Addison’s Disease, technically called hypoadrenocorticism, is defined as inadequate production of corticosteroid hormones by the cortex (outer part) of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are paired organs, located in the abdomen next to the kidneys, which produce and regulate a number of endocrine hormones that are essential to normal body function. The adrenal glands can be damaged in a number of ways, including by trauma, toxic drugs or chemicals, cancer, immune-mediated disorders and infection, among others.
An acute Addisonian crisis can be caused when corticosteroid drugs that have been administered for some other medical condition are abruptly withdrawn. While the dog is receiving the steroids, its adrenal glands go into a type of resting state. When the external steroids are stopped, the dog can develop a temporary but serious shortage of adrenal hormones, which can quickly lead to shock and cardiovascular collapse.
An Addisonian crisis is a true medical emergency. Most experts agree that approximately 90% of the adrenal cortex must be damaged or destroyed before a dog will show observable signs of Addison's Disease. This is not a common condition in domestic dogs, but if left undiagnosed or untreated, Addison’s can be life-threatening. This is primarily due to elevated potassium levels (hyperkalemia) and low sodium levels (hyponatremia), which can cause serious dehydration, blood volume depletion and severe problems with the heart and other organs. Addison’s Disease can’t be cured. Fortunately, if caught early enough, it usually can be controlled.
Veterinarians are not always able to determine the exact reasons why their canine patients developed Addison’s Disease. In the most general sense, Addison’s is caused by some injury to the adrenal cortex, which is the outermost part of the paired adrenal glands, which are located next to the kidneys. The cortex is made up of three separate layers: the external zona glomerulosa, the middle zona fasciculata and the innermost zona reticularis. The adrenal cortex is
Addison’s Disease is an endocrine disorder caused by inadequate production of corticosteroid hormones by one or both of the dog’s adrenal glands. The symptoms of this disease typically wax and wane, which means that they come and go, and they can range from mild to extremely severe and can vary over time. Dogs with Addison’s tend to feel lousy in waves, especially when they are under stress. They may experience belly pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
Addison’s Disease can be difficult to diagnose because it is relatively uncommon in dogs, and also because its symptoms mimic those of many more common medical conditions, such as kidney failure, liver disease and gastrointestinal disorders. Veterinarians usually focus on Addison’s only after they eliminate other possible causes of the dog’s symptoms. When assessing a dog with a history of lethargy, weakness, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite and weight loss, the attending veterinarian will
Addison’s Disease, known as “hypoadrenocorticism” in medical circles, is a potentially fatal condition in dogs that cannot be cured but usually can be managed medically. The signs of Addison’s are vague and include intermittent vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and abdominal pain. When an owner notices these symptoms, she should take her dog to a veterinarian and describe the onset of her pet’s condition in as much detail as possible. Left untreated, Addison’s will progressively worsen. Normally,