Adrenal glands in dogs produce the hormones cortisol and aldosterone, which are necessary for the control of heart rate and blood pressure as well as the regulation of potassium and sodium in the blood. When the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones necessary to perform their metabolic duties, this is called adrenal failure.
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Causes
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Adrenal failure (hypoadrenocorticism) can be caused by trauma, infection, cancer, certain drugs or from an abnormal blood supply to the glands. However, the most common cause of adrenal failure is immune-mediated; the body sees the adrenal glands as foreign objects and attacks them.
Hypoadrenocorticism
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Hypoadrenocorticism can be primary, which is failure of the adrenal glands themselves, or secondary, which is failure of the pituitary gland to produce ACTH. ACTH is a hormone produced in the pituitary gland that tells the adrenal glands to produce glucocorticoids (cortisol). Adrenal failure is known as Addison's disease.
Symptoms
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The symptoms of hypoadrenocorticism mimic other diseases and include lethargy, anorexia, muscle weakness and vomiting. Many dogs have the disease for a long time and are often not diagnosed until they experience an "Addisonian crisis."
Addisonian Crisis
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An Addisonian crisis occurs when sodium and potassium levels become highly elevated causing the body to go into shock and collapse. This is a life-threatening situation and requires emergency treatment.
Treatment
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Dogs with hypoadrenocorticism can live relatively normal lives; however they will require life-long treatment. There are two drugs currently used to treat hypoadrenocorticism: Florinef, which is usually given twice a day; and DOCP, which is a long-acting injectible medication that is given once every 25 days.
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