CORNER Disease triggered by stress in dogs

S sometimes happens in veterinary practice, within the last two weeks, I have seen three dogs where I have confirmed an illness called Addison’s Disease.

Addison’s disease occurs when dogs fail to produce enough of the hormone, cortisol. The disease is named after a 19th-century English physician, Thomas Addison, who identified and described it in people.

In the normal dog, cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands, (which are located just in front of the kidneys). Cortisol has hundreds of possible effects in the body. The amount of cortisol produced by the adrenal glands is precisely balanced. Cortisol production is regulated by hormones produced in the brain which stimulate the adrenal glands.

When the adrenal glands receive the signal from the pituitary they respond by producing cortisol. Cortisol’s most important job is to help the body respond to stress. In Addison’s disease the body is unable to produce enough cortisol and affected animals may become ill at times of stress.

Addison’s disease is usually caused by damage to the adrenal glands. Most cases of Addison’s disease are caused by the gradual destruction of the outer layer of the adrenal glands, by the body’s own immune system.

The signs of Addison’s disease are extremely variable and can be subtle in the early stages. Addison’s disease usually affects younger dogs and females are more at risk than males. All thee of my recent cases have been female.

Signs of Addison’s disease include a worsening fatigue and muscle weakness, loss of appetite and weight loss are characteristic of the disease. Dogs may be depressed, lethargic or unwilling to exercise. Gastrointestinal problems (with vomiting and/or diarrhoea). Two of my recent cases presented with a very severe form of the disease known as an Addisonian Crisis. Both these dogs began with vomiting and diarrhoea, but progressed rapidly resulting in collapse.

In its early stages, Addison’s disease can be difficult to diagnose. Specific blood tests are needed to confirm the disease. These tests measure the level of cortisol in the blood.

Treatment of Addison’s disease involves replacing, or substituting, the hormones that the adrenal glands are not making. Currently there is only one pharmaceutical licenced for treating Addison’s disease in the UK.

The good news is that, despite requiring ongoing lifelong treatment, all three patients have responded well to their initial round of treatment.

Ongoing blood tests and medication will be required to ensure the condition does not rear its head again but with careful ongoing management, the prospects of a long and active life look promising.