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Originally Posted by my2boyz I'm wondering about this now...this is exactly what Boog went through when he was sick, he lost protien through the GI tract, had lots of fluid in his abdomen that had to be drained off or he had to take Lasix ro remove it and he had several plasma transfusions over the last couple years he was here. No matter what they did he would be well for a couple months and then he would get sick again. The vet thought he had Lymphangiectasia (sp?) but they were never really positive that's what it was...he was also tested for Cushing's and, I forgot the name, but it's the opposite of Cushing's along with so many other things...it seems like the tests were endless. This started with him in '01 or '02 and we lost him in '04...he was 12 years young and still acted like a puppy until this hit him. |
Addison's is the opposite of Cushing's disease. Addison's is easier to treat in that you only need to give them the two steroids normally produced by the Adrenal gland to keep them on even keel, the mineralcoricoid daily plus some prednisone. Cushings and Addison's both will throw off the ratio of potassium/sodium creating havoc and death. Addisons left undiagnosed will quickly result in kidney failure and death.
Cushings is harder to treat as there is too much steroid ( I believe if I recall correctly) being produced by the body. Cushings can occur in older dogs. Addison's, when it occurs, is more common in females usually between about 4 and 5 years old.
I am not sure if protein losing enteropathy can occur at any age or is more risk to show up in younger, older or any age dogs.
As I recall the cases I heard of were under a year of age but I don't know if it can occur in older dogs as well.