Treating Addison’s Disease in Dogs

Dog Breeds

Introduction

Treating Addison’s Disease in Dogs: Veterinarian reviewed information on the treatment options for Addison’s Disease in dogs. Treatment options for Addison’s Disease may vary from dog to dog, so a veterinarian is always the best resource to decide how to treat Addison’s Disease in dogs.

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Treatment Goals

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, by the time a dog is diagnosed with Addison’s Disease, at least 90% of its functional adrenal glands have been damaged or destroyed, making immediate medical treatment essential. Once the dog has been stabilized, its condition can be thoroughly assessed and proper management of its disease can begin. The goals of treating Addison’s are to replace circulating fluid volume (reestablish hydration), correct electrolyte imbalances, relieve the dog’s current discomfort and stabilize circulating levels of adrenal hormones by providing an immediate source of corticosteroids.

Treatment Options

How aggressively a dog will be treated for Addison’s Disease depends in large part on how sick it is at the time it arrives at the hospital. Dogs suspected of being in an Addisonian crisis must be treated immediately on the assumption that they have hypoadrenocorticism, even before that diagnosis is confirmed. Waiting for the results of an ACTH stimulation test will put the dog’s life at increased risk. Emergency treatment of a dog suffering from severe Addison’s symptoms includes placing it on intravenous fluids (usually normal saline) and giving injections (rather than oral doses) of adrenal corticosteroid hormones. Dogs with Addison’s Disease usually show marked improvement within 24 hours of in-patient treatment. An ACTH stimulation test should only be performed after the dog’s medical crisis has stabilized. If Addison’s is confirmed by the results of that test, the medical team will come up with an appropriate management protocol, after discussing the various options with the patient’s owner.

Once the dog’s circulating fluid, electrolyte and adrenal hormone levels are restored, and after it has recovered from any other adverse effects of the disease, it will be discharged from the clinic, and its owner finally will be able to take her pet home, where it undoubtedly will be more comfortable. In most cases, dogs with Addison’s will need to be treated for the rest of their lives. Medical management involves lifelong supplementation with oral corticosteroids. The attending veterinarian will decide which drug(s) to administer based upon the nature and extent of the particular dog’s disease. The veterinarian probably will recommend that the dog have urine and blood tests performed periodically, to monitor its circulating levels of sodium, chloride, potassium, electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen and adrenal corticosteroids. If abnormalities in those levels persist or recur, the dog may need more intensive therapy.

Prognosis

The prognosis for dogs with Addison’s Disease is very good, as long as the owner is conscientious about administering daily medications and taking her companion to the veterinarian for regular blood and urine monitoring. Excellent communication between owners and their veterinarians is vital to the success of managing this uncommon but potentially life-threatening endocrine disorder.

Diagnosis and Tests