Addisons Disease...sick pup update

Oh, no. I'm so sorry! I hope that it's not as bad as it looks. Poor puppy. Give him a kiss, for me. 

Thanks, Jennie.  I've been giving him hugs and kisses since we returned from the vet's office, so I'll add an extra. 

The vet gave him a shot of adrenaline at 7:45 and he can't hop off the couch and had to be lifted up.  This feels awful.

Hmmmm -- Joey -- I just replied to your PM and now I'm reading this and I read what you posted elsewhere.  I'm honestly not convinced (and yeah, I'm in Florida, NOT seeing your dog and obviously no expert at all).  But they've bounced from an infection (by E vet) to pancreatitis to Addisons (which would have to be an idiopathic onset -- this is a PUP and for a young dog to have sudden Addison's with no real 'cause' -- that's a big 'hmmmmmm';).

Idiopathic means "no known cause" -- Addison's would usually be a mature dog disease -- where Cushings is the body secreting TOO MUCH of the body's own steroid, Addison's is the opposite - the body secretes too little.  Seems like you had no symptoms of onset-- which could point to a fast hitting auto-immune type of thing.

I wouldn't give up yet ... how comfortable are you with this vet?  No, I'm not bad-mouthing your vet - I don't know you, nor the vet.  But because they've bounced all over with this I would see what they can do to stabilize him and try ... maybe something else.

Did they do any more subQ fluids or IV fluids?  (Cushings and Addisons are both tied really closely to the kidneys -- so you get renal issues and toxicity which makes  them too sick to keep food down and the fluids - which is lactated ringers -- is like a very basic sort of dialysis to help detox the body a bit).  It's something that's commonly done -- you can do it at home, in fact.

I don't want you to have your dog in agony -- but don't give up easily either.  I want to straddle that impossible line here between being supportive and giving you some ideas, but neither do I want to give you false hope. 

I second what I said before in the PM about finding a TCVM vet (traditional Chinese veterinary medicine) -- their approach could be completely different but get copies of the vet records to take with you or at least give the TCVM vet the other's phone so they can fax over the tests and records.

My dog was young when she developed addison's disease...sudden onset.  You know, for a few days  before her crisis she was acting a bit "off".  The weather was extremey hot and humid...nobody in our family was very energetic or hungry, so I attributed my dog's  lethargy and lack of appetite to the heat.  To this day, I regret that assumption. I suppose when I look back on her 3 1/2  years of life, she showed some signs of being predisposed for this disease...but very subtle signs...nothing that concerned me or vets (but hindsight is 20/20).  Addison's isn't typically tested for in initial diagnostic batteries...as the symptoms are similar to  those of so many other diseases.  Studies show that it is one of the most underdiagnosed canine illnesses.  If all the subtle signs are caught early enough, Addison's is easily managed with meds. When a dog is in crisis, immediate and aggressive treatment is vital. I pray that you and your pup have a good outcome. You'll be in my thoughts.

Yes, I agree with the above poster.  When Willow was tested for Addison's it was a very specific blood test where they gave her something (I believe) did one draw and then so many minutes later did another. 

It's just odd that they said Addison's already especially if they haven't actually done the test for it.  They were telling me Willow had it too, but the test was negative.

 I don''t have any advice; just wanted to say how sorry I am. I'll keep your pup in my prayers.

Any updates?  I've been thinking about you.

I apologize for not being on here, but it's been an awful week.  Kenai didn't make it.  His adrenal gland was completely shut down and his kidneys and liver shortly followed.  I miss him each and every day, and the nights are worse.  Thank you all for your support and kind words.

((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a puppy is terrible.  

Oh, I'm so sorry.  I was praying that your beloved Kenai would pull through.  I understand your heartache ....wishing you peace.

JoeyBear I am so very sorry about your loss!  I know about the heartache you are experiencing as I lost a young dog due to illness in just a few days time.  She was a very special dog to me, as I can tell Kenai was so very special to you.  He knows just how much you loved him, always remember that.  It helped me to write about my little Sophie.  I also wrote her a "letter" to tell her just how much I loved her and what she meant to me.  This just helped me to get my feelings out and not to keep them in.  I have them in a little notebook as an honor to her.  I also got a little chest to put all of her little things in. 

Stay strong.  Remember you will always have that special love between you and Kenai--it will last forever!  Kenai was so lucky to have such a special owner.  You are in my thoughts and prayers. 

 I'm so sorry for your loss. {{{hugs}}}