We are having problems with our 2 yr old female Boston Terrier.
Last Thursday she was showing signs of not being herself, which is s crazy, bouncy, playful dog. I chalked it up to the hot weather. By Saturday she was showing more symptoms such as lethargy along with decrease in appetite and dehydration. There was no vomitting or diarrea. We took her to her vet on Saturday and after a thorough exam, she was given subcutaneous fluids and was send home. We were told to watch for bloody stool or vomitting.
Sunday morning she had bloody diarrea. We rushed her to the emerg vet where she was put on IV fluids (4x maintenance) and kept until Tuesday after which I picked her up and took her back to our regular vet. Both the emerg vets & our regular vet suspected Addisons. Her resting cortisol test came back last night which eas normal, indicating that it is likely not Addisons. We are awaiting her results fom the ACTH stim test which likely won’t be in until tomorrow.
The most concerning thing is her Potassium levels. Saturday it was 6.2, Sunday 6.7 and yesterday 7.6. The vet said she has never seen a Potassium level this high with normal being around 5 and life threating being over 8.
In spite of that the vet let her come home last night. She was perky and acting like herself. She ate a bowl of soft food and there has been no diarrea or vomiting but she has been sleeping a lot today. I am sure she is tired with being away from home for 4 days and not getting much sleep being in a strange kennel.
Any ideas to what is going on if the tests are showing its not Addisons?
Im embarassed to quote wikipedia but it states that low sodium, high potassium, diahrrea with blood, and normal ACTH indicates whipworms. Wikipedia is not your vet, and I am really really not your vet but it’s an idea, if you’re looking for ideas.
I’d get a second opinion and definitely have them run a fecal.
For some reason, it seems like there are a significant number of vets who are lousy at diagnostics. I’ve had a vet diagnose a “really big bruise” when it was hemangiosarcoma (i.e. fatal). Right now I have an older dog who has stiff sore shoulders that my vet can’t diagnose nor cure and another dog who gets itchy eyes every year in the fall, which my vet diagnosed as “some kind of food allergy”.
They charge me a lot to tell me these things, too.
Here is a good reference page. As mentioned earlier, one of the main differentials (because it is the easiest to treat) for Addison’s is whipworms. Even if fecal is negative, treatment can be done (to cover all your bases).
The site linked to is a good overall reference website to have, btw.
Gah- my old vet diagnosed my pup with ‘immune mediated hemolytic anemia’ or something like that. Following 4 visits and various treatments, I finally took her to the emergency vet only to find out she had advanced liver cancer that has spread everywhere. I was so mad at that first vet. I understand that dogs get sick, but in hindsight, that dog gave the vet every clue he needed to make the diagnosis. Heck, I gave him cluee like "Her belly seems full for a dog that won’t eat.’ I was asking for tests, but he didn’t order them.
I still miss that pup.
I have no advice for the OP other than to get a second opinion if you feel it is necessary.
Sorry your pup is ill, but at least now you know what you’re dealing with and can get her to a new “normal.” It sounds like you’re really in tune with her, and that will help with meds and adjustments until you get her on an even keel. I haven’t dealt with anything like Addisons, but I do have two who get meds regularly, and one of them needs constant monitoring and adjusting to keep him feeling OK. You get used to it!
From what I remember from my classes, Addison’s is relatively easy to treat, with minor adjustments (compared to diabetes or Cushing’s, ie hyperadrenocorticism). It is a chronic disease, but with regular teatment you can still enjoy each other’s company for years.