Therapy for Addison's Disease in Dogs

Addison's disease in dogs, also known as hypoadrenocortocism, is a potentially fatal disease of the adrenal glands. In dogs with this disease, the adrenal glands have deteriorated or have been partly destroyed, resulting in illness. While the disease is treatable, proper veterinary care, medication and therapy are essential in weaning your pet back to health. While therapy is individualized for each case, it is often necessary to lower potassium and calcium levels and to restore electrolytes.

  1. Symptoms

    • Dogs with Addison's disease are often very lethargic and may seem unusually lazy. Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and muscle shaking are common symptoms as well. If the disease goes untreated, an "Addisonian crisis" may occur, where potassium levels rise and blood pressure falls, putting the kidneys at risk of failing.

    Types

    • Sometimes, a dog can get a sudden onset of Addison's disease if it abruptly stops receiving steroid medication. Such incidents are Addisonian crises and require immediate action in the form of intravenous fluids (containing electrolytes) or corticosteroid and mineralocorticoid replacement therapy. Such replacement therapy is also used in dogs with chronic Addison's disease, along with daily salt implementation.

    Diagnosis

    • Addison's disease in dogs has similar symptoms to several other common diseases, so having tests done at the vet is very important. If your dog has any symptoms, it's important to have a full physical done. Your vet will likely want to have blood and urine tested and possible chest and abdomen X-rays or ultrasounds done. An ACTH stimulation test is often necessary to test cortisol levels.

    Gender and Breed

    • About 70 percent of all cases of Addison's disease in dogs occur in females. Some dogs tend to get the disease more often than others: Airedales, German shepherds, wheaten terriers and great Danes are a few of breeds that seem to be more susceptible to the disease.

    Prospects

    • Addison's disease is treatable. Dogs that get the disease are usually able to make a full recovery, as long as medication and therapy regiments are strictly followed. Vets often recommend coming back for electrolyte checks for several weeks.