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Content by Dr Siân Burwood MA VetMB MRCVS
Addison’s disease in dogs is when the adrenal glands near the kidneys don’t produce essential hormones: aldosterone (which controls electrolyte levels) and cortisol (the ‘stress’ hormone’).
These hormones have important roles all over the body. Not producing them can lead to issues with blood pressure, gut function and metabolism.
Technically called ‘hypoadrenocorticism’, this disease can be difficult to diagnose as it looks like many other conditions, and can sometimes suddenly appear as an emergency ‘Addisonian crisis’. While lifelong treatment is needed, once under control, dogs can live full and relatively normal lives with the condition.
The adrenal glands sit next to the kidneys and produce many types of hormones – chemical messengers that tell other parts of the body what to do. Addison’s disease occurs when the adrenal glands no longer produce these hormones, either because of suspected auto-immune disease, or because some other disease (such as cancer) or drugs (such as those used to treat Cushing’s disease) block the gland working normally.
In some very rare cases, if the brain doesn’t produce enough of the hormone that tells the adrenals what to do, this can also cause symptoms.
Most cases of Addison’s disease cause a deficiency of the hormones aldosterone and cortisol. But in ‘atypical Addison’s’, only cortisol is affected.
Addison’s disease is usually first diagnosed in young to middle-aged dogs, with more females affected than males. While any dog can be affected, the disease is seen more frequently in:
Addison’s disease is often referred to as ‘the great pretender’ as it can look like many other diseases – something that can be very frustrating for owners and vets. This is because the hormones involved affect so many body systems. The symptoms are often brought on by stress, and recognising this pattern can be key to tying the waxing and waning episodes together.
Mild symptoms include:
Sometimes dogs develop a very serious rapid presentation of the disease called an Addisonian crisis. These dogs may have:
Diagnosis of Addison’s disease requires your vet to take blood tests alongside a thorough examination and history. Typical in-house blood tests will not fully diagnose the condition, but can give important clues – such as stress-related changes in white blood cells, or changes in electrolyte levels. They can also tell your vet how serious the condition might be, by looking at kidney function, hydration and glucose levels.
To officially diagnose Addison’s disease, your vet will need to do an ‘ACTH stimulation test’, where two samples are taken an hour apart to see if the adrenal glands show any response. With most veterinary practices, these samples will need to be sent to an external laboratory, and treatment may need to start before the results are back.
In the short term, Addison’s disease is treated by stabilising the patient first. This often requires hospitalisation for fluids and supportive care for sickness and nutrition. How long this takes depends on how sick the dog is when they present.
The hormones that are missing need replacing, and these are long-term treatments. Aldosterone is given as an injection, typically monthly for the rest of the dog’s life. Cortisol is given as steroid tablets that can be given at home.
The long-term prognosis for Addison’s disease is excellent (if no other diseases are present). And while regular vet visits and medications are needed, most dogs and owners cope with this really well. An Addisonian crisis is rare (especially for a dog on treatment), and rapid veterinary intervention is usually successful in this emergency case.
“Addison’s disease is something at the back of every vet’s mind when you see cases coming back again and again with vomiting and diarrhoea, and especially in anxious young adult dogs.
“Diagnosing it is rare, but I can recall a couple of patients in each practice I’ve worked in where you see them monthly for their injections. While it can sound very scary, treatment is very manageable for both dogs and owners – and each of those patients I can think of went on to live full and happy lives for many years afterwards”.
Dr Siân Burwood MA VetMB MRCVS
When you get a quote for Petgevity Lifetime Plus dog insurance, tell us about your dog’s Addison’s, plus any other conditions they’ve had in the past two years*.
It’s crucial to list your dog’s conditions when taking out pet insurance. This increases your chances of making a successful claim.
Find out more about our dog insurance for pre-existing medical conditions.
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Addison’s disease in dogs is when they don’t produce hormones from their adrenal glands that are needed to control many different body functions. Because these hormones work all over the body, signs of the disease can be confusing and changeable. But once diagnosed and ongoing treatment starts, these dogs can live normal lives.
Addison’s disease is diagnosed through a combination of history, clinical examination and blood tests. In-house blood tests can show suggestive changes of Addison’s disease and how bad the disease might be – but external blood tests called an ‘ACTH stimulation test’ are needed for a definitive diagnosis.
Usually Addison’s disease is not fatal because owners seek veterinary advice, and treatment – while lifelong – is effective. Left untreated, a dog can develop an emergency Addisonian crisis which causes collapse due to low heart rate and blood pressure. This is life threatening.
Addison’s disease may need hospitalisation when first being diagnosed to stabilise the patient and correct the electrolyte, fluid and GI problems it’s caused. Long-term, the disease needs treatment with injections at the vets (usually one a month) and daily low-dose steroids at home.
Yes, dogs with Addison’s disease can absolutely live a normal life when stable on treatment. While owners need to be aware not to put their dog under undue stress, and will likely become very well known to their local vet, the treatment is highly successful and dogs can live full happy lives.
†Lifetime Plus policies only
*Cover for pre-existing medical conditions is subject to acceptance. They will not be covered unless you have declared them and they are shown on your Confirmation of Cover.
**Illnesses and symptoms won’t be covered in the first 14 days and accidents won’t be covered in the first 2 days of the policy. This is unless you are switching from another lifetime pet insurance product with no break in cover and the claim you want to make would have been covered by your previous policy. Other exclusions may apply to other sections.