| Re: Mystery Illness
Has your vet ruled out Addison's disease? My 7 year old Rottie was diagnosed five years ago. He had a lot of the symptoms you described and it took us weeks and several vets to get him diagnosed properly. The anorexia and hind end weakness are typical of the disease, as is the muscle wasting. The indicators in primary Addison's are high potassium and low sodium in the bloodwork. They can still be very sick and have potassium at the high end of normal and the sodium at the low end. Also, IV's for hydration can make the bloodwork look more normal and the dog feel better, and then after the dog is off the IV they seem worse again. Also, dogs can have secondary Addison's and have normal bloodwork but still be very ill. The treatment for secondary Addison's is pred.
Lastly, if you feel that your vet doesn't know what is going on, get a second opinion. I had two vets tell me to put my guy down before I found a third that was able to correctly treat him. Can you find an ACVIM vet or go through a vet school? If you do get a second opinion, take ALL of the tests they have run so far to the new vet, hand deliver them, don't let the old vet fax them over.
I'm sorry your guy is sick. I hope he feels better soon.  |