Addison's Disease in Dogs

Addison's disease is a condition that affects a part of your dog's body called the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones called cortisol and aldosterone. These hormones have many important roles including balancing electrolytes in the body and regulating energy levels. In Addison's disease, the adrenal glands don't produce enough of these hormones. When the levels of these hormones are too low, this causes problems for our furry friends. You may notice your dog is sleepier than usual, they might have gone off their food and they may experience vomiting and diarrhea. A lot of the clinical signs caused by Addison's disease can be witnessed with other diseases too, so it is important that you get your dog checked out by your vet if you see any of the symptoms mentioned. 

Some dogs can suffer from Atypical Addison's disease. This occurs when the adrenal glands fail to secrete cortisol. In normal Addison's disease, both cortisol and aldosterone are low. Atypical Addison's often only affects cortisol production. The aldosterone levels remain normal. 

Clinical signs are very vague and non-specific and it can be even more challenging to diagnose.  

Although a diagnosis of Addison's disease may seem daunting, it's not all bad news. Addison's disease is a treatable condition. Once your vet has diagnosed Addison's disease, they will be able to prescribe medication for your dog that will help them. Most dogs respond really well to the medication and go on to live comfortably.  

More good news is that Addison's disease is not contagious so your dog cannot pass it on to other pooches or their people.  

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to prevent Addison's disease in dogs. No vaccine or specific lifestyle modification can guarantee your dog won't develop it. 

It’s worth noting that certain breeds are not more prone than others. While some autoimmune diseases appear to be more prevalent in specific breeds, Addison's disease seems to affect dogs of all breeds equally. 

Here are some of the telltale signs your dog might be in the early stages of Addison's disease: 

Many dogs experience a decrease in appetite in the early stages of Addison's disease. They may start just being picky with their food, or they may have a dramatic decrease in the amount they eat. This is why it’s important to pay attention to how much they are eating each day.  

You may notice your pup is suddenly swapping chasing balls in the park for a snooze on the sofa. If your dog is usually keen to go for walks and is energetic, but recently seems to have taken a back seat and is lethargic or depressed around the house, this could be a sign there is something to worry about.  

Lots of dogs will experience vomiting and diarrhoea. Signs of an upset tummy can be a clue that something is off.   

If you have noticed your dog losing weight, or muscle mass, this can be an indication of an underlying health issue. They may lose weight even if their appetite has not changed. This is a big red flag and you must speak to your vet about this.  

The difficulty with Addison's disease in the early stages is that a lot of the clinical signs are generalised and non-specific, so many other things need to be ruled out before a diagnosis is made. Often parents feel like Addison's disease has come on suddenly, this is usually not the case as it may have been present for a long time unnoticed. The other challenge is that often clinical signs are very subtle and some parents don't pick up on them at first. The best thing to do is to monitor your dog's general behaviour and individual habits and look for any changes.  

Addison's disease is treated with hormone replacement therapy. Your vet will prescribe your dog medication to replace the missing hormones: cortisol and aldosterone. This can be in different forms such as tablets or injections. Your vet will let you know the dosage that is most appropriate for your dog. 

Desoxycorticosterone pivalate (brand names: Percorten®-V or Zycortal®), is an injectable medication that is used for the treatment of Addison's disease in dogs. It replaces the hormone aldosterone. It’s injected every 3-4 weeks depending on the patient and how they are responding to treatment. It is often used in conjunction with an oral glucocorticoid.  

Other dogs (for example those that don't tolerate injections well) may be given alternative medication orally such as fludrocortisone. The choice of drug depends on the availability of the drug too. 

The exact cost of treatment for Addison's disease is hard to specify as several factors influence the total expense. Pet parents should be aware that treatment for Addison's can be very expensive. It is a condition that requires lifelong treatment and frequent checkups with your vet. It is very important pet parents have a frank discussion with their vet about their financial situation.  

The costs involved with Addison's disease include:  

This can be a complicated process. There are lots of routine and specialised blood tests that need to be taken. Your vet will need to test your dog's urine and carry out further imaging such as x-rays and ultrasound.  

There are a few different treatment options available. They can include injections and tablets. They will be required for the rest of your dog's life. Injections are generally more expensive than tablets but will be given less frequently.  

Once your dog has been diagnosed and starts the medication, they will require frequent visits to your vet. This will be for important checkups and blood tests going forward. All of these appointments and consultations will have fees associated with them for every visit.  

Dogs that are diagnosed early and respond well to treatment will generally have a good prognosis and will go on to live normally and enjoy a good quality of life. The prognosis is poorer if your dog doesn't respond well to the treatment, or if they have other illnesses that complicate treatment.  

It is important to note that if Addison's disease is left untreated, it can lead to serious complications and potentially shorten a dog's life.  

If you’re concerned that your dog may have Addison’s disease, or you’re wanting advice about your pet’s health, it’s important to speak to your local vet today.