Addisons disease/kidney failure

[chelsam]

I'm new to this message board. I have a 14 1/2 year old dachsie who is currently having kidney failure. Has anybody been faced with this? Also, she was just tested for Addisons disease. Can anyone provide me with insight, first hand experience. I have been out on thei internet reading, reading, reading. Thanks.

[Wienergal]

Chelsam, hello. I wish I had some first-hand experience to pass on to you, but my dachsie was diagnosed with Cushing's disease, which is in the same general family as Addison's, but is different. What kind of treatment is your vet recommending? What is the prognosis? Please post some more here--several of our regular members have a lot of medical experience and may know something.

In the meantime, I just want to wish you good luck in dealing with this problem. What kind of dachsie do you have? Male or female? Name?

--Pamela

[TessiesMom]

I am also new to the BB and have 3 dachsie children (Stinker, Lucy, and Tessie). The oldest (Stinker) is 12 and has been diagnosed with Cushing's Disease and is now on 5mg Anipryl. She has only been on the Anipryl for a month and will have another blood test in 2 months. We are hopeful that it will help because she has all the classic symptoms.

[chelsam]

Thanks for the kind words. Her name is Chelsea. She'a red, smooth haired mini. She is of course the sweetest dachsie in the world, but aren't they all? We lost her little sister in September of 1999 (Samantha, also a smooth haired, red 11 pounder) at the age of 13. About two weeks ago she developed weakness, lack of appetite and lethargy. She is a dachsie that had cervical disc surgery 10 years ago and had also developed a lot of tenderness in the neck area. We were treating her for the pain in the neck. The vet gave her an injection of dexamethasone which helped a lot. Kept her quiet, she seemed to get better. She then began vomitting about a week later. I took her back in. He ran a few simple blood tests. They came back the same day, she is in acute kidney failure. He kept her for two days to hydrate her with volumes of lactated ringers to help flush her system out. At the same time, he ran the test for Addison's disese, ACTH stimulating test, which is the same test for Cushings. We're waiting for the results on that, as Addisons mimicks kidney failure sometimes. Keeping her comfortable and the vet, the good guy that he is has been checking in daily. She is eating and the vomitting has also subsides for the most part. So, that is why I posed the question regarding Addison's disease. I know she's very old, but in some ways I hope it is Addisons. That is very treatable. By the way, I have been the route of Cushings disease also with Samantha. So, I know what that is like too. Thanks again for the ears.

[2DogsLong]

I wish you and Chelsea the best. I hope her condition is treatable. Let us know the results of the test.

Sue

[Wienergal]

Chelsam, hoping for the Addison's diagnosis, because that IS treatable! It's simple, really--you just hand over your paycheck to the vet every week, in exchange for the medicine! http://dachsie.org/ubb/wink.gif Please keep us posted. This must be extra-hard for you, having lost Samantha so recently.

[Mark]

Hi Chelsam,

My 3 kids send their best wishes and luck to Chelsea! I wish I knew what to advise, but I don't.

And welcome to the board to you and TessiesMom . . . This is a great board, full of supportive, caring & fun people that I consider my good friends.

Please let us know how the tests turn out.

~~Mark, Duck Butter, Masse and Top Spin~~

[This message has been edited by Mark (edited April 12, 2000).]

[chelsam]

Well, I finally received Chelsea's test result to find out if she has Addison's disease. She does not. It is kidney failure. She's been having some good days (knock on wood). It makes me very sad, but we will take it day by day.

[Mandy]

I am so sorry! All I can say is that my heart is with you and I hope you enjoy as much of the time you have left with Chelsea as possible. Try to do all the fun stuff she loves, take pictures, love each other and snuggle! Keep us updated, and let us know if we can help in anyway.

Mandy

[Wienergal]

Chelsam, I am so sorry. Good advice from Mandy. Is there anything that can be done to slow the progression? My heart really goes out to you. Please stay with us on the board--you'll get a lot of support here.

--Pamela