CIMDA

Jo,

Thank you for such an informative reply.

I have since spoken to the head vet at the practice who's specilism is addisons.

We will be starting on the recommended starting dose of zycortal and 5mg of prednisolone. I am anxious about lots and lots of blood tests but hopefully it will go smoothly with not too many side effects. 

He's in such a good, happy place and it took us over 18 months to settle him onto florinef. Hopefully being as stable as he is this won't rock the boat too much.

I do worry that if it makes him more lively as people have reported for their dogs that he will be totally bonkers!!

As for the research I hadnt heard about. I will certainly investigate.

Fergus is booked in for the change from florinef to Zycortal a week on Monday. I have been attempting to research how much the recommended dosage should be but would love everyone's imput.

Fergus is 21.7kg and on 6 x 0.1mg florinef daily. He very rarely requires pred and is generally a very happy dog. He was diagnosed over 3 years ago.

The vet has yet to advise a zycortal dose but advised 5mg of pred to start. I feel this is a very high doseage especially as he becomes incontinent on too much pred and being a very clean dog becomes distressed by this.

I believe he should have 1.5mg of pred once transferred.  What would people who have already done the transfer advise for both pred and zycortal?

I am talking to the vet tomorrow with regards to their plans.

Thank you in advance.

My Border Collie was diagnosed with Addisons in the February of this year. He had a minor ear infection the week before and then by the Thursday of the next week was in crisis. It took until the Tuesday to diagnose but thankfully my vets were very quick and he pulled through.

He has more or less been stable for the last 2-3 months with a drop after being attacked by another dog and having a few bites. His ear infection has been persistent until about a month ago and touch wood has not had any problems since.

What I am here to ask is...

Do dogs with Addison's often become incontinent? He has been tested for diabetes, thyroid tests etc and all clear. His dilution levels were off so they questioned a urine tract infection and medicated appropriately (vets are aware that this may be addisons not infection but drew caution). He is only mildly incontinent, leaving a small - about 2 square inches - patch where he sleeps and occasionally will dribble when excited, just like a puppy. He is 3 and a half, 23.5kg and castrated. He takes 5 florinef tablets in the am and pred when necessary. He will need to pee during the night if he has pred but can sleep in his crate from 10/11pm to 6/7am with just a dribble in his bed normally.

He has a few dry nights and occasionally is much wetter. We had him sleep out of his crate so he could get out to his dog run at night but this had no effect other than him not sleeping as well and being tired.

Any ideas? We would love to get this sorted if we can and worry if it gets worse it could start affecting his skin and then become a much bigger issue. I'd hate to lose him over something so 'small' when he's pulled through so much more.

Thanks,

Morwenna and Fergus

He's doing very well

Off for a small day trip tomorrow, see how that goes. Over the moon with the progress and finally feel like I can finally relax a little.

Fergus is on three Florinef a day and he had another blood test today. Everything came back within normal ranges and he's doing fantastically. I've noticed that dogs tend to have two tablets per 10kg, Fergus currently weighs 21.9kg but surely he's better off on a smaller dose if that is doing the job? I'm sure it will be increased over time as he's only young.

He's doing great and we are slowly starting to take him out for short walks now

Fergus had another check up yesterday after his first day off of Pred. His potassium levels were slightly raised at 6.3 and he was off his food and was sick once, so we've increased his Florinef. He has another test on Monday or before if he is looking at all sick. He's been very lively and eating today Fingers crossed he doesn't need to go back or go back to taking Pred.

This mornings bloods came back normal!!!!!! I am over the moon

I plan to spend all day baking cakes for the vets tomorrow!! They have done such an amazing job, to think he could have suffered for months before diagnosis is a horrid thought, a matter of days, however stressful can almost be forgotten now we have our Fergus back.

He perked up lots yesterday, his appetite is returning be it a very fussy one! It's catch 22 here, we've always been very careful what we feed our dogs but last night we gave him almost anything he'd eat!! My steak for tea ended up as 'our' steak.

We've been back to the vets this morning for another blood test so we are just waiting to here back. He's very happy, not himself but things are obviously working better for him. He asked our other dog to play this morning, it was a lovely site to see.

Fergus is on exactly what you've mentioned, seeing how things go and slowly weaning the pred off while being very closely monitored by the vet. He's a firm favourite there already, that's what happens when you have a handsome face like his!!

I'm sure you're going to get used to myself and Fergus being around here much more. Thank you for all of the advise you've given so far

He definitely has Addisons.

Cortisol pre ACTH came back <10.0
Cortisol post ACTH came back <10.0

He's at the vets on an IV at the moment and comes home a little later this evening after having another bloods to check his electrolytes again.

The vets have got together his drugs ready for us to bring home with him.

Here's to the start of a new life for all of us.

Thank you Jo. We should hear very soon, sitting waiting by the phone! Yes, he had an ACTH test and came back worse than he went He's a bit happier this morning but still very worrying.

I will have him back at the vets by tonight either way, he needs an IV if nothing else, the poor boy hasn't eaten much for a week now.

Simon!!!

I thought I might find you on here

Hello,

I've been pointed in this direction by someone on another forum.

My almost 3 year old Border Collie has been very sick for the past week, off his food, sickness, weakness in his back legs and just generally very sad/depressed. The vets picked up a slight ear infection and at our third vets trip the decision was made to test for addisons. His results are back in tomorrow lunch time.

I'd just like to hear some stories, the good and the bad, to really understand what we are potentially faced with.

There is no way he is going anywhere, i'm committed to this precious boy for life, hopefully it'll be a long happy one. I've done some reading and i'm aware he's a little young for this diagnosis...

Some light at what seems a very dark tunnel would be amazing.