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
What a great, informative write up…..I’m also glad you have some real answers as half of our anxiety about health can come from “just not knowing”. Maggie will continue on as only Maggie can do……..you two are a great team thru these hard times. 🙂 xoxo Mags
I’m so happy to hear Maggie is doing better! She is such a strong, beautiful girl. Not to mention a true Tripawd Warrior Girl! I hope she continues to improve with this new protocol, and that things settle down for her for a long time to come! Maggie & Family, have a great weekend!!
Smiling here tonight- sending positive thoughts for many happy days in the sun.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Woohoo Maggie Moo! So glad to hear you are feeling better!
xoxox,
Codie Rae and the OP
Yet another dog soul who doesn’t know she’s “sick” and is clearly e joying every single moment of being alive!! And alive Maggie is!:-) 🙂
It really is, overall, a very positive outlook consider I g the circumstances! YAY prednisone!! There is a time to consider a drug a bad drug….and a time to call the same drug a good drug.
Maggie’s pictures are beautiful and snow a very happy dog—very, very happy!
She really does look fit.
Thanks for taking time for an update and the lovely pictures.
Sending you all strength and serenity, Sally and Happy Hannah
Yesssssssss! I love seeing you smile Tracy, this is pretty darn good news considering all of the stress you’ve both been though. How are you holding up?
I know you never wanted this kind of education before, but look at how much you’ve learned about the things Maggie is dealing with. Thank you so much for sharing all this with us. For example, I never thought Pred could have any kind of long-term benefit either, so thank you for teaching us how it can serve it’s purpose very well when it comes to a condition like Maggies.
Maggie has a sparkle back in her eye. Thank you for sharing this good news with us, we are so happy to hear this!
Thank you everyone for following Maggie’s blog.. Seems she is likes teaching me about health conditions, even if, in the end, it isn’t what she has! I have researched cruciate injuries, then to cancer…then onward now to CRF and then a detour onto Addison’s….now back to CRF.
Her appetite is awesome for her raw diet. I tried feeding her some kidney diet meatloaf I had made earlier(and she wouldn’t eat) – I thawed some out thinking she’d eat it now…well, she did, but not without a bit of a protest…’gimme’ my raw diet please and thank you!”, she said, loud and clear!
I am letting Maggie lead the way on what she’ll eat. It may not be the ‘best’ for CRF(probably should be lower phosphorus) but who am I to tell her what she should and shouldn’t eat, at this point?! I thoroughly ENJOY watching her eat HAPPILY what she wants…and she’s happy doing it 🙂
Tracy & Maggie
So glad to hear Maggie is doing better! Definitely know how scary it can be when you have all these tests done and not sure what it is and then searching the internet to learn more about everything…And Mags deserves to eat whatever she’ll eat since she’s such a trooper!
Chloe goes in for her yearly checkup next week, fingers crossed her blood work comes back normal!