Be Careful to Understand Your Breed and Related Health Issues

[Lake Girl, Lizette]

THIS IS FOR ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE A DOODLE THAT HAS HEALTH PROBLEMS,  and this may help you save money and many heartaches, constant conflict, and sleepless nights, such as we have experienced.  We have experienced overwhelming anxieties concerning our sweet Molly.   Doodles are not super hybrids resilient to disease, but unfortunately, as I have learned dogs that can carry the genetic disorders of every co-mingled pedigree in their line. So, know the positive and negative traits inherent in your dog's line.   Know the potential for disease that can be found in your dog's pedigree and breed.  Knowledge is a tool and resource for making the right choice in selecting your forever pet.   Addison's disease is a very serious disease and your pet could die if left undiagnosed and untreated.  It is very expensive to diagnose and treat, but treatable.   Note a labradoodle or goldendoodle can inherit the genetic problems common in both breeds instead of just one.  My goldendoodle Molly, was diagnosed two week's ago with Addison's Disease.  Please note the health issues my Molly experienced for 5 years before being diagnosed, and only when her condition worsened with time.   We came really close to losing her in July, 2013.  She was continually sick throughout the years.   When we got her she showed signs of stomach issues.  She was only 10 weeks old, and like my vet, we thought it might have been her trip and the change in her surroundings initially.  We realized something was amiss when time did not ease her symptoms.  They came and went, and she always seemed to get stomach bacteria infections.  I cannot tell you how many times she was on antibiotics. Our vet diagnosed GI issues with possible autoimmune deficiency in a letter to her breeder.  Her symptoms were as follows:  vomiting, lack of appetite, muscle weakness/tremors, constant chewing and scratching, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), and getting bacterial stomach infections.   We had blood work done  a lot, numerous fecal tests, exploratory surgery, x rays, etc.   We had intervals when she would be fine, and then she would get sick again.  We have had her IV'd for dehydration and hospitalization when she was very ill.  This went on for 5 years.  This also affected my relationship with my husband.  We would be at odds with each other about her symptoms, treatment, costs, food, etc.  I spent a fortune on food...even cooking it from scratch as well.   We were forced to change travel plans, outings, etc. when Molly got ill.    Recently, we were notified that Addison's runs in her pedigree, and so I contacted the vet and he immediately scheduled her for an ACTH test. Two days later I got a call late in the evening from my vet with the diagnosis, I was shocked and upset. She had an abnormal ACTH test result.   I didn't sleep all night, but was researching and trying to understand what she had.  We finally got an answer to her health issues. I was torn between relief in knowing it was nothing I was doing wrong, being extremely upset and angry, and some trepidation of what the future would have in store for us.   As my former posts will relate from the the onset...I had DoodleKisses members mention allergies, food issues, etc.  We came within minutes of losing her this past summer.  We also learned that stress, holidays, leaving, all manner of  life circumstances could upset her and trigger Addison's Disease resulting in her getting ill.  My dog showed symptoms from the moment we got her.  For many dog owners, the crisis is their first sign that something is wrong.   About 30 to 35 percent of dogs with Addison’s are initially diagnosed during a crisis. Dogs treated in time with intravenous fluid therapy and glucocorticoid steroids show such rapid improvement that it seems a miracle cure, though some have to be monitored and treated for several days before their condition stabilizes. The cure is temporary, for without appropriate maintenance care, another crisis will follow.  My point is...be aware of Addison's disease.   Be aware it is prevelant in poodles...regardless of size...and your doodle breed which is part poodle.   This disease was first noted in dogs in 1953 according to Wikipedia.   Good luck to all of you who have a pet that has health issues in seeking resolution.  I pray you resolve them much more expeditiously then I did.  Note a labradoodle or goldendoodle can get the genetic problems common in both breeds instead of just one.    

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I dont know if this will help you but I thought of you while when I found this site while looking for something else.

This is a poodle health registry site.

There is a lot of information and collection of data base information regarding Poodles and Addison's disease.

http://www.poodlehealthregistry.org/docs/PHRBreed_Listing.html

[Leslie and Halas]

Thanks for sharing your story. It's good that you finally have a diagnosis.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Very informative post. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and I hope you and Molly have a very happy healthy 2014!

[Jennifer and Jack]

I know Addison's disease all to well. I am a human with primary Addison's disease and I suffered for years with no specific symptoms, was labeled fibromyalgia...chronic fatigue syndrome and depression.... Long long story short....after having large patches of brown spots in me and being near death I had the ACTH stim test and literally my cortisol level didn't even rise one point.... At first I only needed cortison replacement now I have to take Florineff.

You are right during stressful periods of time emotional or physical they need extra steroids.....

Jack started showing signs of disinterest in the functions of daily life, hiding when it was time for a walk etc...and not able to jump up on furniture even at two...he was stim tested and while his cortisol was low he responded ......I caught it early ...he is now going to be five..and he flunks the stim test now but just barely flunks it... He has been on prednisolone for a while now and we saw great improvement with that......now he gets lab work every six months and we watch his electrolytes...so far he hasn't needed help maintaining his electrolytes.....I was the same way at first...

Addison's disease is a pain but thankfully it is treatable......I hope you have insurance and yes I agree education and knowing what to look for are key

Of interest..JFK had Addison's disease too!!!!

Thanks for sharing your story.

[Gail and Bailey]

Thank you for sharing your experience.  Sorry you had such a hard time getting a diagnosis but happy that Molly has had you as a wonderful Doodle Mom!!  Wishing you many more happy years together!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am so sorry it took 5 years for a diagnosis!! 25 years ago our Bearded Collie was diagnosed at 11 months old with Addison's. I was lucky that my vet knew that Addison's is prevalent in Beardies. Her symptoms that made me take her to the vet was walking up the steps like she was drunk. With a great vet (no internet back then) we were able to keep her healthy another 13 years!!! 

Stress - good and bad - can put them into an Addisonian episode so I found a groomer to come to our home in his van (remember this was 25 years ago and they were very rare!!) and I had her groomed every 3 weeks so it only took him 45 minutes. I knew that she needed to have steroids the night before so she would not have an episode. 

Paws crossed she stays healthy and you can sleep with both eyes closed knowing she is now okay!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for the warning. I am surprised no one thought of Addison's disease in dogs until 1953 since it has been known in humans since 1849. However, I am glad Molly was finally diagnosed and I hope she has many goodyears ahead of her with treatment.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you for your help. This blog is very helpful and informative for all of us to more quickly recognize Addisons. It is also helpful for those expecting the "hybrid vigor" so often advertised by breeders. Before joining DK I thought doodles had this magical hybrid vigor. I realize now how foolish that was. I am sure your blog will help others looking for pups. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thank you so much for sharing this....I know that it will be helpful to others.  Maybe it would be possible to cross post it in the Health and Medical group with some tags so that others searching in the future could reference it and understand your experience.  I so admire you for sticking by Molly through all of this.  I pray that things will improve now that you have a diagnosis and that the worst is behind you.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you for posting this, Lizette. I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this with Molly, and hopefully by telling her story, you'll help other dogs and owners. 

When JD's allergy issues first appeared early on, the advice I got from other well-meaning people in internet forums mostly centered on food, and of course that turned out to have nothing at all to do with his problems. Fortunately, my vet recognized that we might be dealing with Atopy and referred me to a specialist. I will always be grateful for that, as it alleviated a lot of needless suffering and discomfort for JD. I only wish I had consulted the specialist sooner. Now, I try to pass on what I learned in the hopes that it will help other dogs and owners. JD's Atopy is also a genetic disease, and Labs are the number 2 breed affected. Golden Retrievers are also over-represented among dogs with Atopy. JD has since been diagnosed with a second immune-mediated disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and it took weeks and thousands of dollars to get that diagnosis, again through a specialist. By that time, he was gravely ill; another week without proper treatment  and I might have lost him.

Both diseases are immune-mediated, both are treatable but not curable, the treatment is for life, and it is extremely expensive and time-consuming to manage them. 

JD also has structural problems which have caused several paw injuries, and probably contributed to his having a ruptured lumber disc which also requires ongoing treatment. 

JD came from a puppy mill; Molly came from a reputable breeder. Both have incurable genetic diseases for which no genetic testing of the parent dogs is available. In some cases, though, knowing the bloodlines, knowing which dogs to breed with which other dogs (instead of breeding any lab with any poodle) and waiting until a dog is 2 years to breed him or her can help alleviate some of these horrible diseases. But the fact is that Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are susceptible to just about anything that their parent breeds are susceptible to; "hybrid vigor" is a big crock of doo-doo when it comes to these dogs, and it's important for potential doodle owners to know that. 

Hugs to you and Molly, may she do well and thrive.