Introduction
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. But prompt diagnosis is crucial, as this disease can lead to dire circumstances for an afflicted dog.
Diagnosing Addison's Disease in Dogs
The most effective way to confirm a diagnosis of Addison’s is with a blood test known as the ACTH stimulation test. ACTH is a hormone meant to stimulate the adrenal glands. In a dog with normally functioning adrenals, the blood test will show an increase in blood cortisol after the ACTH is injected. If this does not occur, then a diagnosis of Addison’s disease is confirmed.
This seems simple, but the symptoms of Addison’s match the symptoms of so many other diseases that usually other tests would come first. There are other indicators which, if they show up on those preliminary tests, would point a veterinarian toward Addison’s as a possibility.
For example, the dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea, two symptoms of Adddison’s, increases waste products in the blood. That would show up in tests as increased blood urea nitrogen.
Addison’s, at a certain point, may also look like kidney disease. Dogs that are given fluids to try to correct the problem and then improve dramatically may not have renal failure at all. Instead, it could be Addison’s at work.
Addison’s can be effectively diagnosed once the dog is in the hands of a veterinarian. Even though diagnosis may take some time and a battery of tests, this disease can be caught in plenty of time for treatment to begin. It’s up to the dog-owner to immediately seek professional counsel when symptoms first arise.