You might recall a case that you couldn’t quite get to the bottom of: a dog repeatedly presenting over a period of weeks, months or even years; the owner describing a dog that wasn’t quite right, but with nothing drastically ‘wrong’. The dog might have responded to non-specific therapy, like intravenous fluids, and been discharged… but then returned to the practice weeks later exhibiting the same signs.
If you have ever found yourself treating the same dog over and over again, it might be time to look beyond the obvious.
Addison’s disease is a rare endocrine disease that occurs when the adrenal glands produce insufficient corticosteroids, namely aldosterone and cortisol. These hormones are vital for maintaining blood volume and pressure, as well as helping the dog respond to stress.
When these hormones are not present, the dog can develop a number of vague, chronic symptoms, including:
If Addison’s disease isn’t caught in time the hormonal imbalances suffered by the dog can eventually lead to hypovolemic shock and collapse, otherwise known as an Addisonian Crisis. This can be potentially life-threatening, but with greater awareness of Addison’s disease it can be avoided.