Iatrogenic Canine Addison's Disease

Cushing's Disease

• Cushing's disease, also known as hyperadrenocorticism, is a condition in which the adrenal gland produce excessive levels of hormones. This disease is the exact opposite of Addison's disease, in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones. Symptoms of Cushing's disease include increased water intake, hair loss, increased urination, thinning of the skin, polyphagia (increased appetite) and an enlarged abdomen. To treat this condition, the dog may undergo surgical removal of a tumor that may be causing the disease or he may require medication to suppress the excessive hormones. For some dogs, these treatments can result in iatrogenic canine Addison's disease.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of Addison's disease may come and go in an affected dog, so the owner may not realize that there is an issue. Dogs who are suffering from Addison's disease will become depressed and have little energy or they may become weak. Some dogs may also become anemic, meaning there is a deficiency of red blood cells. In addition, the affected dog may show an increase in water intake and urination accompanied by loose stool, loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosing iatrogenic Addison's disease is fairly easy, especially since the disease is often the result of treating or over-treating Cushing's disease. However, tests should still be done to confirm the presence of this disease. The dog will require blood work to check the chemical and hormone levels in the blood, thus confirming Addison's disease.

Treatment

• To treat hypoadrenocorticism, also known as Addison's disease, glucocorticoids need to be supplemented. This is ironic to many owners because originally, treatment for Cushing's disease involves suppressing these very same hormones. These supplements are often given twice daily and the dog will require checkups throughout the year to ensure that glucocorticoid levels remain at a healthy level and that any necessary adjustments can be made.

Prevention

• Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent the naturally occurring form of canine Addison's disease. However, owners can attempt to prevent Addison's disease from occurring by not abruptly stopping medications for canine Cushing's disease. Other than this, there is no way to guarantee prevention of canine Addison's disease.