Addison symptoms reminder

I had an interesting work day today.

The drug rep that brought the free lunch started to ask me questions about Phoebe when he heard me talking to one of my co-workers about taking her to the vet tomorrow morning (to have her electrolytes checked)

I told him all about how she came to be diagnosed with Addison's disease and the awful weekend in January where I almost lost her.

He asked me what the symptoms of Addison's disease are and I told him about the vomiting, diarrhea, depression, weakness, and the shivering/shaking.

It was the shivering and shaking that got him to wonder if his dachshund Siegfried has been doing the shivering/shaking thing a lot lately. He thought he was cold so would wrap him in a blanket, but Siggy would continue to shake. Siggy also has had problems with vomiting and diarrhea.

This drug rep said he was going to call the vet as soon as he was done there and see if he could get Siggy in TODAY to be tested for Addison's.

Siggy is only a year and a half. His brother, Roy (yes, they are Siegfried and Roy!) doesn't have any medical issues.

When I went back to my desk I immediately went to:
http://www.addisondogs.com/addisons/whatis.html

and printed out that page for him and brought back to the lunch room.

He said "Oh bless you!"

Siggy has been on my mind all day. I sure hope that he doesn't have Addison's disease and his current symptoms are the result of something far less serious.

Dr. F, who came into the lunch room while I was talking to the drug rep, I guess later after I left told the guy he should have Siggy seen by a gastroenterologist.

The drug rep, who I don't know what his name is, said that he would let me know how Siggy is doing the next time he came into the clinic to talk with the doctors.

Oh Siggy, you are in my thoughts!

And before I go, I'm going to post the Addison's symptoms yet again to keep everyone aware so that if your dog has any/some of these symptoms you can have your pet checked out IMMEDIATELY.

SYMPTOMS OF ADDISION'S DISEASE:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Depression
Lack of appetite
Tremors or shaking
Muscle weakness
Pain in hind quarters