Eddie's Story
A test for Addison's Disease can save your poodle's life
By Michelle Hargreaves

Eddie's story it could save your dog's life, especially if he is a young Standard Poodle. Eddie died aged 2 years and 10 months. He was a slim athletic Standard Poodle. Apart from his ear infections he showed no visible health problems prior to the symptoms which manifested in the few days leading up to his death.

In November 2001 Eddie had a 1 and 1/2 hour operation to remove part of his outer ear, under the floppy outer ears. This was required to erradicate the cycle of gluey ear infections enhanced by his narrow ear canals. The operation was a great success in every aspect and there weren't any complications whilst Eddie was under anaesthetic, which is always a great worry of mine.

On 12th February 2002, I arrived home from work and my husband advised me that Eddie had been shaking nervously and would not eat his tea. I was a little concerned as he had not eaten his breakfast either. There had been fireworks outside also that evening so I put the shaking down to that. Eddie had become a 'more' nervous dog recently. We put that down to the fact his ears no longer caused him problems, and the fact his hearing would be more acute.

I managed to get Eddie to eat a tin of tuna and some boiled chicken and rice, and there were no further problems that evening. However, in the morning Eddie vomited and brought back the lot. I then made an appointment with the vet for later that day.

The vet gave Eddie a thorough examination and put the problem down to gastro-enteritis. His temperature and heart was ok. Antibiotics were administered as well as anti-inflammatory drugs, as my husband said he had pressed on Eddie's back and he had growled. We went home and despite coaxing Eddie did not eat anything this day either.

The next day Eddie again refused food, even his favourite, Yoghurt. He then passed some loose stools and they had blood in them. I was very worried and made an appointment for 9am the same day. I have seen many dogs with gastro-enteritis and none of them had it for 48 hours without showing some improvement when they had recieved treatment.

The vet gave him a further thorough examination, his heart and temperature was okay, and the vet felt for a possible blockage in his tummy and intestine. Nothing seemed to be amiss. Eddie was given further anti-inflammatory and antibiotics. The vet said try him with small amounts of boiled chicken and rice from 12 o'clock onward, and every hour after that.

I fed him at 11.30 because I could't wait - I was worried sick. He wolfed down th small amount of food I gave him to my relief. However, my relief was short lived: 12.30 came, he wouldn't eat; 1.30, nothing and so on. I tried everything I could think of. I telephoned and spoke to the vet and said Eddie had not eaten anything now for 3 days except for the small amount of food at 11.30. The vet made a further appointment for the next day first thing.

Friday duly came and again he refused all attempts at giving him favourite foods. He was still lethargic and burping a lot. Again Eddie was examined and I relayed all the previous days events regarding Eddies symptoms. I advised of the food refusal and said Eddie had drank tea and water that morning.

The vet said it could be a possible blockage. The vet said he would give him a light sedation, do x-rays and take some blood tests. I wasn't unduly worried about the sedation as he had had the long operation 3 months earlier in November, and he was a young usually healthy dog.

I telephoned at noon to see when I could collect him. I was told he was actually having the x-ray and blood tests as we spoke. I was told to ring again at 2pm. Then vet phoned my husband at 2pm to say that Eddie was dead. We were in total shock, I was hysterical, we were devasted and still are.

A few days after when my husbands grief was more under control he had a chat with the vet. The vet and all the staff were also distraught. The vet explained that Eddie had been given the reversal for the sedation and come round okay and was in his pen awaiting collection. Meanwhile the tests were coming through on the machine. The x-rays showed nothing except abuild up of gas in the chest. The blood tests revealed Eddie's potassium levels were off the scale and Addisons disease was confirmed. By the time the vet got to Eddie,it was too late.

Since this terrible day I have trawled the internet to find out more about this condition as it is not mentioned in our many Poodle books. We have found from the internet and talking to people about their Addisons dogs's that many vets are not picking up on the symptoms early (although I must add this was not the case with our vets). Thus many Addisons dogs suffer for months before the ACTH test is undertaken. This delay can be traumatic for the dog and owner as the dog dies going into Addisonian crisis, as in our case. I must stress at this point that Addisons disease once diagnosed is very treatable, with appropriate medication prescribed by your vet.

We have also found out from American websites that young Standard Poodles, male or female are predisposed to Addisons disease, and this is not mentioned in the poodle books in the UK. If it had been, we, as caring Poodle owners, would probably have picked up on it.

The symptoms of Addison's disease are: lethargy, depression/nervousness/shaking, vomiting, loss of appetite, slow heart rate, regurgitation/burping, possible abdominal pain. I understand these symptoms could cover a multitude of dog ailments, however if these symptoms are treated and your dog still displays them after 48 hours have elapsed, please consider Eddie's story and ask your vet to test for Addisons disease immediately.

If Eddie's story has been useful to you in any way please e-mail me at: ollieddie@wendymut.fsnet.co.uk