Fact Sheet

Toy, Miniature & Standard.

Failure of the adrenal glands to secrete the corticosteroid hormones. In primary Addison’s this is usually due to autoimmune damage to the adrenal cortex.

Initial symptoms are vague including depression, lack of appetite, vomiting and/or diarrhea with abdominal pain and muscle weakness. In an acute crisis, symptoms include low blood pressure with weakness and shivering and impaired kidney function.

Recent research on both Standard Poodles and Portuguese Water Dogs suggests that Addison’s is a polygenic trait with multiple genes influencing the development of Addison’s disease.

Blood cortisol level determination (low); CBC (complete blood count) in which certain white blood cells occur in higher than normal numbers; abnormal (low) ratio of sodium to potassium. A definitive diagnosis is by an ACTH stimulation test.

Varies.

Drugs to replace the missing hormones for the remainder of the dog’s life. Florinef given orally daily, or Percoten V given by injection every 21 – 30 days (or sometimes longer than 30 days) and Prednisone.

Addison’s is fatal if left undiagnosed and untreated. Dogs with Addison’s may have a crisis during periods of stress; i.e., during boarding or grooming, etc. No dog that has been diagnosed with Addison’s should be used in a breeding program. Breeders should proceed under the assumption that Addison’s is a polygenic trait.