Addisons in Dogs

Why is my Addison’s dog panting?

kenrose — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:23:34 +0000

One of the most common problems with managing Addison’s disease is what vets like to call “over control,” which can lead to panting, excessive thirst, hair loss and other troublesome symptoms.

Over control usually happens when a veterinarian attempts to tightly control electrolytes by finding that “perfect balance” in tests rather than to use a more holistic approach and to gauge a dog’s overall health and appearance in conjunction with laboratory test results.

In reality, it’s recommended by most veterinarians that electrolytes should be slightly out of the normal range to provide a buffer than avoids excessive medication dosing and unwanted side effects: excessive thirst, excessive urination, lethargy and panting.

If your dog is suffering from any symptoms of medication overdose, including panting, but there electrolyte ranges are normal in tests, consider asking your vet to lower the medication dose for your Addison’s dog and retest so that the electrolyte range is slightly out of normal. This simple change could eradicate those unwanted side effects.

Is Female Incontinence a Sign of Canine Addison’s Disease?

kenrose — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:27:42 +0000

A couple months after adopting our border collie, Shakti, we noticed that she would leave pools of urine when she was lying down. Our veterinarian told us that female incontinence is common in spayed bitches (due to a lack of estrogen and a weak sphincter muscle), and prescribed her DES (diethylstilbestrol). What he didn’t tell us is that incontinence can also be a sign of canine Addison’s disease. A few short months after she started on DES, Shakti had a full blown Addisonian crisis.

While there are many reasons for incontinence (including bladder infections and the reason stated above), unbalanced electrolytes (one of the hallmarks of Addison’s) can lead to incontinence. This could be in combination with excessive drinking (polydipsia), so if your dog is incontinent and drinking a lot, it’s worth getting their electrolytes checked.

Excessive prednisone (one of the drugs used to treat Addison’s) can also cause polyuria/polydipsia. Prednisone can also cause other side effects in dogs too: skin problems, hair loss, depression and lethargy are just a few. Lowering the dose of prednisone may help alleviate these symptoms.

If your Addison’s dog is stabilized and incontinence is still a problem, ask your vet for DES. Holistic treatments include wild yam, corn silk, licorice, or bovine ovary, or a blends such as RESOURCES Canine Incontinence Support“>.

References:

DVM News Magazine: The Proper Use of Oral and Topical Corticosteroids.

Washington State University: Addison’s Disease.

Dog Eats Goat, has Pseudo-Addisonian Crisis

kenrose — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:35:18 +0000

When a 6-year old border collie with Addison’s disease showed up at Colorado State University’s veterinary hospital with an apparent Addisonian crisis, the treatment seemed obvious: IV fluids and DOCP to return the dog’s sodium and potassium levels to normal. But when the dog didn’t respond to treatment, the veterinary hospital found out the shocking cause of the dog’s psuedo-Addisonian crisis.

Forty seven days before his pet became ill, the owner had to have a goat euthanized. The goat was buried on the owner’s property but not deep enough; the border collie and one of his friends dug up the goat and the companion dog was seen chewing on the goat’s head. After hearing about this, the veterinarian performed a urine test on the unresponsive border collie and made a diagnosis of barbiturate poisoning–as well as consuming the goat, the border collie had also consumed a heavy dose of the medicine that euthanized the goat.

The unusual thing about this case is that the barbiturate mimicked canine Addison’s disease with out-of-balance sodium and potassium levels. Thankfully, the veterinarian was knowledgeable enough to look for other causes of the suspected Addisonian crisis. The dog fully recovered after treatment with activated charcoal and IV fluids.

This case makes me wonder how many non-Addisonian dogs have dug up and eaten a euthanized animal (not everyone buries their pets properly), and presented at the vets in an Addisonian crisis.

The moral to this story–make sure you bury euthanized animals in a proper manner. Check out this article on how to bury a pet properly.

Reference: Use of a point-of-care urine drug test in a dog to assist in diagnosing barbiturate toxicosis secondary to ingestion of a euthanized carcass.

Addison’s in Dogs Book Now Available on Amazon

kenrose — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:21:31 +0000

You can now purchase Addison’s in Dogs on Amazon.com in paperback or e-book. My blog readers can get $5 off the e-book by following this link and entering the code GPGYPVGA.

What people are saying about the book:
“A poignant journey of a dog owner’s quest to understand and comprehend the grim facts of Addison’s Disease. This book provides concise but comprehensive information about Addison’s Disease that can easily be understood by dog owners everywhere. Armed with the facts, owners whose dogs have been diagnosed with Addison’s disease will now know that there is hope, that there are options.”
–Merliza Cabriles, D.V.M.

Dog lovers know how frustrating and frightening it is when your precious pet is ill. They can’t, after all, tell us what’s wrong.

And it’s even more challenging, if your dog is suffering from an ailment that’s easy to misdiagnose.

Addison’s, an adrenal gland dysfunction, is dubbed “The Great Pretender” (not to be confused with the classic Jackson Browne song). Dog owners will be relieved and comforted by the new “Addison’s Disease in Dogs” by Stephanie Kenrose, which thoughtfully examines this hard-to-diagnose, often scary illness.

Even the actual cause of Addison is often in question: it could be a faulty immune system, vaccinations and tumors, as well as genetics, cancer and drugs

The symptoms may initially mimic other ailments, its causes are vague, and diagnosis difficult (although there is a specific – pricey, but accurate — blood test for certainty).

Once diagnosed and treated (fluids, hormones, rest), it’s a condition to be monitored for the rest of your dog’s life – and this includes, post fix, a regular prescription for hormone replacement, monthly (albeit quick) checkups with your vet and to maintain a stress-free environment for the dog.

Kenrose provides, not only a thorough look at each factor — in both determining and treating the ailment — but a thoughtful examination as well. Medical terms are explained in terms a particularly worried (and distracted and anxious) owner will understand. Covered, too, are breed lists – those susceptible, and those less so.

You are, frankly, dealing with a special-needs animal, and knowing everything you can about the condition can only work in both your and your dog’s favor. After all, knowledge is power and Kenrose’s book can help you achieve this.

The book outlines the different types of Addison’s, but at its core, this is ultimately a work of love. It opens with what was undoubtedly the book’s catalyst – a loving history of how Kenrose’s Border Collie Shakti joined her family and their often frightening experience, as Addison’s revealed itself in Shakti. It also chronicles how the family lives with an affected – albeit much beloved — animal.

Included at the end of the book is a comprehensive list of related definitions and a detailed index, to provide an easy way to look up terminology your Vet may use.
The Province Family (Southern California, USA)

A natural food diet for Addison’s dogs

kenrose — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:45:50 +0000

Addison’s dogs have a compromised immune system; it goes without saying that you should feed your pet the most nutritious ingredients available. By providing your dog with a home-made diet, you’ll avoid some of the shocking ingredients found in commercial food, including euthanized animals.

After reading Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food and finding out that the “premium” commercial dog food I was feeding Shakti-Holly may have contained rancid and moldy food products, toxic chemicals, diseased cattle and euthanized animals, I decided to research a little further. The statements are very much true, and have been acknowledged by the FDA, who found pentobarbital, a substance used to euthanize animals, in dog food. Click here for the FDA report.

These products were found to contain pentobarbital:

Pro Plan Beef and Rice Puppy
Nutro Premium
Ol’Roy Krunchy Bites & Bones
Ol”Roy Premium Formula with Chicken
Ol’Roy High Performance with Chicken
Ol’Roy Meaty Chunks
Ol’Roy Puppy formula
Ol’Roy Lean
Trailblazer Chunk Premium Quality
Trailblazer Bite Size Ration
Dad’s Bite Size Meal
Weis Value Chunky and Moist
Weis Value Puppy Food
Weis Value Crunchy
Weis Value Gravy Style
Weis Total High Energy
Super G Chunk Style
Rich Food Chunk Style
Rich Food Gravy Style
Rich Food High Protein
Pet Essentials Chunk Style
America’s Choice Krunchy Kibble
Ken-L-Ration Gravy Train
Heinz Kibbles and Bits Jerky, Puppy, Lean, Beefy
Champ Chunx Bite Size
Kibble Select Premium
Pet Gold Master Puppy

Are there Euthanized Animals in Your Addison's Dog's Bowl?

Note that the FDA didn’t test every dog food. In fact, they just took samples from one store. So just because your brand isn’t on there does not mean it doesn’t have euthanized animals in it!

You can try a vegetarian dog food for your Addison’s dog, like Nature’s Recipe Vegetarian Dog Food, which provides complete nutrition. It’s the only vegetarian product recommended by R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology & Neurosurgery for the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida, who specializes in the nutrition of immune compromised dogs, such as those dogs with Addison’s disease. You’ll be guaranteed of no euthanized animals in your pet’s bowl. But that may not rule out moldy grain and other nasty by-products.

If you want to feed your Addison’s dog a more natural diet, Dr. Clemmons recommends the following complete diet for dogs:

Basic diet: (1 serving size equals 1 can of commercial food, provides 1160-1460 calories per serving, and feeds a dog approximately 30-50 pounds)
Boiled, baked, or fried (olive oil), chicken (20z)
Tofu (4oz)
Long Grain Brown Rice (3 oz, prepared in 6 oz water)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (2 oz)
Molasses (Â¼ cup)
Boiled and cut up Carrots (2)
Cooked Spinach (1 cup)
Chopped and Steamed Green Bell Pepper (4 Tbs)
Boiled and Chopped Broccoli Spears (4)

The above ingredients can be frozen for up to one month, and defrosted before serving. Before serving, add:

Dry Ground Ginger (1 tsp.)
Crushed Raw Garlic Cloves (2)
Dry Mustard (Â½ tsp)
Bone Meal (1 tsp)

Dr. Clemmons recommends that you weigh your dog while following this diet, and feed more or less each week depending on whether your dog is losing weight or gaining weight. Make sure to introduce the new food gradually into your dogâ€™s diet.
Tofu, Dr. Clemmons states, is full of flavenoids and other ingredients to promote overall health. Garlic and ginger are natural anti-inflammatory substances, antibiotics, and anti-fungal agents. Ginger also calms the stomach. Mustard improves digestion and bowel function.

Herbal Remedies for Canine Addison’s Disease

kenrose — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:43:03 +0000

Although there is no herbal cure for canine Addison’s disease, there are several herbal supplements than can help lower your dog’s need for steroids and improve their overall health status. Lowering your dog’s need for DOCP and/or Florinef not only means a lower chance of side effects for your pet, but also can make a huge difference in your pocketbook. This article outlines the major herbal and plant remedies for Addison’s disease.

Types of herb

Many herbs have been shown to be beneficial for adrenal function, including adrenal support herbs like licorice and borage, Green tea, and ginseng, which can help to reduce stressâ€”an important part of treatment for Addisonâ€™s disease.

Borage oil, primrose oi, and black currant oil
These oils are all natural sources of Gammalinolenic acid, which promotes healthy skin and, according to RM Clemmons, DVM, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Neurology & Neurosurgery in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida, who states that the oils may also be good for autoimmune disorders. Dr. Clemmons recommends adding 500mg of oil once a day for small/medium breeds and twice a day for larger breeds, noting that it could take six to eight weeks to notice a difference.

Ginkgo leaves
Ginkgo leaf extracts increase blood flow to the brain. The cause of secondary Addison’s disease is a malfunctioning pituitary gland. Ginkgo is not toxic to dogs. Dr. Clemmons recommends one capsule two times a day.

American Ginseng According to Shannon Wikinson, writing in Whole Dog Journal, ginseng is â€œan adaptogenic herb that helps the body adapt to environmental and emotional stressors.â€ Ginseng works on the pituitary and adrenal glands, increasing resistance to stress. Dr. Clemmons recommends that male dogs over the age of 6-years-old be given American ginseng (not Oriental), in the amount of one capsule daily, and females over six years old should receive one or two capsules of Dong quai, a plant in the carrot family that has been called the “female ginseng”, instead of American Ginseng. Neither of these supplements is recommended for use in young dogs under the age of 6-years-old (male) or 5-years-old (female).

Flower essences
Dr. Ivin, a Chinese medicine practitioner (as quoted by Wilkinson), uses flower essences to reduce stress and limit the need for additional glucocorticoids.

Green Tea
Addison’s dogs often have low energy levels. One cup of green tea a day (or one single capsule) should be added to food, according to Dr. Clemmons. As well as increasing energy, Dr. Clemmons calls it a “good general tonic.”

Licorice
A team of researchers in New Zealand studied the effects of a licorice (liquorice) supplement in one dog taking oral fludrocortisone acetate (Florinef). Despite receiving Florinef, the 4-year-old neutered male suffered from persistent hyperkalemia (high amounts of potassium in the bloodstream). After receiving licorice from the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, which contains glycyrrhizinic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid, both of which increase mineralocorticoid activity, the dogâ€™s potassium levels returned to normal. More research is underway: if you live in New Zealand, contact Richard Squires or Liz Norman at Massey University for details of the trial.

Caution,

No herbal supplement can replace DOCP, prednisone, or Florinef. If your dog is on these medications, consult with your veterinarian while giving your dog herbal supplements–this is especially true of Licorice. You will want to keep a close eye on electrolyte levels as well as your dog’s overall health.

References:
RM Clemmons, Liquorice and canine Addison’s disease, New Zealand Veterinary Journal 53(3), 214, 2005
Wilkinson, S.The Great Pretender. Whole Dog Journal, 2003

What is a mineralcorticoid?

kenrose — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:42:18 +0000

Mineralocorticoids are hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex that regulate salt and water balance in the body. Mineralcorticoid deficiency (as seen in canine Addison’s disease) leads to high potassium levels, low salt levels, and poor heart function. Aldosterone has major mineralcorticoid activity in the body but cortisol also plays a minor part.

How and where to give percorten-V shots on dogs

kenrose — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:47:40 +0000

You can give Percorten-V shots at home. If you’ve never given a dog a shot before, ask your veterinarian to show you how to do it. This is especially important with Percorten-V, because accidental injection into a vein can cause collapse and shock (if you do inject accidentally into a vein, your dog should be taken to a vet immediately for life saving IV fluids and steroids).

There are two ways to inject Percorten-V: into the muscle (intramuscular or IM)and under the skin (subcutaneous). At home, subcutaneous injections are much simpler and easier. Percorten’s manufacturer recommends that injections are best given intramuscularly. However, according to Novartis animal health, it’s also acceptable to give the medicine subcutaneously. It’s your choice.

Subcutaneous injection procedure:

Shake the vial of Percorten-V thoroughly.
At the scruff of the neck, grasp the skin with your thumb, index and middle fingers. Pull the skin up into a tent.
Inject the needle into the skin. Gently push the entire needle in. This should be a quick motion–do not go slowly as it might cause your dog to experience pain.
Push the plunger to inject the Percorten-V, then remove the needle.

Intramuscular injection procedure:

The Cold river veterinary site has a great how-to guide on giving your dog intramuscular injections, including step-by-step shots. You can find the full article here.

References:
Percorten-V product information.
Novartis Animal Health. Addisonâ€™s Disease: Uncommon or Underdiagnosed? Thomson Veterinary Healthcare Communications, Lenexa, Kan, 2003.
How to administer an intramuscular injection. CRVetCenter.

Should you give your Addison’s dog Advantage or Heartguard?

kenrose — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:34:55 +0000

Do you give your Addison’s dog Heartguard or Advantage for heartworm control? These medicines can put a major stress load on your dog and come with a whole host of potential side effects.

Product information found inside the Advantage package states that you should not give the medication to breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs, small dogs or puppies under seven weeks old. Merial states that Heartguard is safe for puppies over six weeks. However, neither medication has been safety tested on Addison’s dog’s, and the list of possible side effects is disturbing:

Merial lists the side effects from Heartguard as anorexia, ataxia [lack of coordination of muscle movements], convulsions, depression/lethargy, diarrhea, hypersalivation [excess salivation], mydriasis [pupil dilation], staggering, and vomiting, 1 out of 100 dogs will experience vomiting and/or diarrhea. In clinical trials, Advantage didn’t fare much better: Bayer reported that 10% of dogs had itching and scratching, 1.5 percent of dogs stopped eating and the same percentage became lethargic. Other side effects reported including a dog becoming depressed and weak several days after application of the medicine, and bloody stools, coughing, lethargy and eye/nose discharge. Granted, these side effects usually occur at higher doses and not with the low doses found for heartworm treatement–but considering your Addison’s dog is immune compromised, you may want to consider alternatives.

collies may be more sensitive to Heartguard

Heartguard also comes with a strong warning for Collie owners; collies and related breeds (i.e. Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherds, or Old English sheepdogs) may be more sensitive to the Heartguard ingredients. Out of five Ivermectin-Sensitive collies who were tested in clinical trials, four had to be euthanized after receiving Heartguard. There is a test that your veterinarian can perform to detect ivermectin sensitivity: a DNA test for P-glycoprotein mutation identifies ivermectin sensitive dogs.

Obviously, your decision to give Heartguard or Advantage to your dog will depend upon many factors, including where you live, what condition your Addison’s dog is in, and what risk factors your dog has for mosquito bites. You’ll want to discuss these risk factors with your veterinarian so that you can decide whether it’s worth giving these medicines to your Addison’s dog.

Reference

* Heartguard–Protection to Live
* Heartguard Chewables Product Information
* Bayer: Advantage Multi for Dogs product information

Side Effects of Prednisone in dogs

kenrose — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:22:53 +0000

My article, side Effects of Prednisone in Dogs, has just been published on Associated Content:
“Six months after starting a course of treatment for canine Addison’s disease, our dog Shakti’s hair began to fall out. Several weeks later, large bald patches appeared on her hind legs and elbows. Skin
infections broke out, and soon our beautiful border collie resembled a third world street dog. Our vet suspected a thyroid problem, a skin infection, or an Omega-3 deficiency. After a few tests and some futile attempts to correct her skin problems with special shampoos, spray on treatments and dietary supplements I stumbled across the likely answer while researching skin complaints on the Internet: too much prednisone.” Read the rest of this article at the AP website.