So, today, was Maggie’s blood recheck since last Tuesday(April 25th) being at the vet for the day for IV fluids & recheck on blood levels, after running a fever that weekend of 104.3. We put her on Prednisone, thinking if it was “atypical Addisons”, this would tell us that because Pred(or cortisone) is the treatment for it – see this quote from an Addison’s website:
“The cortisol, or glucocorticoids, normally secreted by the adrenals must be replaced. This is typically done with an oral form of prednisone or hydrocortisone. With atypical and secondary Addison’s the glucocorticoid is the only medication given.”
I read on another link that before you put down a CRF dog, you should test it for Addison’s. Well, we skipped the testing(had to order it and Maggie was very ill at the time) and decided to just treat it and see. We were treating “atypical” version as her electrolyte ratio’s were normal(that would be the “typical Addison’s”).
She made a complete turnaround and very quickly, since Tuesday’s IV fluids and the addition of Prednisone. I also had started her on a homeopathic appetite stimulant but have quit that as see no need for it now as her appetite is awesome now. She has done nothing but improve since putting her on Prednisone. That and the IV fluids were the only change I had done since this started. She is now moving around in the house better than she has in probably six months. She can now hold a squat position to pee vs. before that when she was really sick, she had to pee moving along.
So I was anxious to see her blood results as, “atypical Addison’s”, would be a better diagnosis than CRF. But her BUN number is even worse now. It is at 130 and last Tuesday it was 90. It continues to climb in a very short timeframe(IMO). Her Phosphorus level is a tad lower at 7.2, it was at 7.4. Her Crea. level, for some reason, wasn’t read on the bloodwork? Can’t figure out why… Her ALT and ALKP continue to climb as well, now at 254 and 287 – normal range being 10-100 for ALT and 23-212 for ALKP.
So, I am to continue doing daily subQ fluids(to help with BUN), keep giving her Azodyl(to help with BUN) and just started her back up on Epakitin(phosphorus binder) as now that she’s eating MUCH better, I can add it to her food and she’ll eat it! Bonus! Thank you Prednisone. Never thought I’d say that with me being so naturally minded! But as my sister, Gina said last week and the vet said the very same thing today…the Prednisone is giving Maggie quality of life in the near end of her life. She’s eating! She’s happy! And that makes us happy! And she’s eating a raw diet again 🙂 And LOVIN’ it! That’s my carnivore Maggie!
So, I’m kinda bummed out tonight but at the same time, I guess I now know, for sure, it is CRF. And if we hadn’t put her on Prednisone last week, it is highly likely Maggie wouldn’t be here right now…. So it has served two purposes…told us by giving it to her, it didn’t decrease her BUN number(and would have if Addison’s) and it’s gotten her to eat again!
So Maggie was a good patient, as always, at the vet’s office…as I watched her “tripawd trot” off with Ann, the Vet Tech, to get her blood drawn, she was very willing to go with her. She even brought Ann to the weight scale, as I had just weighed her and she thought that is where Ann wanted her to go…it was too cute 🙂 I do like the new vet’s office that I’ve been going to. They are very compassionate there and Maggie seems OK with it there…They love her and tell me how soft she is when they pet her(that great food she eats!) and how good she is 🙂 That’s my girl 🙂
So Maggie gets to wander around the yard and soak up some sunshine…there’s been plenty of it this week and looking forward to the weekend where I am home all day to watch her enjoy it 🙂 Here’s a few pictures I took of her tonight…
‘Til next time, Maggie says keep on hoppin’!
Tracy & Maggie