Hydrocortisone for Cortisol Deficiency

Addison's disease is a fairly rare endocrine disorder in dogs. It causes an lack of production of cortisol, which can result in a dog requiring hydrocortisone.

  1. Cortisol

    • A dog's body needs cortisol to create glucose, conserve it and to perform anti-inflammatory functions. A dog with a cortisol deficiency could experience vomiting, tiredness and weight loss.

    Hydrocortisone

    • Hydrocortisone can be given intravenously to a dog experiencing a critical drop in cortisol levels. A dog with Addison's disease can be giving hydrocortisone tablets to control the condition, according to "The Whole Dog Journal."

    Considerations

    • It can take time to determine the correct dosage of hydrocortisone needed to compensate for a dog's cortisol deficiency, so the amount administered could be raised or lowered until the right balance is found.