Articles with endocrine diseases

Dog Addison’s Diagnosis: Gracie Lou Clough’s Story

Canine Addison’s disease can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated. Canine Addison’s disease doesn’t have a cure, but it can be managed with treatment. Thank you, Bobbi Borst Clough, for sharing Gracie Lou’s story. Gracie Lou’s story The background Gracie was a 10-year-old 134 lb English Mastiff. Gracie was abused until she was six months old. She then went…

by Jana Rade

Canine Addison’s Disease Awareness: Valentino’s Story

Canine Addison’s disease is referred to as the great pretender for a reason. The signs and symptoms are ambiguous and can be interpreted in many different ways. Sadly, many dogs don’t get their diagnosis until they collapse. Thank you, Deanna Lee, for sharing Valentino’s story to help raise awareness for this disease. Valentino’s story Valentino came into my life in…

by Jana Rade

Euthyroid Sick Syndrome in Dogs: When Is Hypothyroidism not Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases I see in dogs. It occurs most frequently in middle-aged (4-10 years old) medium to large-breed dogs. Vulnerable breeds include: Doberman Pinschers Golden Retrievers Irish Setters Miniature Schnauzers Dachshunds Cocker Spaniels and Airedale Terriers Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland secretes less thyroid hormone than normal. Common causes include: inflammation…

by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM

Addison’s Disease in a Chihuahua: Kermit’s Story

In dogs, the main cause of Addison’s disease is an immune process. Dogs can show a variety of different signs and symptoms of Addison’s disease, including lethargy vomiting diarrhea lack of appetite shaking and weakness Addison’s disease in a Chihuahua Kermit was a spirited sweetie with a unique personality, adopted as a stray. He was an oddball, who brought his…

by Jana Rade

Hannah Gets Ill: Addison’s Disease Awareness—What’s Wrong With Hannah?

Addison’s disease is caused by adrenal insufficiency. It is a condition in which the adrenal glands fail to produce enough steroid hormones. Whether there are too many or too little of these hormones in the blood, your dog can get quite ill. Further reading: The Function of Cortisol: What Happens In A Dog’s Body When It Goes Awry? Thank you,…

by Jana Rade

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care into my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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