Addison’s disease means the insufficiency of the adrenal glands and the resulting underproduction of corticosteroids and resulting symptoms. The reason is often unknown. Sometimes the reason can be the deficiency of ACTH-hormone produced by the pituitary gland. Typically, the disease causes a rise in potassium levels and a low level of sodium in the blood. Often kidney values also rise.
Occurrence of addison’s
A typical patient is a young or middle-aged (2-4 years) dog. The disease is more common among female dogs than males. The disease is extremely rare in cats.
Symptoms
Typical symptoms are fatigue, lack of appetite and depression. Vomiting and diarrhoea may exhibit from time to time. Symptoms develop slowly and intially are only exhibited in stressful situations. Sometimes the disease may erupt into a sudden crisis. In that case, the symptoms are fatigue due to low blood pressure and even uncosciousness, low body temperature, diarrhoea and dehydration.
In cats, the symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss and indifference.
Theatment
The treatment for Addison’s disease is a lifelong compensatory cortisone medication. Mineralocorticoid product FlorinefR is a common medicine.