My Molly was diagnosed with Addison's Disease

[Lake Girl, Lizette]

Have not been on this site for over a year.  Lost my dad and my best friend of 44 years.   We have struggled with our little labradoodle Molly and only recently after 5 years of constant health issues discovered she has Addison's disease.   When we got her she didn't eat well (thought she was picky?), spit up or vomited occasionally, struggled with stomach issues, scratching and chewing all the time, diarrhea, sick a lot!, and we went in and out of the vet office almost monthly.  She has had all kinds of infections in her stomach and bladder...why... apparently immune issues from Addison's disease.  I spent a fortune on food, cooked my own for her, medicine, and she was IV'd for dehydration several times.   Lots and lots of blood work to no avail.   Emotional years coupled with the family loss and our own aging issues.   The cost has been extreme to say the least.  Finally,after a personal friend gave me information that it might be in her line and came from a parent.  I called the vet and he tested her for Addison's disease with the ACTH test.   Yes, we discovered that she has Addison's disease.  Five years of struggling and not knowing what to do.  When we have people over...she got sick, if we left....she got sicker....stress aggravates Addison's disease.  Now we understand so much more.  I tried to call the breeder and owner of the sire to no avail.   I felt that the breeders needed to be made aware of this.  No call back.  Hope her other sisters or brothers don't have this.    We love our Molly so much and it has really taken a toll on her and us emotionally and financially.  She got her first shot this week, and she is also on daily prednisone until she goes in for her monthly blood work and the vet determines the proper dosage of everything.    Glad we finally discovered the reason for Molly's problems.  I hope no one has to go through this.  Left untreated a dog this is a life threatening disease and shortens their life span.  Also, dog breeders need to be made aware and thus prevent future breeding of dogs that carry this negative gene.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Rochelle, Addison's Disease affects Standard Poodles, so Labradoodles are just as likely to have it as Goldendoodles. http://ic.upei.ca/cidd/disorder/hypoadrenocorticism-addisons-disease

[Rochelle Woods]

Karen, I am aware of Addison's being in both.  Since it became known it was an issue in certain lines (both goldendoodle and labradoodle) I and others have become extremely educated on Addison's and I have a lot of information in hand.  Since I also have an affected dog, having every bit of information is important to me as well as continuing to be part of the study being done on Addisons.  I do appreciate your link though.  Thank you.  My comment above about being thankful I wasn't working with my goldendoodle line anymore was directed at the fact that Molly is a goldendoodle and this is the only dog I've personally sent to a family that has had this kind of diagnosis.  Fortunately, I have not had anyone who has purchased a labradoodle from me ever email or call to say they have found their dog was Addison's affected.    

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad that you and other doodle breeders are taking it seriously. It's a devastating disease, and with no way to test for it, it can happen to even the most well-bred dogs from the most conscientious breeders. It's what the breeders do once they are made aware of it in their lines that speaks volumes. 

Doodle rescue has had more than one Labradoodle relinquished by the owners because the dog developed Addison's and the owners could not afford the care and treatments. 

[Lake Girl, Lizette]

I only started reading this post and realized what you wrote.  I contacted you via your website for labradoodles as I had information in my file.  Your personal email has changed since I talked too you last.  Also, my vet's letter which I have a copy of  that I mailed you in 2011  states Molly had inflammatory GI condition likely related to an autoimmune issue.  We were really trying to get to the bottom of her health issues.  I have always been upfront with information that my vet gives me.   Could you let me know when you spayed her mother...what year that you stopped breeding her.  Thanks

[Camilla and Darwin]

I am so sorry to hear about all of this. I am thinking of you and Molly and sending warm fuzzy Holiday wishes your way. :-)

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I hope that the road ahead is smoother for you and for Molly. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

As far as Addison's Disease not being an issue on the radar for most doodle breeders when Molly was purchased, this article from the goldendoodles.com website about Addison's Disease being known to run in some ALDs and Labradoodles was written by a doodle breeder in 2008.  http://goldendoodles.com/health_hereditary/addisons_disease.htm

[Rochelle Woods]

Yes, Krista wrote that when it was beginning to become evident there was an issue, however, the vast majority of breeders were not aware of the issue and there are many still unaware now even though that article and many others are out there.  That article isn't new to me and was shared with the breeding community online, but not all breeders are involved with breeding forums.  To expect everyone to be aware of an issue they have not dealt with or experienced is expecting a heck of a lot of any breeder.  Most who were aware of the growing issue took the information and stored it away, but until a health issue becomes personal to a breeder through experience with it in their own line, they are not prone to diving in and researching it in depth.  There are too many potential health issues to do that with every thing out there.    

Back in 2008, Addison's wasn't an issue in any line I was personally involved with, and since there isn't a way to test for it genetically, a breeder can only continue to operate on the premise that there isn't an issue in their line until proven otherwise through a diagnosed case.   I, like many others, were breeding what we believed to healthy dogs and puppies without any serious health issues.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would hope that any breeder of any type of dog would familiarize themselves thoroughly with all genetic disease common to their breed before they started breeding that type of dog. Heck, I'm aware of them, and I'm not a breeder. I disagree that it is expecting a lot of a breeder to be aware of genetic diseases that they have not personally experienced or dealt with. For example, I'm guessing that you are aware of PRA, even though you hopefully haven't dealt with it in your lines or experienced it personally. 

And it doesn't take participation in an online forum for anyone to familiarize themselves with any kind of disease, the information is readily available. Any breed you even begin to research or look into, you find the common genetic diseases that affect that breed in even the most basic description or article. One would hope that anyone who chooses to bring living creatures into the world and sell them would be thoroughly familiar with all aspects of their breed, or product, if you will, especially health issues. 

[Rochelle Woods]

Karen, familiarizing yourself and being aware of diseases common to your breed is certainly important!  I never said it wasn't.   I am fully aware of all the potential issues in the dogs I am breeding, or at least I hope I am.  I have nothing to defend as far as my own personal investment of time and energy into breeding issues, because I can guarantee you it is far and above what most breeders I know have invested.  Do I have a full and in depth grasp of every potential health issue?  No.  Does that make me irresponsible?  No.  Being aware and having a thorough understanding are two different things.  I hope all breeders take their role of creating life seriously and invest time into understanding things at least at a basic level, until a situation warrants understanding it in depth.

I appreciate your passion about caring for the lives that breeders choose to breed.  I share that passion!  I believe that if I've chosen to create life, then I'm responsible for it. Unfortunately, not all breeders feel the same.  

[Oliver & Elizabeth]

Rochelle, I appreciate your dedication to creating a diverse and healthy ALD gene pool. As we are becoming increasingly aware that Addison's Disease is appearing within the ALD breed, do you know if the ALAA plans to share with pet owners information on impacted lines as is currently done with poodles? As Addison's is heritable, it would help us to make informed health decisions about our pets. As you mentioned this illness impacts some of the most reputable and responsible breeders, but being a responsible pet owner that cares greatly about the health of my dog, I think transparency is key. When I read about Addison's and ALDs online, I get the impression that some breeders (and I'm not referring to my own or any specific breeders) are so concerned with having their breeding dogs associated with Addison's that they forget about the already created pets that could be suffering undiagnosed.

For example, we have been experiencing colitis, appetite issues, and vomiting with my 1 1/2 year old ALD. We have had a blood test and multiple fecal tests run but have been unable to locate any obvious abnormalities, however, it's possible that he could have atypical Addison's which would require more complex tests. It would be nice to know if this is something we should pursue based on his family history or if this is nothing more than a sensitive stomach.

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

Sorry to hear about all your tragedy this past year, and how much Molly has been suffering. What a relief to finally know what the cause is and have treatment plan that will now get her on the right track. She is so lucky to have you and my only question is why had the Vet not ruled this out years ago? Just curious, not blaming.