ADDISON'S DISEASE IN DOGS, CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, & YOUR OPTIONS

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Last Updated on March 25, 2024 by Thee Puppypreneur

Table Of Contents

WHAT IS ADDISON’S DISEASE IN DOGS

Addison’s disease in dogs is called hypoadrenocorticism in dogs. Adrenal insufficiency in dogs is when the adrenal glands stop functioning correctly by either not making enough hormones or none at all.¹

The adrenal glands are located near the kidneys which are situated down your dog’s spine just above the bladder.

The primary job of the adrenal glands is to make cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol is known for being your stress hormone, so when you are stressed your cortisol levels tend to go up. The other is aldosterone which is in charge of your sodium and potassium levels. ²

CAUSES OF ADDISON’S DISEASE IN DOG

The primary reason could be the destruction of the adrenal glands. Other reasons why this could have happened are if your dog was being treated for Cushing’s disease.

Mitotane is known not only for blocking the hormone production of the adrenal glands but for also being able to destroy even the healthy tissue of the adrenal gland. ³

Other reasons your dog may have developed Addison’s disease could be cancerous or non-cancerous tumors, infectious diseases or fungal disease.

Secondary Addison’s is considered rare and could also be due to a tumor on the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain that could be cancerous or benign.

Another reason for secondary Addison’s could also be that your dog was treated with steroids long-term. Steroids suppress ACTH secretion which is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates secretion of cortisol by the adrenal glands.

If your dog was on long-term steroids and the dose wasn’t tapered off and the medication was stopped abruptly it could induce hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s).

The good news is that when that happens the condition is usually temporary since those cells need time to regain their function.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ADDISON’S IN DOGS

Unfortunately, hypoadrenocorticism in dogs or Addison’s Disease is often known as “the great pretender” meaning that it loves to mimic other conditions.

This is often why veterinarians will need to do a complete workup as the symptoms vary from dog to dog and can range from;

Shaking or Trembling
Increased Urination
Lethargy
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Weight Loss
Increased Thirst
Hypoglycemia

HOW IS ADDISON’S DISEASE IN DOGS DIAGNOSED

Physical Examination
CBC
Serum Chemistry Profile
Urinalysis
Fecal Analysis
ACTH Stimulation Testing
X-rays
Electrocardiograms
Ultrasounds

HOW IS ADDISON’S IN DOGS TREATED

Treatment of Addison’s disease in dogs will depend. If there is an acute Addison’s crisis in which the symptoms are severe, this will require immediate treatment and hospitalization.

Your dog could be treated with the following medications for adrenal insufficiency or hypoadrenocorticism in dogs. This includes both immediate and then long-term options below depending on the severity of the condition and options available to you;

IV fluids
Prednisone
Dexamethasone
Desoxycorticosterone Pivalate (DOCP) injection given monthly ⁴
Fludrocortisone acetate (given orally) ⁵

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR ADDISON’S DISEASE IN DOGS

ADRENAL GLANDULAR SUPPLEMENTS FOR ADDISONS DISEASE IN DOGS

Glandular therapy is one of the alternative and natural remedies for Addison’s disease in dogs. The adage of “like treats like” has been around for ages.

Feeding your dog adrenal gland extract to help support the missing hormones could be an option for you. Something like the below mentioned product;

Amazon.com : Standard Process – Canine Adrenal Support – Stress Support for Dogs – 25 Grams : Pet Multivitamins : Pet Supplies

and is something you can talk with your holistic veterinarian about giving to your furbaby as either an alternative or to complement other medications your vet might prescribe.

The reason that I talk about adrenal glandular supplementation is because the adrenal glands are made of two parts the cortex and the medulla.

The cortex is responsible for producing the cortisol and the aldosterone, or the glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids⁶ which if your dog has Addison’s disease then they are not producing enough or any at all.

There are other products on the market that sell whole adrenal gland which contains both the medulla and the cortex or there are actually products on the market that contain the cortex only which could help with the low cortisol in dogs.

GLANDULAR THERAPY FOR DOGS AND THE AMAZING BENEFITS

HERBS FOR LOW CORTISOL IN DOGS

LICORICE ROOT

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is another alternative and natural remedy option and is an adrenal stimulant. ⁷ Licorice root helps increase cortisol levels. ⁸

It is also an adaptogenic herb meaning that it supports the immune system and the ability of the body to handle stress. Licorice is not for everyone and should not be used long-term as it can decrease your potassium levels.

Licorice root should not be used in dogs with liver or kidney issues just to name a few.

CORDYCEPS

Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis) is also another alternative and natural remedy that might be an option for you to discuss and has been shown to stimulate corticosterone production in rat adrenal cells. ⁹ The increase in corticosterone was completely dose dependent. ¹⁰

Before starting anything new in your furbabies life always remember to consult with your veterinarian first as certain herbs or medications could interfere with one another or certain medical conditions and what may work for one pet may not work for your specific needs.