Addison's Disease in Dogs

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Encyclopedia of Canine Veterinary Medical Information

Addison's disease (Hypoadrenocorticism)

Addison's disease is also known as hypoadrenocorticism. It is an insufficient production of adrenal hormones by the adrenal gland. Since these hormones are essential for life, this is an extremely serious disease and it must be treated as such.

Adrenal insufficiency can be primary or secondary. Primary adrenocorticism affects salt/potassium balance in the body and glucorticoid as well. Secondary adrenocorticism usually only affects the glucocorticoids. It is not known why primary adrenocorticism occurs but it may be an immune mediated process. Secondary adrenocorticism probably occurs most often when prednisone or other cortisone being administered for medical reasons are suddenly withdrawn. It can occur as a result of pituitary cancer or some other process that interferes with production of hormones that stimulate the adrenal glands.

Most dogs with Addison's disease initially have gastrointestinal disturbances like vomiting. Lethargy it also a common early sign. Poor appetite can occur as well. These are pretty vague signs and it is extremely easy to miss this disease. More severe signs occur when a dog with hypoadrenocorticism is stressed or when potassium levels get high enough to interfere with heart function. Dogs with this problem will sometimes suffer severe shock symptoms when stressed, which can lead to a rapid death. When potassium levels get high heart arrythmias occur or even heart stoppage which also is fatal. In some cases, especially secondary Addison's disease, there are no detectable electrolyte changes.

This disease can be picked up by changes in the ratio between sodium or potassium by accident at times. When this happens it is still extremely important to treat for it. It is confirmed by an ACTH response test -- administration of this hormone should stimulate production of adrenal hormones. If this does not occur then hypoadrenocorticism is present. In cases in which the electrolyte levels are normal this is the only test for the problem and it will be missed unless it is looked for specifically. At times this disease can be hard to differentiate from renal failure because the symptoms and even the bloodwork can be similar ---- so the ACTH response test may be necessary to differentiate them.

Treatment for this disease is usually done by oral administration of fludrocortisone acetate (Flurinaf), salting the food, and administration of corticosteroids like prednisone. In a crisis situation this disorder must be treated more aggressively with intravenous fluids, IV glucocorticoids and correction of acid/base balances.

You have to pay close attention to a dog with this problem. Don't ignore any changes in appetite, GI disturbances or anything else that makes you think your dog is ill. If you work with your vet and are careful about following his or her directions this disease has a good prognosis when it is discovered before a crisis occurs.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Service
• Dog
• with
• Addison's
• Disease.Canine
• Addisonian
• Crisis

[Spalooosh]

This is a total abuse of a dog. Notice the tail wagging of the tail, the flooring? No blankets.? The dog should have seen a vet. I haven't much money. The money I do have I spend on me and my dog. This dog should not have been left on a cold floor by the owner, all alone and video taped.

[pmh72656]

@ SPALOOOSH

THIS VIDEO HELPED IN SAVING HIS LIFE! PEOPLE LIKE YOU JUST KNOW HOW TO SHOOT THERE MOUTHS OFF!

all that cums out of you mouth is SPALOOOSH!

[Spalooosh]

This is animal abuse,

[pmh72656]

SPALOOSH

your an idiot! and i hope you dont own any animals, being as stupid as you are!

[pmh72656]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss.

[dancewithmepba]

My bullmastiff is suffering with these symptoms but the vet said it is most likely a cancer because his calcium is very high---with Addisons is there calcium very high?

[pmh72656]

Usually the blood calcium is high in the initial stages of Addison's because they are in renal failure... once they're diagnosed and treated, the calcium returns to normal. Otherwise a high blood calcium is highly suggestive of cancer :-(

[MrRedsox321]

My dog just died last night of addisons disease. He also had a blood disorder where red blood cells were abnormal. Less severe than cancer but still deadly. I honestly thought he would die 1 2 years ago. He got alot longer than we all expected. :(

[angelinsatin]

its the same with people with addisons we shiver the dog was shivering thats all i dont get the science bit i just know as i have addisons

[AprilsRevenge24]

Did you dog make it??

[UbberNews24]

@pmh72656 Anyone in need of Fludrocortisone Acetate Tablets (Florinef) 0.1mg (100mcg) with Addison's Disease please contact me. My dog unhappily has passed away last week. I have 6 brand new unopened boxes I'm trying to donate. I used to keep extras at home since they need it for life. If you live in the USA, please send me a message so I can mail it to you. My email is ldhk7737 at hotmail dot com (youtube doesn't allow email format, but I guess you can figure)

[UbberNews24]

Anyone in need of Fludrocortisone Acetate Tablets (Florinef) 0.1mg (100mcg) for dogs with Addison's Disease please contact me. It's an expensive medication and my dog unhappily has passed away last week. I have 6 brand new unopened boxes I'm trying to donate. I used to keep extras at home since they need it for life. If you live in the USA, please send me a message so I can mail it to you. My email is ldhk7737 at hotmail dot com (youtube doesn't allow email format, but I guess you can figure)

[UbberNews24]

Anyone in need of Fludrocortisone Acetate Tablets (Florinef) 0.1mg (100mcg) for dogs with Addison's Disease please contact me. It's an expensive medication and my dog unhappily has passed away last week. I have 6 brand new unopened boxes I'm trying to donate. I used to keep extras at home since they need it for life. If you live in the USA, please send me a message so I can mail it to you. My email is ldhk7737 at hotmail dot com (youtube doesn't allow email format, but I guess you can figure)

[blacksheepgirl]

Hi, I have addisons and I have to take cortisol.. cortisone* Did that dog take cortisone? You can die if not.:( Just asking.

[DoubleAlexAppel]

im cryin



[777bungie]

aww my dog has that but im just giving you aadvise you should go see the vets and they will give you pills and it probly will be 50 dollars a month or something but if you say you do not want to it will be worth it because then you dont have to leave ur best friend like i did but my best friend didn';t have that mine had artheritis and had to be put down because she could not walk if you look at my videos you will see the one of only the black dog I MISS HER SO MUCH RIGHT NOW I WANT TO CRY

[itachilove113]

@Spalooosh

1st of all. My dog passed away from this rare and fatal disease on Oct. 28th 2010 because no one in my family had the will or enough money to pay for the put down or the treatment! I'm 16 for God's sake and I'm the one who had to pay for most of my dog's needs! I wasn't going to force her to go through life on medication, nor was I going to use a chemical to put her down! It's corrupts the purity of the body! I barely had any money to pay my gas bill the month she died!

[MicaFeather]

I don't understand why you took the time to take this video and didn't take your dog to an animal hospital. He's in the middle of an addisonian crisis (The shaking of his body gave it away). This is an medical emergency as your dog can die withing hours of the onset.