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LETHARGY / THE LOOK OF PREMATURE AGEING
MUSCLE WEAKNESS / POSSIBLE LAMENESS & LIMPING
DEPRESSION / INCREASED NERVOUSNESS SHAKING
VOMITING / DIARRHOEA POSSIBLY BLOODY
LOSS OF APPETITE
SLOW HEARTRATE / TOTAL COLLAPSE
REGURGITATING / BURPING
POSSIBLE ABDOMINAL PAIN
COOL EXTREMETIES
INCREASED WATER CONSUMPTION/PALE URINE
Be aware your dog could display only some of these over a period of time.Also note, although these symptoms could cover a multitiude of dog ailments, the key is if they are being treated for gastric problems and they do not improve after 48 hours max, suggest a blood test first and foremost (initially to check the electrolytes,high potassium & low sodium is a common indicator but not always present)(a confirmed diagnosis can be reached by assesing the dogs adrenal response to a stimulating hormone called ACTH which usually only shows positive after about 80% of the adrenal gland is destroyed and the results are only valid at the time. If there is destruction going on within your dog if the test was repeated a few weeks later, it may show a positive result.This is probably why sometimes it is difficult to diagnose until the dog is really poorly. There is also atypical Addison's where by the glucocorticoid prodcing part of the adrenal gland is destroyed before the mineralcorticoid part, in these cases the usual electrolyte imbalance is not present.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THE SYMPTOMS LISTED CAN SOMETIMES WAX AND WANE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE A FUSSY EATER OR LACK OR CESSATION OF APPETITE.
IF YOU OWN A STANDARD POODLE OR OTHER BREEDS LISTED PLEASE INFORM YOUR VET THAT THE BREED IS PREDISPOSED TO ADDISONS. PRINT THEM A COPY OF EDDIES'S STORY & INFORM THEM ABOUT THE RESEARCH IN THE USA AND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.
ALTHOUGH ADDISONS IS MORE PREVELANT IN CERTAIN BREEDS( NAMELY STANDARD POODLES,BEARDED COLLIES,PORTUGUESE WATER DOGS,LEONBERGERS WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIERS POINTERS & WEIMERANERS)
I HAVE ALSO HEARD PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF QUITE A FEW ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN ALL BREEDS INCLUDING CROSS BREEDS.THIS CONDITION IS NOT AS RARE AS OFTEN PORTRAYED
AWARENESS CAN PREVENT FURTHER DEATHS
**** I have available to me the treatment of Addisonian crises as laid down by Sara Gould Bvet,DSAM,MRCVS please e-mail me for a copy****
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