What Is Addison’s Disease?
Addison’s disease or hypoadrenocorticism, is a very serious illness affecting canines, however dogs diagnosed with Addison’s disease are able to live normal lifespans with proper treatment. Addison’s disease occurs when the adrenal glands in the body fail to produce the hormones that they are required to produce.
The most important hormones produced by the adrenal glands are steroids, specifically aldosterone and cortisol. These steroids play a big role in regulating your dog’s internal organs and body systems. Without them, your dog’s body will deteriorate, leading to serious complications and without treatment, even death.
What Causes Addison’s Disease?
In most cases the cause of Addison’s disease in dogs is not known. It is suspected that most cases of Addison’s disease is caused by an autoimmune process. Addison’s disease can also be caused from the destruction of the adrenal glands via a metastatic tumor, hemorrhage, infarction, granulomatous disease, or adrenolytic agents. Addison’s disease can affect any breed of dog, regardless of the age or gender.
Symptoms of Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease can be hard to diagnose as there is many symptoms associated with the disease. Dogs with Addison’s may experience recurrent episodes of gastroenteritis, poor appetite, loss of body condition, and an inability to respond appropriately to stress. These symptoms may appear and reappear and fluctuate in severity.
Reduction in aldosterone can alter the dog’s sodium, chloride, and potassium levels, which affects the kidneys. This can cause circulatory problems with the heart and circulatory system.
Cortisol regulates the production of glucose, regulates metabolism and blood pressure, influences the breakdown of fat and proteins, suppresses inflammation, stimulates the formation of red blood cells, and counteracts stress.
Reduced production of aldosterone and cortisol causes the symptoms that we observe in Addison’s disease.
Symptoms of Addison’s disease include:
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Anorexia
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stools
• Alopecia
• Increased urination
• Increased thirst
• Dehydration
• Shaking
• Weak pulse
• Irregular heart rate
• Low temperature
• Painful abdomen
• Hypoglycemia
• Hyperpigmentation of the skin
Diagnosing Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease is most often diagnosed during an Addisonian crisis. In an Addisonian crisis, the disease reaches an acute stage, and dogs experience life-threatening symptoms like shock and collapse.
When the dog is stabilized from the crisis, we will do testing such as blood work and urinalysis to rule out and diagnose the cause.
Symptoms of Addison’s disease include anemia and high potassium levels and urea in the blood is present along with changes in sodium, chloride, and calcium blood levels.
The definitive test for Addison’s is the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. This test monitors the function of the adrenal glands by introducing the synthetic hormone ACTH. Veterinarians measure the concentration of cortisol before and after ACTH is administered. This lets them know if the adrenal glands are functioning normally.
Treating Addison’s Disease
Once the Addisonian crisis is treated, there is medication your doctor can prescribe to help your dog deal with the deficiency. More than one medication is usually prescribed; an injectable mineralocorticoid (usually DOCP) for monthly use and a daily steroid (prednisone).
Addison’s disease is not curable. Your dog will need to take these replacement hormones for the rest of his life, and the dosage may need to be adjusted as time goes by, especially during times of stress. It is very important that owners do not try to adjust the medication themselves at home or change brands without consulting with their veterinarian.
The first month after diagnosis you will need to bring your dog in frequently for blood work so that your veterinarian can measure your dog’s hormones and his electrolyte levels. This helps your veterinarian find the right dosage for your dog. After that, expect to bring your dog in once a month for a shot of replacement hormones.
Preventing Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease is not usually preventable. Monitor your dog carefully, monitor for symptoms of Addison’s disease or Addisonian crisis, and follow veterinarian directions for dosing strictly.
Sometimes a rapid withdrawal of a steroidal drug like prednisone can cause Addison’s.
Following your veterinarian’s instructions about your dog’s medication is the best way to prevent serious complications like Addison’s disease.
McQueen Animal Hospital is proud to provide you with finest quality services in animal care in the Brampton region; we are located at 8975 McLaughlin Road, L6Y 0Z6 and are happy to answer any of your questions via phone at 905-455-7387.
Author: Jessica Wilkans, RVT at McQueen Animal Hospital
