What is Addison's again?

I know I have posted alot of information in the past and have provided more than a plethora of information. I just really wanted to educate everyone about Canine Addison's Disease! Here's a recap, short and sweet:

Who: Atlas, 4 year old Harlequin Great Dane

What: Addison's Disease--a disorder where the part of the adrenal glands that produce mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids cease to function. Consequently, the body's electrolytes, sodium and potassium, are abnormal due to lack of aldosterone (mineralocorticoid). A decrease or absence of glucocorticoid (cortisol) manifest in lethargy, hyperpigmentation of the skin, anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

What brought us to the vet: ate Greenie on Monday, unable to poop on Tuesday, not eating or drinking, super lethargic (tired)

Journey to diagnosis: Wednesday treated for dehydration with IV fluids and started Flagyl, doctor heard a heart murmur (new), ate and drank some at the vet, drank a little at home, also passed a golf ball size Greenie. Thursday back to vet for not eating/drinking and lethargy--more IV fluids, ate and drank a little at the vet, drank a little at home and ate some chicken. Friday back to vet for the same--abdominal x-rays done-->OK, labs-->low sodium, high potassium-->Addison's??-->maybe but labs may be off due to IV fluids, sent home.

The turning point: Friday day/evening-very lethargic, ate a little, drank a little, his heart was racing and had an arrhythmia. Friday night-still extremely lethargic, would not eat or drink, got off the couch and his hind end went out from underneath him-->to the ER!

ER course: Chest x-ray and EKG-->OK, Labs--lower sodium, higher potassium (8.6), more than likely Addison's but wouldn't know until vet opened on Monday and test could be done. Stayed the whole weekend and received IV fluids and IV Dexamethasone (a glucocorticoid--one of the hormones the adrenals stop making), wouldn't eat anything but chicken, but much more energetic and lively, hind end weakness decreased.

Diagnosis: Back to our vet on Monday(3/6/06), got the ACTH test, came home. Tuesday(3/7/06) he received official diagnosis of Addison's Disease and received his replacement shot of mineralocorticoid (Percorten/DOCP) and started the by mouth replacement of his glucocorticoid (there are many options..we chose Hydrocortisone).

Today: A year later Atlas weighs in at 165lbs, eats 4 cups of Nutro Natural Choice per day, 20mg of Hydrocortisone divided into morning and evening doses (he gets extra if he is going to have a busy or stressful day), and goes 30 days in between his Percorten shots. His activity level is normal. He wrestles with his brother Cole, enjoys sniffing new butts at the bark park, and LOVES to go to the beach, crash waves, and dig in the sand! He's as good as new!

Questions? Post a comment or look at my profile for my email! Their are tons of links and I will be happy to help in any way I can!

A bustling household

It's been almost one year since Atlas was diagnosed. Actually, we may be right at the year mark. He is now 165 pounds...wonder if that's the Hydro or if he would've been that big??? Hmm...he only eats 4 cups a day and we still are very active with them. Cole is just fine and has had no more run-ins with the cars! He is still as ADD as ever though...BUT he is really good about coming when called even when there is another dog to go and sniff. They had a day at the bark park today with their cousin, Chaz. Nothing really to tell there...normal dog stuff..lots of sniffing and greeting!

Above is a pic of our cats too. This past summer we had to put the black and white one to sleep. Her name was Brenna and I got her in high school when my parents were getting divorced. She was a very active cat in her younger years and loved to hunt, balance on privacy fences, and hang on the door to let us know the adventure was over and it was time to come in! She was not an outside cat but enjoyed her adventures every now and then. Anyway, arthritis and a bad declawing (which did get fixed and improved her mobility..OH and I WILL NEVER declaw another cat!) left her with limited mobility. She lost alot of weight over last summer and then started losing her appetite. Since my animals tend to LOVE visiting the ER, her condition got worse over a weekend and that's exactly where we wound up. After some IV fluids and diagnostics, the docs felt that she had cancer or some type of kidney thing going on b/c she had an abnormal kidney ultrasound. My husband and I thought about our options. Seeing as she was 12 years old and had limited mobility b/c of arthritis, we felt her quality of life was not worth the treatment they were saying she may need. IV fluids everyday? Chemo or surgery if she had cancer? Blood transfusions? No promises. It's always hard to make that decision and that was the first time I've ever had to do it. One minute they're here and 30 seconds later it's all over. Very sad but I am happy she picked me out at the pound. My little bologna thief (stole it right from my brother as he went to put it in his mouth)!