While it\u2019s relatively rare, Addison\u2019s Disease in dogs is a condition with symptoms that are common in many different ailments, so it\u2019s often difficult to detect \u2026 and sometimes diagnosis is only made through a process of elimination for other diseases.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not one single set of symptoms that defines Addison\u2019s disease, and when it\u2019s taught in veterinary school, it\u2019s often called the \u2018Great Masquerader\u2019 because it can look like almost any other disease,\u201d explains Dr. Gary Richter<\/a>, veterinarian and author of The Ultimate Pet Health Guide<\/em>.<\/p>\n Holding hands with a sick or injured dog. Photography \u00a9sanjagrujic | Getty Images.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The common name for hypoadrenocorticism, or adrenal insufficiency, Addison\u2019s disease is caused by a below average production of hormones like cortisol by the adrenal glands, which are small glands located near the kidneys. Adrenal hormones are crucial in controlling the balance of salt, sugar and water throughout the body. \u201cCortisol is a very important hormone produced by the body; without cortisol, if you woke up in the morning, got out of bed and stood up, you’d immediately pass out because your blood wouldn\u2019t reach your brain and gravity would just take over,\u201d explains Dr. Stephen Katz, veterinarian and founder of the Bronx Veterinary Center<\/a> in New York. The opposite condition of Addison\u2019s disease is Cushing’s disease<\/a>, which develops when a dog\u2019s body overproduces cortisol. Cushing’s disease is much more common.<\/p>\n There are also three different types of Addison’s disease: primary, secondary and atypical. Both primary and atypical Addison’s are usually caused by immune-mediated damage to the glands, while secondary Addison\u2019s occurs when the pituitary gland fails to stimulate the adrenals with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The disease is often misdiagnosed because its symptoms mimic many other conditions, and the dog may appear otherwise completely healthy.<\/p>\n While it can affect any dog, Addison\u2019s disease in dogs tends to present itself most commonly in breeds such as Standard Poodles<\/a>, West Highland White Terriers<\/a>, Great Danes<\/a>, Bearded Collies<\/a>, Portuguese Water Dogs<\/a>\u00a0and Doberman Pinschers<\/a>, Dr. Katz notes. It also tends to impact younger to middle-aged dogs as opposed to older or senior dogs.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also generally understood that the disease isn\u2019t something that can be prevented. \u201cAs I understand it, it\u2019s a genetic roll of the dice; it\u2019s the kind of disease that\u2019s predetermined the moment fertilization happens,\u201d Dr. Richter explains. However, he notes that in some cases it’s inadvertently caused when attempting to treat Cushing\u2019s disease \u2014 although that’s rare.<\/p>\n According to Dr. Richter, a pet owner may notice that their dog becomes lethargic, starts having gastrointestinal issues like severe diarrhea<\/a>, or they can even collapse. There\u2019s also something known as an Addisonian Crisis, which occurs when a dog goes into sudden shock due to a circulatory collapse, and can be life-threatening. Of course, any of these symptoms warrant an immediate visit to your dog\u2019s veterinarian.<\/p>\n \u201cEssentially, Addison\u2019s disease is a condition where the dog\u2019s adrenal glands aren\u2019t producing enough cortisone \u2026 and a certain amount of cortisone is necessary for these different biological processes,\u201d he adds. \u201cSo if a dog is under-producing cortisone, or any other hormones produced by the adrenal gland, it can cause a whole host of physiological problems \u2014 and some of them can be life-threatening.\u201d<\/p>\n Since it\u2019s not easily detected by symptoms alone, Addison\u2019s disease in dogs is usually diagnosed with a specific blood test. However, Dr. Katz notes that one of the most notable indicators your pet\u2019s veterinarian might be able to detect via x-ray is a small heart, which is considered to be one of the hallmarks of the disease.<\/p>\n A dog\u2019s treatment will vary based upon which form of Addison\u2019s disease is diagnosed. For most dogs, it will mean taking medication such as corticosteroids, with Prednisone being among the most commonly prescribed, Dr. Katz says. Depending on the nature and severity of the disease, some dogs may need to receive an injectable medication on a monthly basis, while others will require oral medications. The good news is that the disease is treatable and easy to manage once properly diagnosed. \u201cThe prognosis is very good once Addison\u2019s is diagnosed,\u201d he confirms. \u201cHowever, it is a lifelong problem that will require lifelong treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n Thumbnail: \u00a9Monica Click | iStock \/ Getty Images Plus<\/em><\/p>\n Jennifer Lesser is a New Jersey-based freelance writer. A marathoner, triathlete, and Taekwondo black belt, she specializes in health and wellness \u2014 for people and canines \u2014 and has written for magazines and websites including\u00a0Whole Dog Journal,\u00a0Health,\u00a0The Spruce Pets,\u00a0Weight Watchers\u00a0and\u00a0Animal Sheltering. She is the proud pet parent of a rescued Cocker Spaniel\/Shih Tzu mix named Miles, who has become her favorite running partner. Visit her online at\u00a0jenniferlesser.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Addison’s Disease in Dogs \u2014\u00a0Why It’s So Hard to Identify<\/a> by Jennifer Lesser<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Addison’s Disease in Dogs \u2014\u00a0Why It’s So Hard to Identify<\/a> by Jennifer Lesser<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s relatively rare, Addison\u2019s Disease in dogs is a condition with symptoms that are common in many different ailments, so it\u2019s often difficult to detect \u2026 and sometimes diagnosis is only made through a process of elimination for other diseases.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not one single set of symptoms that defines Addison\u2019s disease, and when it\u2019s taught in veterinary school, it\u2019s often called the \u2018Great Masquerader\u2019 because it can look like almost any other disease,\u201d explains Dr. Gary Richter<\/a>, veterinarian and author of The Ultimate Pet Health Guide<\/em>.<\/p>\n Holding hands with a sick or injured dog. Photography \u00a9sanjagrujic | Getty Images.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The common name for hypoadrenocorticism, or adrenal insufficiency, Addison\u2019s disease is caused by a below average production of hormones like cortisol by the adrenal glands, which are small glands located near the kidneys. Adrenal hormones are crucial in controlling the balance of salt, sugar and water throughout the body. \u201cCortisol is a very important hormone produced by the body; without cortisol, if you woke up in the morning, got out of bed and stood up, you’d immediately pass out because your blood wouldn\u2019t reach your brain and gravity would just take over,\u201d explains Dr. Stephen Katz, veterinarian and founder of the Bronx Veterinary Center<\/a> in New York. The opposite condition of Addison\u2019s disease is Cushing’s disease<\/a>, which develops when a dog\u2019s body overproduces cortisol. Cushing’s disease is much more common.<\/p>\n There are also three different types of Addison’s disease: primary, secondary and atypical. Both primary and atypical Addison’s are usually caused by immune-mediated damage to the glands, while secondary Addison\u2019s occurs when the pituitary gland fails to stimulate the adrenals with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The disease is often misdiagnosed because its symptoms mimic many other conditions, and the dog may appear otherwise completely healthy.<\/p>\n While it can affect any dog, Addison\u2019s disease in dogs tends to present itself most commonly in breeds such as Standard Poodles<\/a>, West Highland White Terriers<\/a>, Great Danes<\/a>, Bearded Collies<\/a>, Portuguese Water Dogs<\/a>\u00a0and Doberman Pinschers<\/a>, Dr. Katz notes. It also tends to impact younger to middle-aged dogs as opposed to older or senior dogs.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also generally understood that the disease isn\u2019t something that can be prevented. \u201cAs I understand it, it\u2019s a genetic roll of the dice; it\u2019s the kind of disease that\u2019s predetermined the moment fertilization happens,\u201d Dr. Richter explains. However, he notes that in some cases it’s inadvertently caused when attempting to treat Cushing\u2019s disease \u2014 although that’s rare.<\/p>\n According to Dr. Richter, a pet owner may notice that their dog becomes lethargic, starts having gastrointestinal issues like severe diarrhea<\/a>, or they can even collapse. There\u2019s also something known as an Addisonian Crisis, which occurs when a dog goes into sudden shock due to a circulatory collapse, and can be life-threatening. Of course, any of these symptoms warrant an immediate visit to your dog\u2019s veterinarian.<\/p>\n \u201cEssentially, Addison\u2019s disease is a condition where the dog\u2019s adrenal glands aren\u2019t producing enough cortisone \u2026 and a certain amount of cortisone is necessary for these different biological processes,\u201d he adds. \u201cSo if a dog is under-producing cortisone, or any other hormones produced by the adrenal gland, it can cause a whole host of physiological problems \u2014 and some of them can be life-threatening.\u201d<\/p>\n Since it\u2019s not easily detected by symptoms alone, Addison\u2019s disease in dogs is usually diagnosed with a specific blood test. However, Dr. Katz notes that one of the most notable indicators your pet\u2019s veterinarian might be able to detect via x-ray is a small heart, which is considered to be one of the hallmarks of the disease.<\/p>\n A dog\u2019s treatment will vary based upon which form of Addison\u2019s disease is diagnosed. For most dogs, it will mean taking medication such as corticosteroids, with Prednisone being among the most commonly prescribed, Dr. Katz says. Depending on the nature and severity of the disease, some dogs may need to receive an injectable medication on a monthly basis, while others will require oral medications. The good news is that the disease is treatable and easy to manage once properly diagnosed. \u201cThe prognosis is very good once Addison\u2019s is diagnosed,\u201d he confirms. \u201cHowever, it is a lifelong problem that will require lifelong treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n Thumbnail: \u00a9Monica Click | iStock \/ Getty Images Plus<\/em><\/p>\n Jennifer Lesser is a New Jersey-based freelance writer. A marathoner, triathlete, and Taekwondo black belt, she specializes in health and wellness \u2014 for people and canines \u2014 and has written for magazines and websites including\u00a0Whole Dog Journal,\u00a0Health,\u00a0The Spruce Pets,\u00a0Weight Watchers\u00a0and\u00a0Animal Sheltering. She is the proud pet parent of a rescued Cocker Spaniel\/Shih Tzu mix named Miles, who has become her favorite running partner. Visit her online at\u00a0jenniferlesser.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Addison’s Disease in Dogs \u2014\u00a0Why It’s So Hard to Identify<\/a> by Jennifer Lesser<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is Addison\u2019s Disease in dogs?<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Holding-hands-with-sick-and-injured-dog.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAddison’s disease in dogs \u2014 what dogs are at risk?<\/h3>\n
Symptoms of Addison\u2019s disease in dogs<\/h3>\n
Diagnosing and treating Addison\u2019s disease in dogs<\/h3>\n
About the author<\/a><\/h3>\n
Read more about dog health on dogster.com<\/a>:<\/h3>\n
\n
What is Addison\u2019s Disease in dogs?<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nAddison’s disease in dogs \u2014 what dogs are at risk?<\/h3>\n
Symptoms of Addison\u2019s disease in dogs<\/h3>\n
Diagnosing and treating Addison\u2019s disease in dogs<\/h3>\n
About the author<\/a><\/h3>\n
Read more about dog health on dogster.com<\/a>:<\/h3>\n
\n