Why do dogs get addison disease

Typical symptoms of Addison's Disease include those listed below. It's important for pet parents to note that these symptoms may come and go, and vary in intensity. Symptoms of Addison's Disease can present suddenly and be extremely severe.

When this happens it is known as an Addisonian crisis. Signs of an Addisonian crisis include life-threatening symptoms such as shock and collapse. If your dog experiences these symptoms immediate veterinary care is required! Dogs with Atypical Addison's Disease typically experience less severe symptoms of the disease making the conditions even more challenging to diagnose.

These dogs do not present in Addisonian crisis, or suffer from severe dehydration or shock. Signs of atypical Addison's Disease in dogs may include, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, or weight loss. Typically these dogs experience chronic or intermittent gastrointestinal issues leading up to their diagnosis. Most cases of Addison's Disease in dogs is diagnosed during an Addisonian crisis when the condition is acute and severe.

Once the dog's condition has been stabilized bloodwork and urinalysis will be done to look for signs of the disease such as anemia, high potassium and urea levels in the blood, and unusual levels of sodium, chloride and calcium. A deficiency of these two hormones is referred to as hypoadrenocorticism, or Addison's disease. There are two types of Addison's disease, referred to as primary and secondary Addison's disease.

Why this happens is unknown idiopathic. Certain medications, toxins, cancer, or concurrent disease are less common causes of primary hypoadrenocorticism. Addison's disease may also result when the drug used to treat Cushing's syndrome destroys too much of the adrenal tissues, resulting in a deficiency of cortisol and aldosterone.

Secondary Addison's disease results from a problem, such as a tumor, in the pituitary gland, which is an important hormonal regulator located in the brain. The heart may appear smaller than normal and rarely the esophagus can be enlarged. Long-term treatment involves the administration of hormones in one of two forms: a daily pill or a shot administered about every 25 days.

It may be necessary to increase the amount of hormones given during periods of stress e. Our board-certified veterinarians and specialists can help you get an accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. Call to schedule an appointment or for more information.

This information is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care.