Comments on: What is the life expectancy for a dog after Addison’s diagnosis?

By: MIKKEL

MIKKEL — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:31:16 +0000

I have an English Mastiff, female, developed Addison’s at 2, she’s now 5 & doing poorly. Obviously as a pet willing to foot the bill I love my dog. The bill is $180 every 3months for Percorten-it’s the only med that worked, plus prednisone. Now however I’m dealing with myocardial issues and fluid in her coughs. Having loved my dog and loving my dog understand that Addison’s will shorten your animals life. Excepting this is another story.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sat, 11 May 2013 06:08:12 +0000

The cost depends on the weight of the dog. CVS has a program for uninsured people and pets, the program alone brought the cost of the fludrocortisone from .75 a pill to .34 a pill. Every other pharmacy was .50 to a 1.00 per pill.

By: Alicia

Alicia — Thu, 02 May 2013 04:15:55 +0000

My dog Kobe is in the early work of being diagnosed currently, he’s only two years old. Naturally I’m shocked and worried about him. Seeing as I’m only 21 me and my boyfriend are worried about about cost, I wanted to know if anyone can help me figure out what I’m looking at for prices on meds. What can they range from? Naturally I would do anything to save my boy I love him so much, I’m so worried. I do have to say, reading some of these now and seeing that he can make it has helped a lot.

By: Ayesha Hameed

Ayesha Hameed — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 02:07:15 +0000

With nutritious foods and supporting the needs of the reproductive cells, the skin is certainly more brilliant…sory my english is suck

By: nyx

nyx — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:05:27 +0000

Tracie – I’m so sorry – I have been heartbroken with the loss of each and every pet but Angelbat was the only one I actually had to take to the vet to be put to sleep at 16yrs after a long, happy life dealing with Addison’s. I held off as long as possible and I know that she had just gotten to that point where she was scared and confused and in pain, had trouble breathing and couldn’t get off her blanket to pee, which upset her because she was always very good about getting to the pee pad, even near the end, she wanted to much to do it in the “right spot” and not in her bed. She was put on antibiotics for a possible bladder infection and that cleared up a lot for her, she still couldn’t get out of bed to pee but the accidents happened much less frequently. It can be a lot to deal with and you just have to remember that your girl knew how much Mama loved her and cared for her and kept her healthy and happy until the very end. I miss all my darlings but I know that they were well aware, every single day, how very loved and adored they were. It still hurts but if you’ve done the very best you can by them, they know it – you need to take some comfort in that.

By: nyx

nyx — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:58:03 +0000

Caroline – yes, typical symptoms. The various meds can cause upset tummies and, eventually, perhaps ulcers. If you see dark tarry stools then I would suspect blood is getting in the stool from an ulcer. Your vet can give you an exact dosage for anti-acid pills, same ones you buy at the grocery for humans. I crushed them into a slurry for Angelbat as the Addison’s meds evenutually led to bouts with a bad tummy. You’ll get used to the signals your pet gives you – Angelbat would do a “play pose” with her butt up in the air and a sad face when her tummy was acting up and I’d see a change in her stools. Your vet can also give you a liquid tummy medicine to help settle your dog’s stomach when needed, kinda like when we take pepto but don’t give your dog pepto or any human meds unless the vet says to – even simple over the counter meds can affect the meds your dog needs to control the Addison’s.

By: nyx

nyx — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:44:10 +0000

One of my chihuahuas was diagnosed at about four years after she crashed. She lived to be 16 and finally had heart and breathing issues at the end, common old age ailments. The Addison’s was always kept under control. We did have a couple more incidents over the years where meds had to be adjusted but you’ll get used to how your pet behaves – you’ll notice when something’s off and the vet can do a blood workup to check electrolytes, etc., and adjust dosage. With Angelbat we did shots for a few years, then switched to pills every 12hrs. When she got older and had poor teeth I crushed the pills, mixed them into a slurry with a little warm water and used a little oral syringe to squirt it into her mouth. They get used to these changes very quickly and adapt to new meds and ways of living comfortably. Don’t let anyone tell you an Addisonian pet has a limited lifespan or enjoyment of life. Angelbat was a happy, much-loved girl who lived well into old age. You will probably have to make adjustments to your own lifestyle to care for a pet who requires more attention than an average, healthy dog but it’s worth it and you’ll work those things out naturally as you go along, just as you would for a sick child, elderly parent, spouse or friend.

By: Judy

Judy — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 21:36:16 +0000

I have a PWD who was diagnosed with Addisons at the age of 6. She has a pecortin injection every 27 days and takes 1 mlg of pred. daily. She is now 11.5 and the pred is taking its toll. As incontenince becomes a problem our vet has started Proin, 50 mg’s 2 x a day and estrogen weekly. She is basically in good health otherwise and very active. Some issuse with skin problems are arising, not sure if it is related.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 23:33:43 +0000

I have a West Highland Terrorist that was diagnosed with Addisons at one year old. We went through the flourocortisone and predisone thing but wasn’t working, I suggested to the vet percortan, but he would have no part of it, so I changed vets. He has been on percortan and very little pred. Shot ever 25 days, and less than a mg of pred a day. Today he turned 13, thing that irks me is the drug companies, I get the percortan at cost, relative is a vet. Initially I paid $90 per bottle, now it is $165.50 for about 3 shots. Drugs are meant to help, not line some CEO’s pocket. I guess they aren’t Dog Lovers.

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:13:05 +0000

Caroline, symptoms you describe are typical. As is frequent urination after pred is taken. Our dog is a tall papillon about 18 lbs. Takes .6 ml of percortem monthly and 1.25 mg pred every 3 days – this is less than recommended, but makes the trips to the bathroom less frequent. Doing well after 3 and 1/2 yrs. currently about 6 or 7. If you are careful in watching tithe bowels, adding metronidiazole to settle the stomach works.