<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"
http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2/17/2014 2:52 PM, Kathy Sexton
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:8D0FA39573F82D2-1ED4-1BB7D@webmail-vd004.sysops.aol.com"
type="cite"><br>
<font color="black" face="arial" size="2">
<div><font style="background-color: transparent;" face="Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif">Been Part of the Daily Drool for a
zillion years !!</font></div>
<div><br>
I am Looking for help with Diagnosing Addison's..my vet
suspects it ...</div>
<div><br>
Any specific signs or Bllod levels to look for ?</div>
<div><br>
Thanks</div>
<div><br>
Kathy & Emily (Mum - I am FINE! )</div>
</font>
<br>
<fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"></fieldset>
<br>
</blockquote>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.addisondogs.com/addisons/">http://www.addisondogs.com/addisons/</a><br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines</a><br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_10/features/Diagnosing-Addisons-Disease-in-Dogs_20365-1.html">http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_10/features/Diagnosing-Addisons-Disease-in-Dogs_20365-1.html</a><br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"> For definitive diagnosis the dog is given a
the ACTH stimulation or response test. This tests the ability of
the adrenal glands to produce the corticosteroid hormone cortisol.</blockquote>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Addisonian_crisis">Addisonian
crisis</span></h3>
<p>If deterioration of the adrenal glands progresses far enough, a
dog may experience an Addisonian crisis, an acute episode during
which <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium"
title="Potassium">potassium</a> levels increase (<a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperkalemia"
title="Hyperkalemia">hyperkalemia</a>), disrupting normal
functions of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart"
title="Heart">heart</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-MarVista_30-0"
class="reference"><a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines#cite_note-MarVista-30"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a></sup>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrhythmia"
title="Arrhythmia" class="mw-redirect">Arrhythmia</a> can
result and <a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_pressure"
title="Blood pressure">blood pressure</a> may drop to
dangerously low levels, while the dog's kidneys may cease to
function properly.<sup id="cite_ref-Cortex_6-1"
class="reference"><a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines#cite_note-Cortex-6"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup><sup
id="cite_ref-peted_7-2" class="reference"><a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines#cite_note-peted-7"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup
id="cite_ref-NewHope_31-0" class="reference"><a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines#cite_note-NewHope-31"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup><sup
id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines#cite_note-32"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup>
Some 35% of canine Addison's cases are diagnosed as the result
of an <a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addisonian_crisis#Addisonian_crisis"
title="Addisonian crisis" class="mw-redirect">Addisonian
crisis</a>. It is a medical emergency.<sup
id="cite_ref-Merck_10-5" class="reference"><a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines#cite_note-Merck-10"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup><sup
id="cite_ref-Canadian_25-1" class="reference"><a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines#cite_note-Canadian-25"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup><sup
id="cite_ref-Southpaws_24-1" class="reference"><a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines#cite_note-Southpaws-24"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup><sup
id="cite_ref-Durkan_33-0" class="reference"><a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison%27s_disease_in_canines#cite_note-Durkan-33"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup></p>
</blockquote>
<br>
My Gabby has been Addisonian for 8 of her nine years. She was
diagnosed because of hitting an Addisonian crisis.<br>
Our vet was wise enough to run the ACTH stim test.<br>
We keep her healthy by being regular medications: she gets a shot of
Percorten at the vet's once a month and gets a 1 mg. prednisone pill
each day.<br>
<br>
Kathie G<br>
</body>
</html>