Canine Addisons Disease"Canine Addisons Disease (hypoadrenocorticism), a hormonal problem, occurs when the adrenal glands no longer produce enough corticosteroids and mineralocorticoids. It is not a common disease in dogs. Causes include when other illnesses or toxins damage the adrenal glands or when your dog's body through an autoimmune response attacks the glands. " Canine Addison’s disease is, also called hypoadrenocorticism, is the insufficient production of adrenal hormones by the adrenal glands. Most commonly in dogs who have Addison’s disease, parts of the adrenal glands waste away. We aren’t sure why this happens but it is suspected that the dog’s immune system attacks its own adrenal glands. Occasionally there is a failure of brain-controlled mechanisms that stimulate the adrenal gland to secrete particular hormones. Symptoms of Canine Addison’s DiseaseSymptoms of canine Addison’s disease include:* Loss of appetite (comes and goes before other symptoms appear) Less common symptoms include shivering, shaking, a dog appearing cold. Symptoms are rather vague, making it a difficult illness to diagnosis. In severe cases, dogs can have irregular heart beats and go into shock. Addison’s disease is most common in young to middle-aged female dogs. Standard Poodles, West Highland White Terriers, Great Danes, Rottweilers, Portuguese Water Dogs, and Bearded Collies are predisposed to the condition. Diagnosis of Canine Addison’s DiseaseDiagnosing canine Addison’s disease can be tricky, since the symptoms are rather vague and can be symptoms of so many other illnesses. It is also an uncommon ailment in dogs. When your dog doesn’t respond to other treatments, however, your vet will do some blood tests and will notice abnormal sodium and potassium levels in the blood.Addison’s disease can sometimes look like kidney disease, liver or heart disease. Even the blood work can look like kidney disease. So when Addison’s disease is suspected, an ACTH response test will be done. The administration of this hormone should stimulate the production of adrenal hormones. If it doesn’t, then Addison’s disease is present. The disease can also be triggered by corticosteroids that may have been administered to treat a different disease. Since this substance is made by the adrenal glands, the glands stop producing more. Breeds Susceptible to Canine Addisons DiseaseAddison's Disease is more common in the following breeds:* Bearded Collies Treatment of Canine Addison’s DiseaseThe treatment for Canine Addison’s Disease involves replacement corticosteroids such as prednisone and fluids. Dogs respond well to treatment.Other medications include the oral drug fludrocortisone acetate (Flurinaf) or an injectable medication called Percortin which only needs to be administered once every four weeks. Some veterinarians also advise salting the food. Dogs suffering from chronic Addison’s disease can at any time develop a crisis. In a crisis, IV fluids and electrolytes may be required, along with the administration of corticosteroids. You’ll need to pay close attention to your dog. If you notice changes in his appetite or any vomiting or diarrhea or other signs of illness, let your vet know right away. With proper care and monitoring, the prognosis for dogs with Addison’s disease is good. Natural Medicine for Canine Addisons DiseaseSeveral natural supplements are through to have a positive impact on adrenal health such as:* Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion): promotes normal adrenal functioning. * Arctium laps (Burdock): helps to remove toxins from the body. * Astragalus membranaceous (Huang Qi): helps to restore balance to the adrenal glands. * Arsenicum (30C): helps to restore proper urinary and thirst function. Cushex from PetAlive combines these ingredients and is made to support adrenal gland function. Discuss this and other treatment options with your veterinarian. Have a Question for our Editors and Readers about Canine Addisons Disease or have some helpful advice?
Do you have a story, suggestion or question about Dog Addison's Disease? Share it! Our editors select several questions a week to answer for free. Just provide your dog's breed, age, sex and medical history. References Canine Addisons DiseaseAmerican College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Addison’s Disease- Is It Always Acute? From Canine Addisons Disease to More on Addison's disease in Dogs |
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