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Addisons Disease in Dogs

The adrenal gland is named such, because it is located just forward to the kidney (renal means kidney). The center of the gland is called the medulla and the outer area is called the cortex. While both areas produce hormones, Addison’s disease concerns the hormones produced by the cortex, called corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are the hormones that enable mammals to adapt physiologically to stress. The glucocorticoids such as cortisol (and related synthetics, prednisone and dexamethasone) act on the mechanics of sugar, fat, and protein metabolism. They gear the metabolism towards the preparation of burning (rather than storing) fuels so as to be ready for a fight or flight situation. The Mineralocorticoids (such as aldosterone and related synthetic fludrocortisone acetate) influence the electrolytes: sodium and potassium. As a general biological rule, where there’s sodium or salt, there’s water. When the mineralocorticoids circulate as part of the fight or flight preparation, sodium is conserved in anticipation of blood loss so that there will be extra fluid in the vascular compartment (spare blood).

When sodium is conserved, potassium is lost as part of the biological balance. This whole picture of fat mobilization, sodium conservation etc., which is part of the fight or flight response is far more complex than can be reviewed here but the bottom line is that corticosteroid hormones are needed to adapt to stressful situations and without these hormones, even small stresses could lead to physiological disaster.

Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s Disease)

In animals with Addison’s disease, there is a deficiency of the corticosteroid hormones. It is unusual to discover the direct cause of this deficiency unless the patient is taking medications that disrupt adrenal balance (like Ketoconazole or Lysodren) but, fortunately, the disease can be managed with the administration of corticosteroid hormones even if the cause of the deficiency is unknown.

Clinical Signs

Patients are usually young (age 4-5 years) female dogs. (This disease occurs in cats but is very rare.) Predisposed breeds include: the Great Dane, the West Highland White terrier, all sizes of poodles, and Portuguese water dogs. At first signs are very vague – listlessness, possibly some vomiting or diarrhea. Ultimately, the disease will often progress into a very serious presentation known as the “Addisonian crisis.” The animal collapses in shock due to its inability to adapt to the caloric and circulatory requirements in stress. Blood sugar may drop dangerously low. Potassium levels soar and disrupt the heart rhythm because there is not enough conserved sodium to exchange for potassium. Heart rate slows, and arrhythmias result. The patient may not survive this episode.

Corticosteroid hormones are needed to adapt to stressful situations and without these hormones, even small stresses could lead to physiologic disaster.

Approximately 30% of dogs with Addison’s disease are diagnosed at the time of an Addisonian crisis.

Diagnosis

Veterinarians are classically presented with a young animal in shock. There is usually no history of trauma or toxic exposure so general treatment for shock is initiated. This consists of rapid administration of fluids (usually lactated ringers solution, which has little potassium and a moderate amount of sodium) plus some glucocorticoids. By coincidence, this also happens to be similar to the specific treatment for Addison’s disease so that often the patient simply recovers without the veterinarian really knowing why.

The blood panel will come back showing elevations in the renal parameters (BUN and Creatinine) and thus with the elevated potassium is suggestive of acute renal failure, a condition with an extremely poor prognosis. The veterinarian may become suspicious of another diagnosis as the patient will respond well to fluid administration and most renal failure patients do not respond as well.

Addison’s disease may present in more unusual ways. Inability to maintain normal sugar levels (ultimately manifesting as a seizure disorder) may be strongly suggestive of an insulin-secreting pancreatic tumor but before a major abdominal surgery is planned, it is important to test for Addison’s disease.

Because of the numerous symptoms Addison’s disease can be present with, Addison’s disease has earned the medical nickname “the Great Imitator.” The only definitive test for Addison’s disease is the ACTH stimulation test. The patient receives a dose of ACTH, the pituitary hormone responsible for the release of corticosteroids in times of stress. A normal animal will show an elevation in cortisol in response to ACTH while an Addisonian has no corticosteroids to respond with. This lack of response is diagnostic for Addison’s disease; however, a false positive may be obtained if corticosteroids have been used in the treatment of the crisis prior to the test. Only dexamethasone does not interfere with the assay for cortisol; if any other steroid has been used, the test will not be valid for at least a couple of days.

Management After The Crisis

The most important aspect of treatment for hypoadrenocorticism is the replacement of the missing mineralocorticoids hormones. One way to do this is with oral Fludrocortisone Florinef. Florinef is given usually twice a day at a dose determined by the patient’s sodium and potassium blood tests. At first, these electrolytes are monitored weekly. When levels seem stable, these blood tests are repeated 2 to 4 times per year. Often with time, it will be found that the dose of Florinef needed to control the Addison’s disease will increase. This is unfortunate as the medication is relatively expensive. Since Florinef has glucocorticoid activity as well as mineralocorticoid activity, it is not necessary to use additional medications for treatment.

Another way to treat this condition is with an injectable medication called DOCP (brand name Percorten-V, generics are now available). This treatment is given approximately every 25 days. Electrolytes are measured prior to injections at first but testing can usually eventually be tapered to once or twice a year. There is general consensus that DOCP produces better regulation of electrolytes than does oral Florinef. Some dogs however, do require glucocorticoid supplementation (such as a low dose of prednisone).

At the moment, DOCP is only available directly through Novartis Animal Health. It cannot be ordered through regular veterinary distributors and, of course, pet owners may not directly order it. Your veterinarian may obtain DOCP by contacting the Novartis Animal Health Customer Service Department at: 1-800-332-2761

Salting the patient’s food is sometimes recommended to assist the patient with sodium balance.

Atypical Addison’s Disease

Approximately one dog in 42 will have a special form of Addison’s disease. Most dogs get Addison’s disease when all three layers of the adrenal gland are destroyed and no corticosteroid hormones can be produced. With atypical Addison’s disease, the problem is not with the adrenal gland itself but with the pituitary gland, which islocated at the base of the brain. The normal pituitary gland secretes ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone), which stimulates the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis to produce glucocorticoids. Without this hormone, these two areas of the adrenal gland atrophy but the zona glomerulosa remains normal. This yields a patient who cannot regulate blood sugar normally but who is not at risk for an Addisonian crisis. Diagnosis is still by ACTH stimulation test and an endogenous ACTH level. Treatment is supplementation of glucocorticoid hormones, such as prednisone. It should be noted that often these patients progress to the more typical Addison’s disease complete with electrolyte imbalance.

Pacific Rimism

Dog breeds originating in the Pacific Rim, such as the Akita and Shiba inu, commonly have elevated potassium levels on blood tests. This can be very confusing when a patient has symptoms that suggest Addison’s disease. These patients will have normal ACTH Stimulation test results if they do not have Addison’s disease.

Whipworm Infection?

Whipworm infection has been known to create a syndrome nearly identical to Addisonian crisis, complete with abnormal sodium and potassium values. These patients will have normal ACTH stimulation tests but because whipworms only periodically shed eggs, fecal testing may not detect whipworm infection. If there is any question about whipworm infection, treatment should be instituted. See details on whipworm infection.

Roger L. Welton, DVM

Founder and Chief Editor, Web-DVM.net

CEO Premier Veterinary Care

Host Space Coast Pet Podcast

Author, The Man in the White Coat

Article updated 3/17/2024

 

18 thoughts on “Addisons Disease in Dogs

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