We learned afterward just how difficult Addison’s disease can be to recognize.
It is sometimes called the great imitator because its symptoms can resemble other illnesses. A dog may simply seem tired, lose its appetite, have stomach problems, become weak, or just seem like it isn’t feeling quite right.
And then, sometimes, things can change very quickly.
An Addisonian crisis is a life-threatening emergency. But when Addison’s disease is diagnosed before a crisis occurs, it can be treated, and dogs can often go on to live long, happy lives with ongoing medication and veterinary care.
That knowledge is both comforting and heartbreaking for us.
Because I kept praying for a miracle for Frost.
I wanted her here.
I wanted the treatment to work.
I wanted to bring her home.
I would have gladly given her the medication, the special care, the special food—anything she needed—if only we could have had more time with her.
My husband began researching Addison’s disease after we lost Frost. He learned about the symptoms and the warning signs that other dog owners can watch for.
That research became something more than research.
He created Frost’s page because we hope her story can help someone else.
If another family sees their dog behaving differently—if their dog isn’t eating, seems unusually weak, is vomiting or having diarrhea, is drinking differently, or simply isn’t acting like themselves—we hope they will know that these symptoms can sometimes mean something much more serious.
We hope they will ask questions.
We hope they will get veterinary care.
We hope someone else can catch Addison’s disease before it reaches the crisis that took Frost from us.
There are also resources available to help families with the cost of emergency veterinary care and treatment. We want people to know that they should ask about their options rather than assuming they can’t afford to get help.
If Frost’s story helps even one dog get diagnosed in time, then something good can come from the heartbreak of losing her.