We had Jack's electrolytes tested again, but weren't very 'on the ball' about setting the appointment.  As a result, while his 'lytes were dead on in the center of the range, we're not sure how he's doing at day 28.
At about 23 days, his N=146 (midpoint 146.5), and his K=4.3 (midpoint 4.55), which really seems good enough as he shows no clinical symptoms at day 28.  Unless we really want to try to reduce the dosage, this seems like a pretty good routine to me.

We went up the ridge this morning, day 28 in his DOCP cycle, and while he was a little subdued, that could have been from a lot of things, including having a fairly big day yesterday.  I gave him his injection after we got back and he had a chance to chill a bit.  He was so sweet about it.  It itched a little afterward, but a cookie made everything OK.
I'll make a point to check his 'lytes again perhaps in January at day 28.

We got a chance to go for a hike last weekend with "Poodles at Play" a group of standard poodle owners from all over the region.  Some came from as far away as Merced and Sacramento to do a hike from Bort Meadow to the Stone Bridge and back in the Chabot park.
While Jack didn't take the opportunity to actually "play", he did get along well with everyone, and stuck with me like velcro.  I think there were about 20 dogs, and it was just a hoot.  I hope to do more with them.

The silver girl here is Emmy.  She's new, and I was kinda smitten with  her....

First Jackpacking trip!

Just back from a 3 day trip to Hoover Wilderness, just NE of Yosemite, near Bridgeport CA.  Jack did his first backpacking trip with a musical friend of mine, Chris and me.  The aspen were incredible!

Jack carried about 4lbs, he had the water filter, kibble and some cookies in his pack.  We climbed from the trailhead at about 7500' to just about 9000' at Green Lake, up the Green Creek Valley

He seemed to really enjoy the trail, as he usually does.  There were a few things to get used to, like being out after dark (!!), sleeping in a tent, eating bits of the human's leftovers (yum!).
As you might expect, he's got a great sense of where a vague trail goes.  If he's ahead on point, and he misses the trail, he stops and looks at me (yes!).  Once when Chris and I were talking, we almost took the wrong fork in the trail, but Jack just seemed to know the right way to go.

Great alpenglow just after sunset on the first night.

Second day we climbed up to West Lake, another steep climb of about 1500'.  There was a fair amount of rocky stuff we had to cross on this leg, and I think Jacks feet got a little sore from it.

We saw trout spawning in the shallows of this lake, and Jack thought he'd try to bring us back some trout for dinner.  He got soaked, but no trout were harmed.

We're all back after a very long and dusty car ride, and Jack got his 2cc DOCP injection today.  Bath later, and probably a solid nap, with great memories.

First home injection...

I've been watching Jack pretty closely, lately, knowing that we weren't measuring his 'lytes on a monthly basis.  I haven't seen any of the trembles, lethargy or other symptoms of Addisons.
I ordered Percortin from Pet Meds, and cited a 'price match' policy of theirs.  I got it for $161, and hope I can continue getting it at that  price, along with a couple of cheap syringes.
I approached giving Jack his shot with a little trepidation, but it went just as smoothly as I'd expected.  He didn't even seem to feel it, and just enjoyed the attention (and the treat after!).  Staying with the current 2cc dosage for now, though I suspect we can cut it down without any issues.
I started cutting the prednisone tablets into 6 pieces, giving him one twice a day,  without any change in his behavior.
Cleo has started a little 'leaking' during the night, so the vet put her on an Estrogen regime: One/ day for 5 days, and then one every 5 days.  She didn't quite make it to day 5, so we'll keep her on one every 4 for a while.  She's been very perky!  Dancing in the front yard before our walks, and we even ran for a whole block!  She saw a cat and took off like she'd been shot out of a cannon!  Well, a pretty weak cannon, and there wasn't a chance she'd go in the street, or actually CATCH anything.  But it was a gas to see her spring into action again!

Less Prednisone

For a couple of days, we've had Jack on a 1/4 tab of prednisone (1.25mg) twice a day.  I've been noticing some thin spots in his coat, and I'm sure that's from the pred.  So far, so good on that dosage.
We did a full pack walk up the hill this morning in preparation for a couple of little backpacking trips I'm planning.  He did just great.  He started out a little 'skitty', but his confidence returned as we climbed.  Of course, my mind was thinking there might be some correlation between 'skitty' and the pred. dosage.  We'll see.

Stable..but expensive.

Jack's electrolytes are really stable on this 28 day program.  I had the 'lytes tested at day 25 again, and find:
Sodium: 148, +1.5 from midpoint, Potassium: 4.3, -.25 from midpoint, Ratio: 34, +1.5 from midpoint.
I suspect we can ease his dosage down, as DOCP is supposed to be given when K is up above midpoint, and Sodium slightly below.  But his 'lytes results have never looked like that, they've always looked pretty close to healthy.
Clinically, he's healthy, a touch overweight (52.6lbs) active, still a little 'skitty', especially this morning, just before his DOCP injection.
We had his vaccines updated Friday, when they did his 'lytes, so the bill today was a steamin' $427.
If I can do the DOCP myself, I can save $40/bottle (2 injections) on that, $35/injection, and $61 on the electrolytes test.

Jack's Electrolytes		Sodium	Rel to Midpt	Potassium	Rel To Midpt	Ratio	Rel to midpt
Date		midpoint=	146.5	midpoint=	4.55	midpoint=	32.5
4/13/12- midterm		149	2.5	4.3	-0.25	35	2.5
4/24/12-25days		149	2.5	4.3	-0.25	35	2.5
5/8/12- midterm		152	5.5	4.6	0.05	32.5	0
5/21/12-25 day		148	1.5	4.8	0.25	31	-1.5
6/16/12- 25 day		151	4.5	5	0.45	30	-2.5
7/13/12- 25 day		148	1.5	4.3	-0.25	34	1.5

Since my last post, Jack has been getting better all the time.  At least, everything is stable.

We got out of town for a few days at Inn at Schoolhouse Creek near Mendocino.  A very nice road trip that allowed SA to get a long and well deserved massage, and Jack and I to go walk on Big River Beach.  It's now all 'on leash' unfortunately, and the town of Mendocino isn't near as dog-friendly as it used to be.  Probably due to a large influx of drifters, homeless, crazies and their dogs.
Jack got pretty comfy with the idea of just hanging out on the beach... after a while...

I say, if you're going to be a California Dog, you'd better get comfy with hanging out on a beach!

For the 4th of July, we went to Half Moon Bay, where they have a "Dog Parade" within their old fashioned all-community parade.  Jack did really well with this, marching along, distracted by everything from 300 or so dogs to horses, ponies, pigs, chickens, treats, kids throwing candy, food dropped on the ground... Shoo! If that didn't stress him to the breaking point, nothing will.  He's having a pretty good time here:

Sue Ann puttin' on the dog.... 

We met a number of nice poodles, including Ella posing here with Cleo on the lawn before the parade.

I suspect that 28 days is the right amount of time on Jack's DOCP.  I also suspect we can start reducing the dosage, but I need to talk to Dr. Doe about that, and do another electrolytes test.

A great walk up The Hill this morning.  Jack's enthusiasm was almost back to...if not pre-crash levels, at least early post-crash levels.  He dragged going up the hill a bit, but once we got to the second landing, he had some water, and seemed much more comfortable in his skin than he has lately.  He was still a little 'skiddy' about the people we encountered, but we went off leash on the last pitch, and he chased off looking for rabbits for the first time in a long while.  Better still, he returned when I asked him to!
We'll keep watching to see how he does, but I feel pretty good about his medication level and timing.

Day 28 DOCP

It seems the lower amount of prednisone (5mg/ day) is the right amount at this point.  It doesn't make Jack any less crazy, or less 'skiddy', but it keeps him together without the prednisone side effects.  Might be able to go lower still.
Throughout the pred increase, and subsequent decrease, his behavior didn't really change.  That is, his reticence to going up the hill, or anxiety about reaching a certain point and wanting to turn back.  He still does it.
Our hike this weekend was very like the rest.  He got up the trail a few hundred yards, and I had to put him on leash to make him continue.  Once he got into it 3 miles, or so, he was fine.

I decided to wait to his day 25 to get his electrolytes this time.  Very glad I did.  It came back:
NA151 (4.5 above range midpoint)
K 5.0   (.45 above range midpoint)
Ratio: 30 (2.5 below range midpoint).
DOCP dosage is constant at 2ml/50mg Percortin-V on day 28 this time.

Trending this data, it looks like both the Na and K numbers are increasing over the three months.  Sodium is consistently above the range midpoint, and K moving from below to above the range midpoint.
Na/K ratio is consistently declining.
Um... does this mean he's getting too much of a good thing, or that we're doing it right, and can just go to 28 days between injections?  I'm inclined to think we can back his dosage down 10%, and give them on day 28.
It seems a part of my brain is now permanently committed to assessing Jacks biochemical situation relative to behavior and what little analysis we have.

Well, it doesn't seem like MORE prednisone is the answer.  After a conversation with the vet, we took his pred back up to 5mg in the AM, and 2.5 in the PM.  Not good.  WAY too much water/pee/food/runny poop.  In addition, he was panting in his crate.  Back down to 2.5mg AM 2.5PM.
After a couple of days at that level, we'll try The Hill again tomorrow early.

A tiny 'ah-ha!'

Jack has been on 3/4 of a prednisone tab in the morning, and 1/2 in the afternoon since just before his last DOCP.  It occurred to me on a walk up by Lake Chabot this weekend, that this dosing might be the reason for his anxiety at the onset of our walks.
Once again, Jack was anxious going up the hill from Chabot Park, and almost had to be dragged.  We got just about to Bass Cove, and I gave him another quarter tablet (1.25mg) of prednisone.  Within 10 minutes, he was trotting down the trail, just like he and I used to do.
Understanding prednisone dosing is tricky.  It doesn't last all day in the system, like I've been expecting.  I'm thinking now that smaller 'regular' doses, say with breakfast and lunch, accompanied by micro doses, when going out for adventures might be the better way to give it.

We saw a Bald Eagle circling the lake, too!  Great day for wildlife.  Huge roaring bullfrogs, a bird I've never seen before (perhaps a Green Heron?  Wild looking, with a cry to match).  Turkeys up by the campground.

Losing drive?

Since Jack's last DOCP, I've had to drag him on our walks.  At least on the uphills.  He's just not in the kind of 'shape' he was before May 21.  His legs have been getting their strength back, he still likes to stand up and "dance" for a treat.  It's just that he doesn't like the uphill parts of our hikes.
This morning he was a pull toy going up The Hill, even though he didn't have a pack on.  At the top, he was panting, but recovered quickly.  Going downhill his energy seemed to rally, especially when a faun hopped across the trail in front of us.

Jack didn't see the rabbit, so don't feel bad if you don't either

Anxiety...

There's a kind of anxiety I've been noticing in Jack lately, and today it became something we just couldn't ignore.
We might be lighting out for a walk up The Hill, or we might be hitting the trail, as we were today, at Redwood Regional park. Suddenly, Jack will balk at going any further, like he thinks there's a ghost right up ahead.
If he's off leash, he'll actually turn around and head back.  If I call him, he'll wait for me.  If I pursue, he'll just stay ahead.  I have to stop, and demand his recall with a treat.
That's what happened today at Redwood.  I called him back, and we proceeded on leash.  He was fine for a little while, but soon turned into a pull toy.  I was almost dragging him down the trail.
I thought he'd be fine once we got down the trail a bit, but my own anxiety kicked in: what if he's having another crisis?
So, we turned around and headed back, Jack now leading the way.  Off leash, he was fine, waiting for me when I asked.  He just laid down with his head on his paws when we got to the car.  There was no trembling, or any other symptoms I could find.  He was fine when we got home, smilin' and waggin'.  I gave him a quarter of a prednisone tab(1.25mg), and he's been chillin' on the couch this afternoon while I stripped wallpaper.  Nothing wrong with his appetite!
Dang, I miss our great hikes together.  I think I need another consultation with the Vet.
1) Anxiety?
2) His 'aging'.. are there any supplements he's missing?
3) My buying DOCP, and giving the shots at home.
4) "Cumulative effect" of DOCP?

High days, low days

Considering what the boy's been doing I shouldn't have been surprised, or concerned when he had a very low energy day yesterday!  But he's back today!

Steady boy...

We had a pretty big weekend!
Jack was amazingly sharp at agility on Saturday.  He finally conquered the collapsed tunnel or "chute".
We had a friend dog sit Saturday afternoon, as we had friends in town (well, Napa, actually) and couldn't really take the dogs.  All without incident.
Sunday we had the NorCal Poodle Rescue Picnic.  It's held in a very nice dog friendly park in Danville, CA.
All the dogs were perfect party goers.  Except Jack.   All the dogs were interested in each other, and in the humans.  Not Jack.  He was over the moon: "Look at all the food!  And they leave it lying around within dog's reach!"  Of course, since he was on leash, I could curb his enthusiasm.  Then give him a treat when he came to me.  Pretty soon he realized none of that picnic food was available, but the treats were flowing pretty freely!
Cleo, of course, was royal ambassador, greeting everyone with a smile and a wag.  Until it got too hot, and we retired from the field.

We've been walking up The Hill with weights, Jack with just under 5lbs of water in his pack, me with just over 20lbs.  His weight is up and steady at 50.8lb today.  His back end just keeps getting stronger, he's almost back where he was before the Addisons crisis.

Today was DOCP day.
Electrolytes:
Na148 (high in the range, again)  midpoint: 146.5
K: 4.8   (high in the range)           midpoint:  4.55
Ratio: 31                                     midpoint: 32.5

He got the same 50mg/ 2ml of Percortin-V

I'm going to reduce the prednisone to 3/4 of a 5mg tab in the AM, and 1/2 in the PM.

May 13. A great weekend....

Jack and I have decided to get into shape for backpacking.  He's getting stronger, so I decided to try his pack again, with a couple of water bottles in it for weight.  Total weight just over 4lbs.

Saturday morning we set off early (7:30am) for one of our favorite hikes, from Chabot park in San Leandro to Grass Valley.  It's about 5 miles each way, I recon.  It took us just over 4 hours, so that's about right for 10 miles.

The weather was glorious, cool, and sunny.  We were in shade most of the way, but when it warmed up, I just wet Jacks head, ears and back a little and it cools him right down.  The pack was great.  He almost didn't notice it, except on the steep uphills.

We took a few breaks to snack and drink water, of course.  Jack still eats and drinks prodigiously.  I always carry a 5mg tab of prednisone, in case there is any kind of episode.  It was almost like old times.

Monday morning, as I write this, Jack is still pilfering paper out of the recycling basket.  I rigged a little trap with the carton from a pound of butter (irresistible!), with a string tied to three aluminum cans on the shelf high above.  He's sprung the trap twice, so far, only to run upstairs when the cans came crashing down.  Hopefully... he'll get it.

This morning we went up on The Hill again.  Last week when we were there, Jack chased a turkey into flight, and ran off through the high grass.  He came back shaking his head, and I pulled a couple of weeds out of his ears.  It wasn't enough, as he was still shaking his head, so I took him to the vet.  They pulled a long wiry thing out of his ear, and he's been fine since.

So today we went up The Hill on leash.

I put about 20lbs of water in my own pack and 4lbs in Jacks for training purposes.  

All was good, though Jack has been looking over his shoulder a lot, and I had to urge him on.  We're each other's fitness coaches these days.

We were past the third landing, and heading toward the top, when I looked up the trail to see a Very.  Large.  Coyote.  He must have been 70-75lbs, and healthy.  He looked solidly built, not rangy, like you might expect.  If he'd been elsewhere, I might have thought him to be a German Shepherd (except for that face) or a wolf.

Our eyes met at almost at the same instant.  He spun, flashed a bushy tail and vanished.

My head was on a swivel for the rest of the walk, and we didn't hang around at all.  I know I'm not on the menu, but Jack certainly qualified.  I've seen a lot of coyotes, and this guy was the king.  I've seen his poops up there, looking like they were from a large dog or something, but of course, they're full of fur and bones, not like most dogs.

Knowing they're up there isn't the same as actually seeing them, especially in the daylight.

On the way back down, a buzzard landed on a telephone pole right ahead of us, and eyed us with curiosity.  Sorry, not just yet, Mr. Buzzard.  We're still walking.

May 8, 2012

New midterm electrolytes:
Na- 152         mid: 146.5
K-   4.6          mid:  4.3
Ratio: 33         mid:  32.5

Jack has overall been doing pretty well.  We've had his prednisone on a little lower dosage, 5mg AM, 2.5mg PM, for a couple of weeks.  He's been into a couple of stressful situations, including getting jumped by an aggressive larger dog, while on a run with SA.  SA reported some visible trembling after that incident.
The weather has been warm, and Dr. Leaking suggested that might account for the slightly higher Na number.

Jack has not really recovered the exuberance he had before the AD crisis.
Before the crisis, Jack would run up the trail and out of sight with a complete insane-puppy kind of abandon.  He would go crashing through brush on the scent of some critter or another (which once got him sprayed by a skunk).  This behavior is gone.
It's certainly possible that he's matured out of it, somewhat.  But the disease has taken a toll on him, I'm sure.
He did great in agility last weekend, showing good focused excitement.  A couple of very clean runs.  No trembling, and he socialized with the other dogs well.

But I think we can do better with him.  I'm just not quite sure yet how.

May 3, 2012

We've continued to dose Jack with 5mg of prednisone in the morning and 2.5mg in the afternoon.  I'm still getting a lot of hair in the brush.  His energy level is up and down.  
We went up the hill this morning, and he told me he didn't want to go any further, about half way up.  So we turned around.  He perked right up and trotted down the hill.  I'm still not very sure what we're seeing.


We went to the beach last weekend and had a good time.  Jack was finding dead chitons, about 5" around on the beach.  They're like seagoing chewies, and boy do they smell NASTY.  I took about 5 of them away from him, and threw them into the surf.  That dog has a very strong scavenger streak!


Cleo continues to get younger.  She dances around when we're about to go for a walk, and she'll even run circles in the yard!

April 28

After two days of having Jack on 5mg of prednisone a day, SA reported some 'trembling' when she and Jack got home from their run.  It was a pretty chilly morning, but it's more likely he needs a little bigger dose.  So for now, we're going to do a 5mg in the AM and a half tablet at 2.5 in the PM.

Had a great phone discussion with DVM Mike Doe, who's been our vet for many years.

He was very encouraged by Jack's last 'lytes.  I mentioned that the Na/K Ratio and Na was above and the K below the midpoints of the range, probably indicating too much DOCP.  He didn't disagree.  He agreed that we can start to fine tune it down, as long as we continue to do both 12 and 24 day testing this month.  He also agreed that I can take over managing dosages and doing the injection at home, once we have him stable.  He does DOCP injection subcutaneously, not IM.

In other news, our other dog, Cleo, who is a 13yr old Grand Dame has started on Cholodin.  It's made a dramatic difference in her attention, alertness, obedience and everything, in under a week.  Amazing Stuff.  It worked almost miraculously on our late Alex, who suffered from CCD (Poodlesheimers).

Cleo:

More agility today, possibly the beach tomorrow!

April 26

Reading about Prednisone.
I find that too much prednisone leads to:
Hyper thirst and hunger,
thinning skin and hair loss
elevated liver enzymes, which can damage the liver.
I got a full slicker brush off Jack when I brushed him, and before AD, I got almost nothing.  It could be because the weather is warming up, but poodles don't shed.
This IS too much prednisone.
I'm starting an experiment, giving him half his dose of Prednisone, or 5mg/ day.  If he gets lethargic or loses appetite, I'll know to go back to the larger dose.

April 25

Jack's electrolytes were again "fine" yesterday, according to the vets, so we went ahead with the same Percortin injection today: 2mls.

Sodium= 149  Ref range= 139-154

Potasium= 4.3 Ref range= 3.6-5.5

Na/K ratio: 35  Ref range= 27-38

Na is above the midpoint of 146.5.  K is below the midpoint of 4.55.  Ratio Na/K is above the midpoint of 32.5.  I'm curious how much they fluctuate before and after the injection.
I've been told that in the early stages, percortin has a cumulative effect, and his next month lytes might show he's getting too much, with the K too high.

Jack is a little frantic in the mornings until he gets his breakfast.  And then, he's hungry and thirsty most of the time.

I'm curious how the prednisone works.  I understand it's a substitute for Cortisol, a glucocortoid that manages how sugar is metabolized.  It has nothing to do (as I understand it...) with the electrolytes which are managed by the DOCP injection.

I'm curious if Prednisone dosing has any relationship to diabetic or hypoglycemic conditions in dogs.  Always more research to do.

April 22

Frustration today, with how the prednisone has changed this dog.  Everything and anything paper has to go in the mouth.  Yesterday, he ate about half our tax forms.  Yup...ate 'em.
Today on our walk every scrap of paper had to elicit a "leave it" or a "drop it".
Jack was never like this before the onset of AD.
Sooner or later, this dog is going to get hold of something that kills him.  Or, I just keep him in his crate or a leash at all times.
I've got to reduce the prednisone after his next Percortin injection.
I suspect the high level of Prednisone is responsible for his inattention at agility today as well.

April 15... Ski Dog!

Jack and I went up to Carson Pass, near Red Lake early this morning with our friends David and his Pomeranian:  Max.  This was his first experience with snow.
It turns out that Red Lake is a free for all for snowmobiles from Nevada now.
So, we made the strategic decision to ski up a watershed away from the road where the nasty machines were roaring around.
It was a pretty good climb, but the day was beautiful and warm, the snow only a day or so old.  Jack was post-holing and galloping around like a floppy Fozie Bear from the muppets.  Once he figured out that if he stayed behind us on our ski tracks, he wouldn't sink in, he did just great.  In fact, he figured out that he wouldn't sink in at all if he stood on the back of my skis!
After we crested the top and started back down, Jack got very tired.  So we took a break, ate a snack and I gave him his second prednisone of the day.  He rebounded completely in about 20 minutes.
We skied back down to the trailhead without any incident, other than my getting my forearms sunburned.  I've been doing this long enough that you'd think I'd have learned....
Anyway, a beautiful day on the snow, and Max and Jack seemed to have a great time.  Jack is a little tired today, but he doesn't seem stiff at all.  His tail is up and he's smiling, so I don't think we overdid it.

April 14, back to Agility

Back on the full 10mg/day of Prednisone, per Vet's orders, Jack had an accident at the back door this morning. I need to teach him to "touch" my hand with his nose to let him out.  Toni's idea, and it's a good one.

Speakin' of Toni, she took a little video of us running a very simple agility course today.  Jack was really brilliant on the course, with a lot of energy, and a laser focus.  In fact, better than he's ever been.
I've been cautioned about his activity/ stress level so soon after the Addisons crash, but he seemed fine.  I watched him like a hawk, and he was just great.  We quit a little early as he clearly needed to pee.  But it was a big celebration when we got home.
Jack's Agility Run

April 13... First Electrolytes

Jack had his first electrolyte panel yesterday, and it came back dead on normal:
Na 149
K 4.3
Ratio: 35
Chlorides 113
Bicarbonate 20.
The vet made a point of telling me to keep him on the "same dose of prednisone", which he'd set at 10mg/day.
Which I think is too much.

Jack is returning to his former happy, yet still skittish self.  His strength is improving, as he did a couple of perfect "dances" (on his hind legs) in the vet's lobby to the delight of the staff yesterday.  He's starting to pull out ahead of me on walks again (which I do discourage, but it's heartening).
I'm thinking of taking him up to Carson Pass this Sunday for his introduction to snow with David and Max, if the weather looks good.
I'm trying to keep him entertained during the work day with a kong full of cookies.  So far, so good, he hasn't eaten anything wierd.. that.. I ...know..of....
Shoot.  Just as I was typing that, he chewed up a pack of post-it notes.  Aarrrrr.....

April 11...new normal?

As of this writing Apr. 11, he's had no prednisone for 24 hours, and is a very happy guy.  I even got him playing with a rag/squeaky toy last night!  He's never played with toys before.  He got all goofy, it was delightful.
I'm giving him a half a tablet of prednisone this morning with his breakfast.
He's been on brown rice and chicken 'soup', with a little yogurt on the side.  I think giving him small meals and occasional treats throughout the day might help in dealing with the Hungry Coyote pred syndrome.
He will work for a long time to free a cookie wedged into a kong.  Need more toys like this to keep him busy and focused.

April 9... Hunger!

After a few days of giving Jack Prednisone (5mg, 2x day), Jack is constantly hungry.
He picks up bits of paper and chews, sometimes swallowing if we don't tell him to "Leave it".
Occasionally, he brings pieces of paper into the living room, and just drops them there.  We're thinking it's a new game.  Poodles are always coming up with new games, so we laugh along with him.
Easter morning we left both he and Cleo in the back yard to go to church.  Jack has been drinking a lot of water, and his throughput is amazing.  He's had some accidents when he can't get outside fast enough.
When we returned from church, Jack had devoured about half of a paper bag containing wood chips.
Monday, April 9.  Sue Ann left for work, and not 10 minutes later I hear a "crack" sound.  Jack is in the living room, a broken prednisone bottle is on the floor, along with about 5 doses of pred.  Oh..no.
Rushed him to the vet, as he's probably eaten 20-25 doses.  They induce vomiting.
We now realize we need to change all the rules around here about dog access.

Reaction Mar 31 2012

Jack started eating again the next morning, a combination of reluctant and desperately hungry, if that makes any sense.  I could only get him to eat a liver treat or two at first. That evening, Mar 31, he ate a full meal again, and was smiling and wagging for the first time in a week.
I'd been reading everything I could find about AD, trying to understand the relationship between hormones and electrolytes that seem to be the key to the goal of returning Jack to some semblance of his former happy (if slightly nutty) athletic self.

Diagnosis, March 2012

March 25, 2012: Jack and I went up to one of our favorite hikes, near Skyline and Joaqin Miller roads in the Oakland hills.  Jack was very low key, and hadn't finished  his breakfast, which was rare for him.
All through the hike, his energy was low, and he stayed right behind my knee, instead of running up ahead and waiting for me..."are you coming?".  He didn't want to interact with other dogs or humans on the trail, also uncommon for him.
He didn't touch his supper.  We knew there was something wrong at that point.
He wouldn't eat anything else again until Tuesday morning Mar 27.  He ate part of his breakfast, so we thought whatever had been wrong might be turning around.
However we noticed an odd quivering when he was laying on the couch with us.  Like a little shiver occasionally.
Over the next couple of days, this got worse and he'd just spend the whole day in his crate.
We got him into the vet Mar 29.  They examined blood, stool and urine.  When the test results came back, the electrolytes were off enough to reinforce our fears: Addison's Disease.
As he was continuing to decline the vet, Dr. Michael Doe, suggested we start a course of treatment including a Percortin-V (DOCP) injection of 2ml/50mg (based upon the recommended dosage of 10mg/lb) and 5mg of Prednisone.  They also administered the ACTH test, and sent the sample off to the lab.
The next day March 30, the ACTH results indicated no adrenal stimulation at all, confirming the Addison's diagnosis.