Addisons disease is known as Hypoadrenocortism, and is an uncommon disorder. It is the opposite to Cushings disease but if managed correctly, your dog can still live a long and active life. It’s named after Thomas Addison, the British scientist who first discovered the disease...
This condition is a failure of the adrenal glands to produce enough glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid, compounds which control a large number of functions within the body.
Glucocorticoids, a group of hormones, include cortisol which plays a variety of important functions within the body, particularly for metabolism and the immune system. The other group of hormones produced by the adrenals is the mineralocorticoids. These include aldosterone which plays a key role in maintaining a balance of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium (1).
In Addisons disease the level of sodium decreases and potassium increases. Low sodium can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and weakness. High potassium mainly effects the heart causing changes in the rhythm and contraction. Addisons disease can be caused by any mechanism which damages the adrenal gland.
Symptoms of Addisons Disease include;
- Reduced appetite
- Lethargy and weakness (due to impact on the heart)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Weight loss
- Shaking
While any breed of dog can be affected by Addison’s disease some dog breed are more prone to Addisons. These include:
- Poodles
- Bearded Collies
- Great Danes
- Terriers
Addison’s disease is diagnosed with blood tests including salt levels (electrolytes) and will also show if your dog is suffering from an infection.
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Reference
(1) https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/dogs/health/symptoms/addisons-disease
