title: Clinical features of hypoadrenocorticism in soft-coated wheaten terrier dogs: 82 cases (1979-2013).
abstract: The objective of this retrospective case series, which included 82 client-owned soft-coated wheaten terriers, was to characterize clinical features of hypoadrenocorticism in this breed. Median age at diagnosis was 3.5 years. There was no gender predilection. Clinicopathologic findings included sodium/potassium ratio < 27 (85%), hyperkalemia (76%), hyponatremia (63%), elevated blood urea nitrogen (83%) or creatinine (71%), and hypercalcemia (36%). Nine dogs with normal sodium and potassium (11%) were older and less often azotemic, hyperphosphatemic, or hypercalcemic. Twenty-one dogs (26%) developed protein-losing nephropathy (n = 18) and/or end-stage renal disease (n = 3). Overall median survival time was 5.4 years, but was shorter in dogs with normal sodium and potassium at diagnosis (4.2 years), or those with subsequent protein-losing nephropathy (4.2 years). This population showed no gender predilection, unlike that reported in the general canine population with hypoadrenocorticism, and more comorbid protein-losing nephropathy than in the general soft-coated wheaten terrier population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Haviland
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Toaff-Rosenstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Meryl P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Littman
mesh_terms: D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male