Addison’s Disease
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Our guide has been authored by qualified veterinarians, but should not be taken as substitute for medical advice or professional veterinary consultation. If your pet displays any unusual symptoms, we strongly advise seeking guidance from a veterinarian
Understanding Addison’s Disease in dogs
Addison’s disease, also known as Hypoadrenocorticism, is an endocrine disorder stemming from a disruption in the body’s hormone production. The adrenal glands, located near the kidneys, are responsible for producing steroid hormones like aldosterone and cortisol, which play critical roles in things like regulating blood electrolyte and sugar levels, managing stress responses, and suppressing inflammatory reactions.
This disease affects mostly middle-aged dogs and is more common in females. Symptoms range in severity from mild, intermittent clinical signs to a life-threatening condition known as an “Addisonian crisis”.
Ola's story
Ola is a sweet Miniature Pinscher mix who often eats things she shouldn’t and suffers from diarrhea, so when this exact scenario happened one evening, her owner wasn’t very concerned. However, the following day, Ola seemed completely apathetic. She didn’t want to get up and even refused her favorite treat! She was taken to the vet, who noticed how pale, dehydrated, and weak she was. Blood tests were taken, which revealed severe electrolyte imbalances, raising suspicion of Addison’s disease. Ola received intravenous fluids, and blood samples were sent to the lab. In the meantime, Ola started steroid treatment and recovered almost completely within a few hours. The lab results confirmed the suspicion- Ola had Addison’s disease. She began ongoing treatment with monthly mineralocorticoid injections and daily steroid tablets until she returned to her normal, happy self.
Addison’s Disease's Causes: Uncovering Triggers
The classic form of Addison’s disease results from damage to the adrenal gland tissue due to several possible factors:
- Autoimmune destruction of adrenal tissue linked to genetic predisposition, which is the most common cause.
- Trauma or infection to the adrenal glands
- Medication-induced suppression, often from treating the opposite condition, Cushing’s disease.
- Adrenal or pituitary tumors, which can alter hormone production.
Recognizing Addison’s Disease: Signs and Symptoms
- General weakness and fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Frequent diarrhea: sometimes bloody or very dark
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Increased drinking and urination
- Muscle tremors and twitching
- Collapse, dehydration, and loss of consciousness: in severe cases
It’s important to note that Addison’s disease is often accompanied by these general symptoms, which may come and go, making the condition challenging to diagnose without proper testing.
Addison’s Disease Diagnosis: How it's Identified
As we’ve mentioned, Addison’s disease has a variety of symptoms, which means that any dog showing the above-mentioned signs may raise suspicion for the condition, often requiring further tests to reach a final diagnosis.
- A physical exam may reveal signs such as weakness, dehydration, low heart rate, low body temperature, low blood pressure, bloody stool, or abdominal discomfort.
- In most cases, basic blood and urine tests will show electrolyte imbalances, a lack of change in white blood cell count often seen in sick patients, elevated kidney values, hypoglycemia, and decreased urine concentration. However, in some cases, these signs may not appear.
- The key test for diagnosing Addison’s disease is an ACTH stimulation test, which measures cortisol levels in the blood both before and after attempted stimulation of the adrenal glands. Persistently low cortisol levels in both pre and post samples confirm the diagnosis. In emergency situations, with high suspicion and no time to waste, treatment may begin before the official diagnosis, while awaiting results.
- An abdominal ultrasound can sometimes show smaller-than-normal adrenal glands.
- X-rays, while not diagnostic for Addison’s, may reveal related changes, such as megaesophagus or a small heart consistent with dehydration.
Treating Addison’s Disease: Options and Approaches
Fortunately, Addison’s disease is relatively easy to manage. Treatment involves lifelong administration of low-dose steroid medication to replace that function of the damaged adrenal glands. Regular monitoring is typically required during the initial stages of treatment to evaluate its effectiveness and adjust dosages as needed.
The replacement hormones, known as corticosteroids, are usually given as daily oral tablets. In cases of electrolyte imbalances, monthly mineralocorticoid injections are needed as well. During periods of stress, such as medical procedures or boarding stays, the dosage of steroids may need to be temporarily increased.
In emergency situations of an Addisonian crisis with severe dehydration and collapse, intensive care includes intravenous fluids, dextrose supplementation, urgent administration of corticosteroids, and medications to protect the gastrointestinal system.
Addison’s Disease: Surprising Facts
Addison’s disease is infamous for mimicking other conditions, earning it the nickname “the Great Pretender” in medical literature.
Addison’s disease affects about 0.5% of dogs, with females being twice as likely to develop it. The average age of onset is 5 years old.
The condition is named after Dr. Thomas Addison, an English physician from the 19th century who first described it in humans- not to be confused with the famous inventor Thomas Edison. One of the most notable patients with Addison’s disease was the late President John F. Kennedy.
Vet's Tip: Dealing with Addison’s Disease
Since Addison’s disease doesn’t have clear, definitive symptoms and is typically diagnosed through blood tests, we often recommend conducting these tests whenever the dog is unwell to rule it out, since appropriate treatment can be life-saving.
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Latest in Research and Treatments
A large-scale study involving over 5,000 dogs that was published in the prestigious veterinary journal JAVMA in 2023, found a significantly higher risk of Addison’s disease in neutered males and spayed females. This aligns with previous studies and has contributed to the growing trend of avoiding routine spay and neuter procedures.
dogs breeds Prone to Addison’s Disease
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