Cobe

Cobe's health story is not a particularly unique one, but one that every dog owner would benefit by being aware of. Health issues with humans as well as our pets, sometimes sneak up without warning.

Cobe was brought to PAW as a 5 week old puppy, along with his mother. His mother was very skittish and afraid of people, and she passed that emotional fear along to Cobe. At 8 weeks old, when I started bringing him to PAW adoption shows, he would reluctantly greet people and then hide behind my feet - he had had enough socializing! Cobe, today, at four years old, remains fearful of strangers, but he is a most wonderful, playful, and loving dog with people that he has learned to trust. He remained with PAW rather than be adopted out because of his fearfulness and inability to socialize with strangers and enjoy the adoption shows.

In November 2003, on a Saturday, Cobe wouldn't eat his morning meal. This was not much of a concern even though he usually eats well at every meal. Sometimes a dog may just skip a meal and nothing is wrong, but because this was very odd for Cobe, I naturally kept an eye on him. That evening he did not eat again; however, it was still not a big concern because he looked bright eyed and loving as ever. Also, I noticed he had a slight limp, which at first I thought was due to playing with his buddy friends -- maybe he hurt his hind leg. I checked his leg and nothing appeared to be wrong, so I just began to watch him more closely. By this time on a Saturday evening, the vet office was closed for the weekend; I decided would take him to the emergency room should it be necessary, or if things seemed all right, I would at least take him to the vet on Monday morning.

The next morning (Sunday), Cobe did not want to go out, let alone eat or drink water. When he did go out to the deck his first morning outing, his little limp became more pronounced. I noticed a weakness in his hips, and he wobbled. Still, I thought must have hurt his leg and was not eating due to the pain in his leg. I decided right then to take him to the emergency room.

Cobe did his potty right on the deck, which he never would do unless something was really wrong -- it's only two steps down to the grass. When Cobe came in and laid down, I got down on the floor with him and talked soothingly and said everything will be OK. And it was then when my wrist touched his hind leg that I felt the ice cold paw on my wrist.

I felt each of Cobe's paws - all ice cold, and then ran to the other dogs to feel their paws as a way to compare - theirs were all warm. I knew I had a real emergency on my hands. I called the emergency room and got ready to get Cobe into the car, but he couldn't get up and stay up. He partly crawled through the living room to the outside. I was alone, and his 60 pounds were difficult to get into the car, but he was trying to help me, so it was easier than it would have been had he been completely unable to move.

By the time I got to the emergency room, he couldn't walk at all. I had gotten him out of the car but he couldn't get up from the parking lot pavement. I called for help, and the emergency room staff came out and put Cobe on a stretcher and carried him in. Cobe needed fluids because he had become dehydrated. He had to have injections to bring his heart rate up and also to try to regulate his irregular heartbeat. He needed to have medicine to bring his electrolytes up. At this point he was completely unable to get up, all four limbs being "paretic in all four limbs with decreased reflexes." His blood pressure could not be read and an x-ray also showed a small heart. He was also in renal (kidney) failure. This was all so unbelievable, considering the mild, seemingly unrelated symptoms of just a day earlier. Cobe was diagnosed with Addison's disease.

Cobe was kept all day Sunday and Sunday evening while he was stabilized. He was transferred to his veterinarian the following day, where he remained for the entire day, getting more intravenous fluids, antibiotics and electrolytes. He went home the next day with daily doses of Prednizone, a steroid, and he will have to have a monthly shot of desoxycorticosterone pivalate (or "DOCP") for the rest of his life. The DOCP shot is what will keep Cobe alive.

Cobe, today is doing very well. He has gained back the weight he lost, and he plays as happily as he did before. He isn't quite as strong, though, as he used to be and sometimes needs help getting into the car.

If you would like to read more about Addison's disease you can search the Internet for "Addison's disease in dogs." A very nice informational site with pictures is at: http://www.addisondogs.com/index.html.

Cobe's emergency room visit came to about $850, and then with additional follow-up care costing about $150, the entire emergency cost about $1,000. Cobe's monthly DOCP shot cost $87.98. With your support through PAW's Virtual Adoption Program, Cobe can continue to live a happy and safe life with his foster family.

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Go back to Virtual Adoptions page.