addison's disease in dogs symptoms
In an ACTH challenge test, the dog is given an injection of the adrenal stimulating hormone ACTH. A normal dog will respond by having an increase in blood cortisol. If a dog with Addison's disease is given ACTH, the dog will not have an increase in blood cortisol and the diagnosis of Addison's disease is confirmed. There are, however, some breeds that appear to be predisposed to the disease: 1  Standard Poodles. 2  West Highland White Terriers. 3  Great Danes.  Bearded 1  Collies. Portuguese Water Dogs.  Nova Scotia Duck Tolling 1  Retrievers. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. Some dogs drink excessively and urinate excessively (PUPD). Symptoms of Addison's Disease come and go. For example, a pet will vomit one day and be fine the next. Or, a pet will be lethargic for a week and be fine the next week. Some dogs undergoing treatment for Cushing's disease, in which there is overproduction of these hormones, may become Addisonian if the Cushing’s treatment destroys the outer adrenal gland layers. Addison's Disease Symptoms. Addison's disease is often called the great imitator and with good reason. The symptoms of Addison's disease can be vague. More importantly, they are similar to the symptoms of many different problems. Initially, the dog may be listless, or seem depressed. Many dogs are described as just seeming off, or losing the normal sparkle in their eye. Lack of appetite is a good indicator. Jennifer Hawkins, DVM. Addison's disease, or hypoadrenocorticism, is a hormonal disorder that is typically diagnosed in dogs, and considered rare in cats. In fact, while Addison's disease is still relatively uncommon in dogs, it occurs more frequently than with humans and commonly affects young to middle-aged female dogs. Addison's disease in dogs and cats is an extremely difficult disease to diagnose because the symptoms resemble those of many other diseases. For example, excessive drinking and urinating commonly resembles diabetes. Anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea resemble gastrointestinal diseases and parasitic infections. It is the common name for hypoadrenocorticism, or adrenal insufficiency. It is a disease with symptoms that are common in many other ailments, making diagnosis difficult and sometimes a process of elimination. But once Addison's is correctly diagnosed, a properly treated dog can live a normal active life. Addison's disease in dogs is also known as hypoadrenocorticism. It is a disease that results from the reduction in corticosteroid secretion from the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland is a small gland located near the kidney that secretes several different substances that help regulate normal body functions. Diagnosis is of Addison's disease in dogs is confirmed by a blood test called the ACTH stimulation test. However, because the disease is not very common and has a wide variety of symptoms, the ACTH test is usually done after several other tests are used to rule out more common diseases.
Listless, or seem depressed,osing the normal sparkle in their eye and Lack of appetite,