Addison's info?

[IFG]

So my well-bred 3.5 year old Standard Poodle whom I love to death was just diagnosed with Addison’s Disease. He just had his first Percorten injection. I have a mixed reaction of relief that we now know why he was NQR and devastation that my poor guy has this condition.

I would love to hear success and cautionary stories about Addison’s dogs.

Also, my dog came with a three year health guarantee. He is obviously over that age by half a year, and I have no intention of returning him, but what do breeders do about health guarantees in these cases.

BTW, I sent the breeder an informational e-mail yesterday as I know that she plans to breed his half sister. I have not yet heard back.

TIA.

[Marshfield]

Most of the dogs I’ve seen with it have lived normal lives once diagnosed and started on treatment. I’d have to double check, but I do think Poodles are a high risk breed for Addison’s. Yours, however, may very well be the first affected dog produced. At the same time, I’d probably be leery of breeding his sister. Unless something has changed, there isn’t a genetic screening which can be done pre-breeding.

[IFG]

You are right, Standard Poodles are at high risk. None of his relatives are currently listed as Addison’s dogs in the Poodle Health Registry, so he may well be the first.

The vet thinks that we should stop doing agility, even our weekly class, which is very sad. I think that we will stabilize him, and then see where we are. I don’t care about competing, but he is much happier and better behaved when we do something. Perhaps we will look into obedience. BTW, as I type this, he is having his first real meal in nearly a week! YES!!!

[HydroPHILE]

As far as what do breeders do about health guarantees in this case? Usually nothing, but a responsible breeder would wholeheartedly appreciate you letting him/her know about the diagnosis so that they can reconsider breeding the line and/or contact other owners that have dogs from the same litter as yours.

[IFG]

Hydrophile, the thought that one of his siblings could experience an Addisonian crash is awful. I realize that we were lucky to catch it relatively early.

I hope that she notifies them. I would understand that many breeders would be reticent to do so given the potential liabilities.

[jetsmom]

I have a freind with a Corgi with addsions. The corgi is about 11 yrs old now and has had it for about 6 or7 yrs. She is living a relatively normal life since being diagnosed and treated. I think she gets monthly shots…

[Janice]

My German shorthair pointer was diagnosed with Addisions a yr ago. He’s doing great and I do take him out hunting. You really should be able to do agility with him. I’d strongly advise you join the addision group on Yahoo lots of good info and fine tuning the percorten dose and the cheapest sources of meds. Jake was started at 2.8mls of percorten and is now down to 1.1ml every month. Good luck

[Rockfish]

My first dog, a black lab, had it. Diagnosed at 4, and lived a happy life, until cancer took her at 10. Had the big C not intervened, she would have lived another few happy years. Once she started treatment for the Addison’s, she never had an issue with it again-hers was very easy to control.

[IFG]

Joined the Addison’s group already. Thanks so much for the positive stories!

[IFG]

I heard from the breeder’s husband. He is a vet. He says that no other puppies from my dog’s mother have been reported to have Addison’s, and that the mom is now retired from breeding as she is 7. I was glad to hear that our case is unique. From what I have read, the current advice is not necessarily to not breed a half sister, but to be careful to breed to lines with no reported problems.

Dog is bouncing around today, so good, though he still has diarrhea after not having eaten for days, and having the stress of staying at the vets for a day to get fluids. Vet said if the diarrhea is not better by tomorrow, we will consider metronidazole.

Funny, with horses you just want them to poop. With dogs, you worry if they poop too runny.

[clm08]

IFG, I sent you a PM

[SquishTheBunny]

Its one of the most easy diseases to manage/treat. Follow your vets advice, and you will hopefully have your pup another 10+ years.

[IFG]

Thanks STB. It is amazing, he got his first shot Tuesday, today is Thursday, and he is feeling soooo much better. He is doing some things that he hasn’t done in ages such as make his toy sheep fart for a half an hour and run down a slippery hallway after a toy. We had figured that he was just growing up not doing those things. We didn’t realize that it had to do with not feeling good. I feel terrible.

[PNW_AMTS_Dealer]

[QUOTE=IFG;6293129]
Thanks STB. It is amazing, he got his first shot Tuesday, today is Thursday, and he is feeling soooo much better. He is doing some things that he hasn’t done in ages such as make his toy sheep fart for a half an hour and run down a slippery hallway after a toy. We had figured that he was just growing up not doing those things. We didn’t realize that it had to do with not feeling good. I feel terrible.[/QUOTE]

Wow, sounds just like our dog. He’s a German Shepherd mix and about 8 years old. We thought he was just getting older and slowing down. Then started acting like he had joint pain. So off to vet for pain meds and joint supplements. No improvement, in fact he got wobbly on the hind and and quit eating. Back to vet, blood work, more blood work, then diagnosis Addison. That was about 4 months ago and today he is doing great. It is like we turned back the clock 3 years! He’s on a low dose of cortazone every day and the shot every 25 days. He’s eating, playing and wanting to go on walks every day. So happy to have my dog back Good luck!

[IFG]

PNW, so glad to hear your dog is improving as well! Interesting thing is that the agility is a great gauge as to how he is. When he first started having issues in November, he was apprehensive on the contacts, then he felt better, and he was fine on the contacts, then this last time, about a two weeks before major symptoms (not eating), he was apprehensive on contacts. Our agility training approach is to give the opportunity to do it, not to force the behavior, and boy am I glad that is how we train. I would be mortified now if I had forced him to do contacts. One of the reasons I want to go back to agility class is that it is a great indicator of whether his condition is under control.

[IFG]

Other good news. I just got off the phone with Trupanion, and they will cover 90% of the Rx for the rest of his life!!!