Addison's disease in dogs

What is Addison's disease?

Addison's disease is named after Thomas Addison, who was the first to demonstrate that the adrenal glands are vital. The adrenal glands are located in the abdominal cavity, next to the kidneys, and that is why they are called the adrenal glands. They produce adrenal gland and adrenal gland hormones. Hormones are signal substances that are produced somewhere in the body and transported with the blood to another place in the body where the hormone is decoded.

Addison's disease occurs when adrenal glands produce too little adrenal gland hormone.

Why does Addison's disease occur?

The most common cause of Addinson's disease is that the body's own immune system destroys the adrenal cortex. The body's immune system attacks foreign elements such as viruses and bacteria, but for uncertain reasons it can start attacking the body's own cells. Immune systems thus see cells in adrenal glands as strangers and attack them. This is called an autoimmune disease.

Less common causes of Addison's disease are cancer or infections in the adrenal glands. An over treatment of Cushing's syndrome, where the body produces too much adrenal gland hormone, also adds Addison's disease.

Addison's disease is a relatively rare disease. The disease is most frequent in younger dogs, but attacks all ages and both sexes.

What are the symptoms of Addison's disease?

The disease may occur suddenly but will usually occur slowly over weeks to months and be chronic. Symptoms are not specific, but some of the following symptoms can be seen: extreme fatigue, appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, generalized weakness and mental depression. In chronic illness you will see recurrent periods of stomach problems in the form of vomiting and diarrhea and increasing fatigue.

How does the vet ask the diagnosis?

The symptoms of Addison's disease are very unspecific. Many other diseases such as cardiovascular, liver, kidney and gastrointestinal diseases, give the same symptoms, and are even more common. Therefore, the vet will often not suspect Addison's disease as the first, and investigate other organ systems before Addison's disease is suspected. When Addisson's disease is suspected, a specific test can be performed for the disease. The most commonly used test is called an ACTH stimulation test . If the test is positive, life-long treatment is required.

How is Addison's disease treated?

When diagnosed, the dog will often need intensive care at a hospital. When the dog returns home, it must have binyrebark hormone the rest of life, but will be able to live a normal life when the right dose is found.