florinef ka Percorten.

Site n'enyemaka nke ìgwè, anyị na-arụ ọrụ iji chọta Klara's kasị mma dose. Ugbu a, ọ weighs 27 n'arọ na-enweta 0.40ml nke Percorten ọ bụla 28 ụbọchị na 1mg nke Prednisone kwa ụbọchị. Maka m, ọ bụ dị ka a ọrụ ebube ịhụ otú o arụ ndụ ya na-enweghị ihe ọ bụla mgbochi. Ugbu a, fọrọ nke nta 2 afọ mgbe e mesịrị, Klara ele mma karịa mgbe ọ bụla. Ịmafe ka Percorten bụ mkpebi kacha mkpebi mgbe. Klaraismentallybalanced,-eji obi ụtọ, obi ike, na obi ike. Ma mgbe tinyere ụbọchị na-arụ ọrụ(ọ bụ m nnyemaaka ọzụzụ, M a nkịta ọzụzụ) ọ ka na ka ike ekpe na-egwu ọṅụ n'ụzọ zuru ezu na ya na nwanne m nwoke!

I am Annet and I live in The Netherlands. We have 4 nkịta, two English Cocker Spaniels, a Boomer and a Belgian Griffon. One of the cockers – his name is Flip and he is 4 afọ – 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.

M hụrụ n'anya dee, ma m nọdụ n'ebe a akasiakde na a oghere ihuenyo, -atụ egwu na enweghị m ike ime Pepsi akụkọ ikpe ziri ezi. M na-akụkọ a na unu niile na-enwe olileanya na ọ ga-enyere onye ọzọ. Anyị nakweere Pepsi mgbe ọ dị ihe 6 ọnwa ochie December nke 2003. Ọ bụ otú ahụ a pụrụ iche na-eju nkịta, ma na-adịghị na ha niile na ha onwe ha n'ụzọ pụrụ iche?

Pepsi nwere a ukwuu n'ime nkịtị nwa nkita-enyeghachi ya okpukpu anọ, ma na-ata ahụhụ site na ndị ọzọ ọrịa karịa ọtụtụ nkịta na-eme. Mgbe ọ tụgharịrị atọ, ọ mepụtara sores ya vulva. Mgbe ọtụtụ njem ka pụọ, na mgbe ahụ ịmafe vets, ma na-agbalị ụfọdụ ihe nhọrọ, anyị nọ na-atụle ịwa ahụ iji mepụtaghachi ya vulva. Otú ọ dị, ọ malitere na-aga downhill ngwa ngwa. Ọ nọ na ifelata, n'ikwe, ma nke kacha nke, M nnọọ maara ihe bụ ihe ọjọọ. Anyị gara pụọ ​​mgbe pụọ ebe ha niile asuan m na-ekwu na ọ bụ "dị nnọọ na-okenye na-edinara ala." Site na nke a oge m nwere ya na pụọ ​​ọrụ Kwa izu ruo ọnwa. Anyị ọbụna gbalịrị ịmafe vets a di na nwunye ugboro. Ya ume e ebelata ngwa ngwa. N'oge na-adịghị, ọ nwere ike na-adịghị ọbụna pụọ ​​nke yad na-enweghị ka osụhọde ma na-izu. Ọ nọ na-enwe nsogbu na-enwe a bowel ije. M wee ya ka pụọ ​​ọrụ ọzọ, ebe ha na-chọpụtara ya colitis. Anyị nwetara n'ụlọ, na o nwere ike ghara inwe nke ụgbọ ala.

M maara na nke a bụ na ọ, n'ihi ya m nwetara azụ ke ụgbọala na ụgbọala Chicago - na nnukwu obodo. N'ime 10 nkeji nke anyị na-abanye mberede ụlọ ọgwụ dị na Chicago, ọ na-mbido chọpụtara na Addison si Ọrịa, na gwara m na ọ eleghị anya na-agaghị na ọ mere ya ọzọ n'abalị na-enweghị ọgwụgwọ. Ọ nọrọ n'ebe 3 ma ọ bụ 4 ụbọchị mgbe ha nwetara ya oke mmiri elu, na ike ya azụ. Ọ na-ACTH ule mere iji gosi na ya Addison si Ọrịa. Dị ka nyeere dị ka m bụ iji bulie ya elu si n'ụlọ ọgwụ, M na-bibiri ịmụta na ya ọgwụgwọ ga na-eri fọrọ nke nta $400 a ọnwa. Enweghị m echiche otú m na-aga ime ya, ma anyị na-aga chepụta ụzọ.

Nke ahụ bụ mgbe m malitere nnyocha onwe m, na chọpụtara a K-9 Addison si ìgwè na m ji Pepsi ndụ ka. Ha nyeere m aka ịghọta ọrịa, otú e si akọwa ya ule, ma na-ya na nri dose nke ọgwụ. Mgbe nke ahụ mechara, mgbe anyị anya azụ.

Na mgbakwunye na 1.4 ml nke Percorten-V ọ bụla 28 ụbọchị na 1 mg nke Prednisone kwa ụbọchị, Pepsi were ọtụtụ Mmeju. Ọ bịara dị ndụ 7 ọzọ magburu onwe afọ na ziri ezi doses ya ọgwụ nke, n'agbanyeghị, nanị na-efu m na-erughị $80.00 kwa ọnwa. Pepsi dịrị ndụ 11 ½ afọ, nke mara mma ukwuu n'ihi na a 130 paụnd nkịta. Pepsi nwụrụ nke cancer ụbọchị tupu Ekele na 2014.

Inweta a nchoputa nke Addison si Ọrịa nwere ike ịbụ egwu na egwu, ma Pepsi bụ ihe àmà na i nwere ike ibi ndụ obi ụtọ ndụ nwere nzube na ndị ziri ezi na ọgwụ. N'ihi Pepsi, onye ọ bụla nke metụrụ ya mụtara ọtụtụ ihe banyere ndụ na ịhụnanya na ọbụbụenyi. Ọ ga-ukwuu Agbaghara.

 

Valentino batara ndụ m-ahụ 2007 mgbe ọ ghọrọ m Ezi na mgbe a nso oku na a elu egbu ndo. Ọ bụ ọkara otu awa si na-euthanized. Ọ bụ emaciated kpafuo efu kasị nke ntutu isi ya na ya n'akụkụ (akpụkpọ ahụ ya bụ a na-egbuke egbuke nke onwunwu pink!) na a warara nke blond ntutu dị a mohawk ala ya azụ, erikpu sonso 30lb – ọ bụ ugbu a a ike 55lb. Ọ were 3 ọnwa iji weghachi ya ike, ma na-enweta arọ. Na-erule oge, M na-adị a Ezi na odida, na Valentino bụ ihe niile m! Ọ na-ehi ọtụtụ n'ime ndị mbụ 3 ọnwa n'etiti nri ma na-aga potty tupu ya yiri ka ọ na natara. Ọ malitere inwe mgbaàmà nke lethargy, enweghị ike na enweghi ike ga-esi na / nke ụgbọ ala maka di na nwunye nke ọnwa na mgbe ọ dịghị mgbe ọ kwụsịrị ya agụụ kpamkpam, Ọ malitere buru na ya nri ya na-agbalị na-eri, M maara ihe bụ ihe ọjọọ, ma anyị pụọ n'oge (oge ikpeazụ!) asuan omume ya dị ka “eme”. Mgbe ahụ, ọ dara na Dec 2007 na njem anyị na Addison si Ọrịa malitere. Ya pụọ ​​ikpedịghe “dabara” Valentino na ọzọ n'izu na anyị gara a enyi pụọ jisiri ike dabara anyị. Ọ bụ ihe siri ike mara na ọ bụrụ ya AD pụrụ ịbụ na ịme waksị na-ebelata tupu dị ka ọ na otú ọrịa Mgbe mbụ m nwetara ya. Ya ida bụ na Dec 19, ọ nọrọ 2 ụbọchị na ọpụrụiche ụlọ ọgwụ, na site Dec 25, chere ọma na-agbalị abscond na Christmas ọbọgwụ na agwụ na kichin sink – luckily ọ na nabbed en flagrante na ọbọgwụ ọbọhọ na-eje ozi maka Christmas nri abalị dị ka zubere!

Valentino was started on Florinef/compounded fludrocortisone at .4mg (ala karịa na-atụ aro ya na ibu ibu) na 2.5mg Prednisone na 12/07 – ma ya electrolytes zuru okè (!) maka otu afọ. Mgbe otu afọ, ya electrolytes wee si akara, and he had weekly increases in his Florinef, ruo mgbe ọ bịarutere 2mg ma ya electrolytes ndị ka na-adịghị n'okpuru akara.

Anyị chọpụtara na a pụọ 1.5 aka elekere pụọ bụ onye dị njikere na-arụ ọrụ anyị na-amalite na Valentino na 1.8ml, nke e weere na “ala dose” na 2009, ọkọlọtọ dose bụ a bit n'elu 2ml (Echetara m na-eche echiche na m ga-ọbụna inwe 2 doses nke onye ọ bụla vial na a kwa ọnwa na-eri nke banyere $100 nanị maka Percorten-V!) N'ime afọ, anyị ji nwayọọ nwayọọ belata 10-20% na oge. Anyị malitere na 1.8ml na 7/09 na emeghị ọbụna na-1ml til 9/10, .75ml na 6/11, .5ml na 10/13, ugbu a .4ml na 9/14. Anyị niile nọ na a otutu ihe mgbanwe azụ ahụ na anyị na-enweghị Ama na-aga Lower doses………ma ọ bụghị site n'ahụmahụ nke ndị ọzọ so otu. Ọ bụ ihe niile n'ókèala ọhụrụ! Ọ bụrụ na ndị ala dose ọmụmụ ama dị na 2009, anyị nwere ike malitere na .95ml na enwetatụbeghị Valentino si kasị ala irè dose na ọtụtụ mee elu mee na-azọpụta a otutu ego na Percorten-V na kwa ọnwa electrolytes ule dị ka a ego. M nwere ike ikwu ezu banyere ihe dị iche ndị na ala doses mere ka na otú Valentino ele ofụri ọnwa ya electrolytes anọ mara mma nso ufọt ufọt nso n'etiti doses. Ọ nọrọ afọ na-eme “ọ dị mma” – mopey, lethargic maka 2 izu mgbe ọ bụla ogbugba, mmetụta a obere ihe perky banyere otu izu tupu ya ọzọ ogbugba bụ n'ihi, mgbe ahụ na-eche lethargic ọzọ mgbe ọ adaha ọzọ ogbugba – ma ugbu a, ọ na-eme “oké” niile ọnwa ogologo a nnọọ ala dose nke Percorten-V! Yana kasị nso-nso Percorten-V Mbelata, M na-na-ike iji belata ya Prednisone ka .5mg – Ọ e hovering n'etiti .75mg na oyi na-1.25mg ke ndaeyo n'ihi na afọ. We have also switched to liquid Prednisolone as his liver enzymes became elevated and he was shedding a lot……….

PS – Valentino ọnọdụ dị ka a na-arịa ọrịa, achọghị kpafuo bụ mmụọ nsọ m miri nkwa na itinye aka na anụmanụ ọdịmma okwu na San Antonio! Olee otú ọtụtụ nkịta dị nnọọ ka Valentino nwụrụ n'ihi na e nwere onye ọ bụla na-kwụpụ maka ha n'ihu amanyere bụ iwu 72 Ọrụ Nchịkwa kpafuo jide oge kubie ume?

 

The nnapụta ama nile pups spayed ma ọ bụ neutered tupu a weere n'ụlọ. Argus e neutered na ọnwa abụọ ochie, na anyị na-ada ya n'ụlọ mgbe e mesịrị n'ụbọchị ahụ. Ụbọchị abụọ gasịrị ọ bụ ice oyi na-ama jijiji nnọọ ike. Anyị na-ele ya mbepụ saịtị ahụ maka ihe ịrịba ama nke ọrịa na ọbọp enye ke blanket-agbalị ọkụ ya. N'ehihie ahụ anyị na-ada ya n'ime pụọ na mere ịwa ahụ (45 nkeji pụọ). The pụọ kwuru na ya na-enwe a mmeghachi omume nke ịwa ahụ na a ga-ezi. O nyere ya a ogbugba ma nye m mkpụrụ ọgwụ ụfọdụ na-enye na-esote ụbọchị ole na ole. Site na-esonụ ụtụtụ, ọ bụ ka mma. Anyị gara ịhụ anyị onwe anyị pụọ maka ọhụrụ nwa nkita ego. Ha ozugbo wepuru ọgwụ na e nyere anyị, sị a nwa nkita ekwesịtụghị nyere ndị a. Anaghị m echeta ihe mkpụrụ ọgwụ ndị, ma ogbugba bụ Dexamethasone na m kweere ugbu a na ọ bụ ihe wetara ya ihe na-eme.

Ọ bụ a dị nnọọ iche pup karịa ihe ọ bụla anyị na-nwere tupu ya. Ọ bụ ọtụtụ mellower karịa ihe ọ bụla pup m mgbe mara. N'ileghachi anya azụ, ọ bụ doo anya na ọ na-egosi ihe ịrịba ama nke ya Addison site n'ụbọchị otu. Ọ we na ebelatala fọrọ nke nta ka afọ abụọ. N'oge a, anyị na-aba na ya "akamba eyenete,"Nwee abụọ puppies maka di na nwunye nke izu ọ bụla, na ahụ ada ọzọ nwa nkita n'ime n'ụlọ anyị. On December 6, 2010, Argus ịkwụsị eri. Kwa ụbọchị ọganihu ruo mgbaàmà ọzọ (mee ọgwụgwụ adịghị ike, ama jijiji, ice oyi, wdg). Anyị pụọ kwuru na ọ bụ bacteria na ya tummy – ọ ga-esi n'elu ya - na-eri nri ya sie osikapa (ọ dịghị ule e na-agba ọsọ). Otu di na nwunye ụbọchị gasịrị, anyị gara a dị iche iche pụọ, bụ onye sịrị ya akụkụ na-mechisịrị ọnụ ala na ọ na-anwụ anwụ – ka ya na-aga!!!! Dị ka m na-ebu Argus, yiwere n'elu ogwe aka m na nke atọ pụọ, Echere m na m na-agaghị eme ka ya n'ụlọ. The pụọ nyere ya fluids efehe a ọbara ule, mgbakwasị ule, x-ụzarị, dum ọrụ, wee na-ya n'ebe. N'abalị ahụ ọ kpọrọ na kwuru, “M chee ihe m na-anwale n'ihi na ụtụtụ.” Site n'abalị ọ kọwara dum ihe m. Ọ nọrọ na fluids na nwetara ya mbụ ogbugba. Up ruo mgbe a, mgbe mụ na di m keere òkè ọdụ na ya, o nyere anyị obere omume. The pụọ achọghị ka ya na-aga n'ụlọ n'ihi na ọ ka na-agaghị eri. N'echi, M na-eje ije na ya gwara ya na m chọrọ iji ya n'ụlọ. Ọ mesịrị kweta ma ọ bụrụ na m kwere nkwa iji mee ya ma ọ bụrụ na m na ọ bụghị enwetatụbeghị ya ka na-eri na-esote 12 awa. Mgbe ọ kpọpụtara ya, ọ jumped nile anyị na pụọ ​​kwuru, “Yep, ọ chọrọ ịga n'ụlọ!” Ya mere, ọ nwayọọ nwayọọ wee gburugburu iji na-eri na anyị kwagara ememe Krismas ka nwanne m nwaanyị ụlọ na ndị jụụ, na-anya na ihe niile anyị mere. A pụọ gwara m ka m wetara ya ọ bụla 28 ụbọchị nke ya ogbugba, enye ya Prednisone kwa ụbọchị na ọ ga-adị ndụ a nkịtị ndụ.

Argus bụ 60 lbs, na e nyere 2ml nke Percorten ọ bụla 28 ụbọchị nke ọnwa itoolu site pụọ tech. O nwetara 5mg nke Prednisone maka di na nwunye nke ọnwa. Ihe mbụ m hụrụ bụ ozi na Prednisone. Anyị nọ na-enye ya n'abalị na m hụrụ na ọ ga-echefu ya n'ụtụtụ, n'ihi ya, anyị gbanwere na. Mgbe ahụ m na-agụ otu isiokwu banyere dosing anyị na na ala 2.5mg. Site N'ọnwa nke asatọ m hụrụ na Argus 'ndụ enweghị nkịtị. O nweghị spunk. O yiri lethargic. O nwere ihe nke onye adị karịa a ndụ! Nke ahụ bụ mgbe m mesịrị chọta ihe Internet otu. Blood ule na electrolytes - GỊNỊ? Ọ dịghị onye nke a na-eme. Ọ bụ oge maka ọzọ ogbugba na m wee na-ekwu okwu ka ha pụọ (onye m na-ahụbeghị na ọtụtụ ọnwa). Ọ kpaliri elu ugwu na-emeghe ya omume. M jụrụ na-ekwu okwu ka otu nke ọzọ vets. The pụọ na nwere ihe owuwu gwara m ule ndị a na-eme otu ugboro n'afọ na dose nke Percorten ga na-agbanwe ma ọ bụrụ na ịdị arọ gbanwere na m nwere ike mgbe ọ bụla ime ihe ogbugba onwe m. Ọ gaghị na-ege ntị ka otu okwu m gwara ma ọ bụ anya na Ama m na-agbalị chee ya. Ya àgwà gwara m na m nwere iji nweta ike na-amalite na-eme ekwentị oku. M ekwentị gbara ajụjụ ọnụ ọtụtụ vets n'elu ọzọ di na nwunye nke ụbọchị. Ha niile maara ihe nile banyere Addison si. Otu pụọ akpatre na-akpọ m na tupu m nwee ike na-ajụ ya ihe ọ bụla, ọ jụrụ m mgbe electrolytes (“Lytes”) e ikpeazụ nwalere. Mgbe ọ gwara m na ọ dị anyị mkpa ime na mbụ na-ahụ ma ọ bụrụ na ọ bụ njikere maka ọzọ égbè ọ bụrụ na ọ dị mkpa ka a lowered, M maara nke a bụ pụọ mkpa ka m na-agbalị. Mgbe na-lytes Nsonaazụ pụọ gwara m, "Anyị nwere ogologo anwu, ọ bụ ihe ijuanya ọ chere ọma, ọ bụ nnọọ ihe medicated. "Ọ maghị na dị nnọọ otú ogologo nke a anwu! Anyị na-anwale ya lytes otu ugboro n'izu ruo ihe karịrị ọnwa atọ. Ọ bụ ntakịrị ihe n'elu 100 ụbọchị mgbe ya K mesịrị ruo a bit n'elu ufọt ufọt nso. Ọ malitere ya na 0.5ml n'oge ahụ na ndị ọzọ ọtụtụ ọnwa, ọ lowered ruo mgbe anyị ruru 0.3ml. Mgbe ọtụtụ ọnwa gasịrị, anyị mkpa iji mee ka ọ laghachi azụ ruo 0.32ml. Nke ahụ dose na-arụ ọrụ dị ukwuu ruo ọtụtụ ọnwa now. Nke a pụọ ​​dị ukwuu na Percorten, ma n'ezie na-eche na Prednisone ga-lowered. M jụrụ ya ma ọ bụrụ na ọ ga-ekwe ka m na-agbalị, ịmara na m ga na-ekiri ya anya, na o kwetara. Ọ bụ ugbu a na-1mg kwa ụbọchị.

Ma ugbu a,, ebe anyị na-na-, na ọgwụ kachasị, na ọ fọrọ nke nta 6 afọ, anyị na-enwe nwa nkita na ọ ga-anọwo na-akpa ebe!

 

Anyị nakweere Lexie si anyị obodo ndo ke July 2010. Ọ nọ na-eme atụmatụ na-abụ ihe 4-5 ọnwa ochie n'oge. Mụ na di m mere n'ụlọ ya na a “ikpe” mgbe anyị 2 ndị inyom nọ na pụọ ​​n'oge okpomọkụ mara ụlọikwuu, dị ka di m nwere allergies na mkpa ịhụ otú ọ ga-eme. Ọfọn, M maara na oge anyị nwere Lexie anyị na-elekọta na ya na-aga azụ na ndo – hubby ga-dị nnọọ na-ebi na ya allergies!!

N'ime ụbọchị ole na nke ịbụ na anyị, Lexie nwere nwunye nke vomiting na afọ ọsịsa, na a suke njem ka pụọ ​​ebe ọ na-anwale-adịghị mma n'ihi parvo na e zitere n'ụlọ na ntụziaka ghara nri maka otu ụbọchị na mgbe ahụ na-amalite a bland nri. Ọ bounced azụ ezi, na n'elu ọzọ 2 afọ ga-aga inwe mgbe ụfọdụ oké nke vomiting na afọ ọsịsa ma, ọ bụghị ka ihe ga-ihe ọ bụla kwa oké njọ. Ọ bụ obi ụtọ na-arụ ọrụ, na o yiri ka ukwuu n'ime ike. N'oge opupu ihe ubi na okpomọkụ nke 2012, anyị chọpụtara mgbaàmà ndị ọzọ, gụnyere goopy anya, ntị na-efe efe, na akpụkpọ aji mbipụta. Ọ malitere licking ya paws ókè, n'ókè nke rawness. The afo mbipụta nọgidere na-na-aka njọ. Ọ na-ike gwụrụ mfe na mmega ahụ na ga-ehi ụra na n'oge ụtụtụ, ọbụna na-emekpa bilie rie nri ụtụtụ. Otu Saturday na n'oge December, 2012, anyị gara n'ógbè Christmas Nme na mgbe ahụ ka a nleta nkịta ogige. Lexie dị nnọọ tọrọ n'ebe ahụ dị ka ndị ọzọ na nkịta bịara na na kpọrọ n'imi ya – otú n'adịghị Lexie. Mgbe e mesịrị n'anyasị ahụ, M mere na otu mgbe-awa gaa pụọ ​​na ya, ka ọ na-n'ikwe na smelled na-akpa ọchị (dị ka amonia). The pụọ na-enyocha ya na ahụghị ihe ọ bụla doro anya nke nchegbu, ma sị na-abịa azụ na-esote ụbọchị maka bloodwork ma ọ bụrụ na o yiri ka a na-aka njọ. Ọfọn, na n'abalị ahụ jọgburu onwe, na Lexie n'ikwe na ụkwụ m dị ka anyị na-agbalị na-ehi ụra. Back to pụọ na-esote ụbọchị maka bloodwork. Obi dị anyị ụtọ, m pụọ-enyo enyo na Addison mgbe ọ hụrụ bloodwork. Site na nke a, Lexie bụ nnọọ ọrịa ma e kwetara na ụlọ ọgwụ ka fluids na ACTH ule, nke bịara azụ mma.

Chịịrị Lexie elu iji mee ka ụlọ ya bụ ihe dị ịtụnanya, oge mmetụta uche, dị ka ọ gbagara anyị dị otú ahụ na-enwe obi ụtọ na e nwere agaghị a akọrọ anya na pụọ ​​n'ụlọ ọgwụ!! Site na nke a, Achọtawo m enyemaka site na online Addison si obodo na nwere oké pụọ bụ onye dị njikere na-agbalị ihe ọhụrụ – Low dose Percorten. Taa, Lexie bụ 70 lbs na-ewe 0.4 ml nke Percorten, , ya na kwa ụbọchị dose nke Prednisone.

M kwere na Lexie batara ndụ m n'ihi na a mere. Ịnọgide na ndo gaara na ụfọdụ ọnwụ ya, Ekwenyesiri m ike na, anyị na ezinụlọ anyị bụ ike inye ya ndị pụrụ iche na-elekọta o kwesịrị. N'ihi ya, M nwere ọhụrụ “enyi” n'ụwa nile. M pụrụ ikwu n'eziokwu na Lexie mgbe mma – Addison si nchoputa bụ site dịghị pụtara a ikpe ọnwụ, kama bụ ihe ọhụrụ mgbazinye na ndụ!!

 

M nakweere Dharma si na-asị ndo mgbe ọ bụ 8 izu ochie. Ọ bụ otu n'ime 7 puppies, bi a Ezi na ụlọ. M aha ya bụ ya maka ya pensive ọdịdị; ya anya gosipụtara mmiri miri emi. Ọtụtụ mgbe m na egwuregwu o nwere àgwà nanị nne pụrụ n'anya; ọ bụ nnọọ otú ... eem, onye iberibe. Ọ bụ ndị na-abụghị nke ihe nile stereotypically nkịta. Mgbe ọ na- 5 afọ, M si ụlọ ọrụ, na a Wednesday, chọta 7 vomits, na 4 diarrheas. M wee ya ka pụọ-ututu. N'ime ọzọ 3 izu(ole na ole narị dollar), m pụọ nke 10+ afọ efehe ọbara ule na, n'ikpeazụ, zitere anyị n'ụlọ na a nchoputa nke cancer (dabeere na "afọ 25 nke vetting"), a kalama 20mg prednisone mbadamba, na a ọmịiko kutu aka na isi. M wee maka a 2nd uche. Izu abụọ na ọtụtụ narị dollar (ọzọ) mgbe e mesịrị, anyị rutere n'ụlọ ọgwụ jupụtara ọkachamara. Mgbe ọrụ, na a Wednesday n'abalị, Ha mere a sonogram. N'agbanyeghị dịghị azịza; dị ka "ọkachamara" ga-abụ na-esote ụbọchị. Onye kwuru ule maka Addison si (ọzọ $250). The sonogram bụ $500+, na m ekweta, M bụ na m ama ọgwụgwụ, na-eche otú m nwere ike na-akwụ ụgwọ maka adịghị agwụ agwụ ule na-enweghị azịza. M gwara ha na m ga-ehi ụra na ya, na-eche maka inwekwu nkọwa nke sonogram, ụbọchị na-esote.

Ihe na-esonụ ụtụtụ, na 4:20 ụtụtụ, M chere na ihe iberibe sensashion m n'olu. Ọ bụ Dharma si ume, sonso. Isi ya bụ na m n'ubu, na o were m a bit ghọta na ya na-eku ume bụ adịghị ike na-abaghị uru. Mberede, M ghọtara ya aru-contorted horribly, dị ka a pretzel. Anya ya na-kpamkpam oghere. M leapt nke bed, tụbara na uwe, scooped ya elu na a blanket, efehe aka ụgbọ ala. Agbagara m gafee obodo, ebe anyị ga na-abalị tupu. Obi dị anyị ụtọ, M mere achọpụta na ha bụ ndị a 24 hour owuwu. M mere 45 nkeji njem na 25. Ka m na-sprinted n'ọnụ ụzọ na Dharma na ogwe aka m, obi ya kwụsịrị. Ma otú ya na-eku ume. M nyere ya na-eje ozi wee sị, "Biko nyere ya aka".

The mberede pụọ na oru rụrụ ọrụ ebube, me Dharma dịghachi ndụ, enweghị ihe ọ bụla na-adịgide adịgide mmebi. Ma, anyị na-amaghị ihe bụ ihe ọjọọ ya na ya. The ACTH ule e rụrụ, ma na-arụpụta ga- 24 awa. Ha bụ ndị bụghị n'aka na ọ ga-adịgide adịgide na ogologo. Ha mere nchọpụta ịwa ahụ, dabeere na ihe ha hụrụ na sonogram. Ha na-enyo enyo a mkpọchi. All ha hụrụ bụ abnormally obere adrenal glands. Amaghị m otú ọ lanarịrị ịwa ahụ. Ọrụ ebube abụọ na otu ụbọchị.

Osote, anyị na-eche. A gwara m na, ma ọ bụrụ na ọ bụ Addison si, mgbe ahụ, e fọrọ nke nta ọ dịghị ihe ha nwere ike ime, dị ka anyị ga-ama na-anwale, na n'ụlọ ọgwụ chọrọ, niile ma ihe kasị aguliteghi.

Ụbọchị na-esote, mgbe m nwetara oku na-aga na-agwa m na ọ bụ, n'ezie, Addison ọrịa, M tiri onkontrolebul obi ụtọ anya mmiri. Na na oge, niile nke ndị nchegbu na nhụjuanya nke anyị gbakee asa m na a idei mmiri nke enyemaka. Ọ bụ akpatre n'elu. Anyị mesịrị nwere azịza.

M na ebe ọ bụ na ìhè na na usoro nke ihe. The ara ego ọ na-eri ga-esi nchoputa (ka dị nnọọ ikwu ikpeazụ tally karịrị ihe m nọrọ na ụgbọala m) bụ iji mee ka onye ọ bụla na-egosipụta. My nanị ụta bụ jọgburu onwe-ata ahụhụ na Dharma diri. My nanị ịma aka na-agbaghara ndị mbụ pụọ maka eziga anyị ala na ụzọ. Ahụmahụ a kụziiri a nne abụọ toro ụmụaka banyere ọhụrụ ụdị ịhụnanya. Onye na-enwe, ọ bụ ezie na ọ na-adịghị mkpa na-.

 

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 ọnwa. 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 afọ. 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 ọnwa, 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. Otú ọ dị, 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 awa, 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 afọ. 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 & Nọvemba 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. N'ezie, 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.
Pịa image iji mụbaa

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 ụbọchị. 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, cancer, 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. On December 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.

 

Anyị chọpụtara na Lucydog yiri ka o nwere a eriri afo ọrịa. M kpọọrọ ya na dọkịta na m Friday apụ. Ọ na-e gosiri na o nwere a UTI na-ntị ọrịa. Ha dọọrọ ọbara, ma na-echere ka iziga ya na m arịrịọ ebe ọ bụ na a ga-ọzọ $200. Ha bụ ndị nchegbu na o nwebeghị eri, ma kwubiri na ọ pụrụ ịbụ na n'ihi na ọ dị nnọọ echeghị ọma.

Ọ na ọgwụ nje na o yiri a bit mma, ma ka na-abụghị na-eri. Ọ na-enwe ịma jijiji / n'ikwe, ma ọ nēche ime na ọtụtụ mgbe na-arịa ọrịa ma ọ bụ mesie ike. M malitere inwe nchegbu mgbe ọ ga-adịghị ọbụna eri a ụmị ọkpụkpụ, ezie. Mgbe ahụ, anyị abụọ na-arụ ọrụ Wednesday. Mgbe m nwetara n'ụlọ, M gara ka ya si na ya pụta ulo nkita-aga potty ... na ọ ike iguzo ọtọ. Nwere ike ghara ọbụna inwe ya paws na-arụkọ ọrụ na-esi na ha ewepụghị na ala. M freaked ozugbo wee gaa na ekwentị, a na-akpọ Will na kwuru na "Lucy ike na-eje ije." M wee na-akpọ pụọ, nke ekele bụghị emechi ma (na ha ga-na 15 nkeji) na ha gwara m ka m mee ya ASAP.
Ga nwetara n'ụlọ otu awa na ọkara mgbe e mesịrị ma ọ bụ otú, na ha nwere ike na-akawanye ya. Ha chere na ọ pụrụ ịbụ Addison ọrịa, nke bụ ekele ngwọta. Ọ na-egosi na-eto eto nkịta, bụ ihe na-ahụkarị nwanyị, na nwere nza nke mgbaàmà na-emekarị. Ka ga chere na ọ nwere ike dị kemgbe oké akpịrị ịkpọ nkụ. Mgbe 2 egwu, ehihie na abalị na ya nọ doggie n'ụlọ ọgwụ n'ihi na ọ ka na-adịghị ike iji na-eje ije, ọbara ule results enen Addison si Ọrịa. The UTI na ntị ọrịa kewapụrụ ya ozu n'ime nsogbu ma ọ bụ eleghị anya nso ọnwụ (Gịnị ma ọ bụrụ na m na e rapaara na-arụ ọrụ maka 45 nkeji ogologo ụbọchị ahụ? omg). Obi dị anyị ụtọ, ọ bụ ngwọta na a kwa ọnwa ntụtụ, otu ọ ga-mkpa maka ndụ ya fọdụrụnụ. Ma na ndụ ga-adị ogologo na obi ụtọ.

Ya mere, anyị ka nwere a Lucy-ndụ mezie ya ọrịa. Ma obi dị m ụtọ na-akọ na dị ka m pịnye a, Lucy na-àmà siri chomping a rawhide ọkpụkpụ na m zụtara ya na ya onu nri n'azụ m. Ma ndị ọzọ karịa a idet ubọk ebe ọ nwere IV na ibu-Ugboro peeing n'ihi ya mgbake meds, ọ bụ mara mma nke ukwuu azụ otu ol 'Lucydog. Ma anyị hụrụ ya n'anya. Enwere m nnọọ ekele na anyị pụọ nyere ya a ngwa ngwa na ezi na nchoputa wee azụ ụkwụ ya (n'ụzọ nkịtị) ngwa ngwa.