Addison’s disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism, is a condition that develops in dogs when a deficiency in the body’s adrenocortical hormones occurs. Addison’s disease is classified into primary or secondary conditions.
Addison’s disease in dogs is treatable and an afflicted dog can lead a healthy life once the condition is treated. The problem is that the disease is extremely difficult to spot because its symptoms match those of several other common ailments.
Because the symptoms of Addison’s disease, in which a dog’s adrenal glands produce insufficient hormones, are so similar to many other common ailments in dogs, it is a difficult problem to diagnose. A veterinarian often considers Addison’s as a possible factor only after eliminating other, more common canine problems.
Addison’s Disease is a serious condition in dogs that cannot be cured, but it can be treated. The condition itself interferes with the adrenal glands’ ability to produce the proper amounts of cortisol hormones in the body. Normally by the time a dog is diagnosed with Addison’s disease, emergency medical treatment is needed.