Addison's disease is a chemical imbalance that can affect dogs of any age. This malfunction of the adrenal gland is more prominent in some breeds, including collies, standard poodles, Great Danes and Wheaten terriers. Female dogs display Addison's more often than males. This genetic disorder can be "turned on" by any one of several causes.
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Chemical Imbalance
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At its base, Addison's disease is caused by a lack of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood. The lack of this hormone causes a dog's body to under-react to standard stimuli. Because cortisol has a role in converting food to energy, a dog becomes listless, depressed and fatigued, and may show signs of sweating and muscle pain.
Adrenal Malfunction
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Since cortisol is released by the adrenal gland, a lack of cortisol means that there is a malfunction in the gland. There are several different possible causes for this: an adrenal gland that never formed properly, a lack of material being delivered to the adrenal gland for cortisol production, destruction of the adrenal gland through an autoimmune attack or disruption of the adrenal gland's function through a brain tumor.
Medications
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Extensive use of steroids can bring on Addison's disease in dogs, because steroids actively damage the adrenal gland. Dogs put on cortisol-restricting medications to control Cushing's disease can become Addison's-positive and deficient in cortisol.
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