Woodie may have Addison's Disease

[Woodie's Dad]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I am so sorry you have had such a sick little pupster. He is adorable! Curious...did you go to Gulf Coast in Houston?

Yes, we've been to Gulf Coast. I thought Woodie was doing pretty good until three or four days ago. He started acting like he wasn't feeling really well. Friday morning, he vomited again, and I thought, here we go again. :-(
Blood work was scheduled for Friday morning already, so we took him in, only to find out that now he has way too much fat in his system, and the worst news was,,,,,,his calcium level is back up.Everyone that has seen Woodie, or that knows about what all we've been through so far, say that the elevated calcium is either a parathyroid problem, or cancer! The high calcium seems to have something to do with the choppy breathing too. Next week, Gulf Coast will do a PTH test, and we'll go from there. We need to do something for my little buddy. He's been poked, prodded, medicated, tested, made to lay on the couch for 5-6 hours a day with an fluid IV in his little arms for a week,,,,,,,,,and on and on and on. He's a little trooper, but it's got to be wearing on him, as I know it is me!

[Breezeaway]

Has the vet done an ACTH stimulation test? I had a dog we thought had addisons and that was the test they did to rule it out. As far as I know its the only definitive test for Addisons.
Keeping Woody in our prayers.
never mind just saw he testd negative.
What do you feed him? could he have pancreatitis?

[marcie]

So sorry you are going thru this. Hugs and prayers for you and the family.
Get some rest. I know this is just as hard on you as little Woodie

[Sbyork]

I have a question, and it may sound funny, BUT, Have you had Woodie in Arizona? A LOT of his symptions sound like Valley Fever. It is in the desert soil and is a fungus, when you breathe the fugus in usually your immune system keeps the fungus in checck for some unknow reason the immune system fails and the fungus starts growing, usually in the lungs. It can affect the brain and bones.
MOST doctor and vets don't think of or maybe don't even know about it.
Sothern Ca and, I heard, some of NV now have the spores.
If he has been to anyof those areas PLEASE get a Valley Fever Titer test done and have it sent to the Uof A to be sure it is done corrctly. I have a friend whose sister just found out she has it and the DRs told her she was NUTS, she had to force them to do the test. She does not live her just was visiting for bout a week. It is believed about 85% of people and pets carry it in their bodies!
Just a thought
Best of wishes and lots of prayers
sparklingbluyorkies.com

[Buster Brown]

Woodie is absolutely adorable. I am so sorry to hear what you all have been through. I hope you get answers soon. Best of luck to you Woodie. I hope you feel better soon.

[ladyjane]

Looking for an update on Woodie. I hope he is doing better.

[mscat]

Originally Posted by Sbyork

I have a question, and it may sound funny, BUT, Have you had Woodie in Arizona? A LOT of his symptions sound like Valley Fever. It is in the desert soil and is a fungus, when you breathe the fugus in usually your immune system keeps the fungus in checck for some unknow reason the immune system fails and the fungus starts growing, usually in the lungs. It can affect the brain and bones.
MOST doctor and vets don't think of or maybe don't even know about it.
Sothern Ca and, I heard, some of NV now have the spores.
If he has been to anyof those areas PLEASE get a Valley Fever Titer test done and have it sent to the Uof A to be sure it is done corrctly. I have a friend whose sister just found out she has it and the DRs told her she was NUTS, she had to force them to do the test. She does not live her just was visiting for bout a week. It is believed about 85% of people and pets carry it in their bodies!
Just a thought
Best of wishes and lots of prayers
sparklingbluyorkies.com

this is a excellent suggestion ! I live in the valley in california and Valley Fever is bad here too. An elderly couple in my complex had their dog tested positive for it.
I feel badly that Woodie is so ill. i hope for the best for him .

[shodanusmc]

Sorry you are going thru all of that, and hope he is getting better, and that the Specialists figure out what he has and treat him accordingly. I totally understand where you are coming from.

[Woodie's Dad]

Well, here is a rotten update, but before I tell you that, let me say thanks to everyone for the kind words, prayers, etc.
Woodie was admitted to Gulf Coast yesterday afternoon. Late this afternoon, I was informed that he has splenic lymphoma.
For those that are like me and don't understand big words, he has cancer in his spleen. I will go get him Saturday morning, as I haven't made the decision yet about what to do next, although, I think I know the direction I'm leaning.
Thanks for the prayers everyone!

Chris

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Woodie's Dad

Well, here is a rotten update, but before I tell you that, let me say thanks to everyone for the kind words, prayers, etc.
Woodie was admitted to Gulf Coast yesterday afternoon. Late this afternoon, I was informed that he has splenic lymphoma.
For those that are like me and don't understand big words, he has cancer in his spleen. I will go get him Saturday morning, as I haven't made the decision yet about what to do next, although, I think I know the direction I'm leaning.
Thanks for the prayers everyone!

Chris

I am so sorry to hear this. The vets at Gulf Coast are exceptional. I am sure they will give you all of the details and help you make the decision that is best for Woodie.
Shodanusmc can share the story of his dear Carlo who has been undergoing chemo and doing quite well.
I will keep Woodie and you in my thoughts and prayers.

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I am so sorry to hear this. The vets at Gulf Coast are exceptional. I am sure they will give you all of the details and help you make the decision that is best for Woodie.
Shodanusmc can share the story of his dear Carlo who has been undergoing chemo and doing quite well.
I will keep Woodie and you in my thoughts and prayers.

Carlo, a Cane Corso that thinks he is a Yorkie came down with Mast Cell Cancer in his Lower Intestine at 10 years of age. 18" of intestine was removed with clean margins, and he started 12 weeks of IV Chemo, a total of 8 injections, along with prednisone and a pepcid AC 20mg. After the treatment he was cancer free for 2 months, and the cancer came back in his liver. We had a tough chouce to make, but decided we owed him a shot. We did a rescue attempt as it is called, buy giving him one CEENU (Lomustine) pill every 3 weeks, for a total of 3 pills over a 9 week period. The cancer was gone. No trace in his liver, or any other organ. He will now get a CEENU pill every 6 weeks as long as he is alive.

The key is a good Internist that specializes in Cancer in Canines. Whatever you decide, my heart is with you. No easy choices for sure. Best of luck.

[Woodie's Dad]

I don't think Woodie has the cards stacked in his favor, as well as Carlo. Besides the splenic lymphoma, we have the hypercalcemia to deal with. Last night and most of the today, they had Woodie on oxygen too, because he was having a hard time breathing. I am going to Houston in the morning. When I'm there, and after I get to see the little guy, I'll make the decision to stop his suffering for good while I'm there, or maybe I'll bring him back home for a couple of days, until I get up the nerve to stop the suffering. I'm afraid that's going to make it even harder to do what I think is best for the little guy. My problem is also, that I'm selfish~~~I don't want to give him up, I don't want him NOT to be here with us.
His prognosis isn't good, and no matter what, I don't think I'll ever have the same little buddy I had two months ago back again. I miss him like crazy, and the tough thing is, there is not one thing anyone can do to make me feel any better,,,,just time. This really sucks!!

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Woodie's Dad

I don't think Woodie has the cards stacked in his favor, as well as Carlo. Besides the splenic lymphoma, we have the hypercalcemia to deal with. Last night and most of the today, they had Woodie on oxygen too, because he was having a hard time breathing. I am going to Houston in the morning. When I'm there, and after I get to see the little guy, I'll make the decision to stop his suffering for good while I'm there, or maybe I'll bring him back home for a couple of days, until I get up the nerve to stop the suffering. I'm afraid that's going to make it even harder to do what I think is best for the little guy. My problem is also, that I'm selfish~~~I don't want to give him up, I don't want him NOT to be here with us.
His prognosis isn't good, and no matter what, I don't think I'll ever have the same little buddy I had two months ago back again. I miss him like crazy, and the tough thing is, there is not one thing anyone can do to make me feel any better,,,,just time. This really sucks!!

Yes, it does suck. I am so, so sorry.

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by Woodie's Dad

I don't think Woodie has the cards stacked in his favor, as well as Carlo. Besides the splenic lymphoma, we have the hypercalcemia to deal with. Last night and most of the today, they had Woodie on oxygen too, because he was having a hard time breathing. I am going to Houston in the morning. When I'm there, and after I get to see the little guy, I'll make the decision to stop his suffering for good while I'm there, or maybe I'll bring him back home for a couple of days, until I get up the nerve to stop the suffering. I'm afraid that's going to make it even harder to do what I think is best for the little guy. My problem is also, that I'm selfish~~~I don't want to give him up, I don't want him NOT to be here with us.
His prognosis isn't good, and no matter what, I don't think I'll ever have the same little buddy I had two months ago back again. I miss him like crazy, and the tough thing is, there is not one thing anyone can do to make me feel any better,,,,just time. This really sucks!!

I hear you, I know it is not easy making that decision. Do what is best for the little guy, as hard as it is. While it may be nice to have him around a few more days, it may not be what is best for you and him. Whatever you decide, I am very sorry, and wish there was something else that could be done. I know my time with Carlo is limited. Age will eventually claim him even if the cancer does come back. I already know I will not let the big guy suffer. I know that I will have done everything I could do for him.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Woodie's Dad

I don't think Woodie has the cards stacked in his favor, as well as Carlo. Besides the splenic lymphoma, we have the hypercalcemia to deal with. Last night and most of the today, they had Woodie on oxygen too, because he was having a hard time breathing. I am going to Houston in the morning. When I'm there, and after I get to see the little guy, I'll make the decision to stop his suffering for good while I'm there, or maybe I'll bring him back home for a couple of days, until I get up the nerve to stop the suffering. I'm afraid that's going to make it even harder to do what I think is best for the little guy. My problem is also, that I'm selfish~~~I don't want to give him up, I don't want him NOT to be here with us.
His prognosis isn't good, and no matter what, I don't think I'll ever have the same little buddy I had two months ago back again. I miss him like crazy, and the tough thing is, there is not one thing anyone can do to make me feel any better,,,,just time. This really sucks!!

Chris, I have just read this thread, I am so very sorry about your Woodie. It is the hardest thing to see your little one suffering. You will make the decision that is right for Woodie.

(((Hugs)))) to you.