Menu:
Addison's Disease
Addison's disease or hypoadrenocorticism is a disease with symptoms that are most common to several other ailments. It is difficult to diagnosis it and at times an elimination process. However, once Addison's disease is diagnosed properly, a well treated dog can live a normal and active life. It is important for you to understand the Addison's disease to facilitate your dog with right treatment.
Some facts about Addison's disease
- Addison's disease has three main forms. They are primary, secondary and atypical. In case of primary and atypical Addison's disease is generally the result of resistant mediated injury to the glands. The secondary form of Hypoadrenocorticism is malfunctioning of the pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenals with adrenocorticotropic hormone or ACTH.
- Addison's disease happens quite commonly in female dogs from young to middle-aged. The average age is about 4 years old
- It is caused by a low production of hormones, for example Cortisol from the adrenal glands.
- It happens quite less commonly than the contrary condition of the Cushing's disease where there is an overproduction of cortisol in dogs. It is very rare in the case of cats.
Where does Addison's disease strike?
Addison's disease affects the adrenal glands that are the Lima bean shaped organs that are located ahead of the kidneys. They may be small but are very crucial organs without which you may not be able to live. The organs are creamy and strawberry pink. The adrenal hormones are important to manage the balance of sugar, salt and water in body.
Signs of Addison's disease
Normally, the disease starts out very slowly. It is very simply missed in the early stages of the disease. The signs of the disease may include
- Failure to eat or anorexia
- Vomiting
- Muscle weakness
- Hair loss
- Lethargy
- Painful tummy
- Bloody stools
- Slow heart rate
- Trembling or shaking
- Low body temperature
- Collapse
- Diarrhea
- Lack of appetite
- Dehydration
- Depression
- Heart irregularities
- Low blood pressure
- Pain in hind quarters
Diagnosing Addison's Disease
The blood taken from dogs suffering with Addison's disease is lacking in cortisol. In the case of primary adrenal gland disease, a brain chemical ACTH stimulates adrenal gland given by injection. Serum cortisol does not ascend. It is known as ACTH stimulation test. In Addison's disease when the root problem lies in the brain, the ACTH level in blood gets elevated to be Addison's disease in second stage. The screening test for the diease is the urinary cortisol ration can be very useful to diagnose the disease.
Treatment of Addison's Disease
- A matured case of Addison's fall down is scary. It can even be life intimidating. The disease must be diagnosed on time and treated at once with the large amounts of intravenous salt or saline solution and injected synthetic cortisol.
- The history and substantial examination and on time laboratory tests offer suspicion for Addison's disease. A more particular test is ACTH challenge must be executed to substantiate the disease.
- There are two levels of treatment for Addison's disease. They are in-hospital treatment and long term treatment.
- Get your dog immediately to the vet who will better decide about the treatment.