Addison's Disease in Dogs

Addison's Disease in Dogs

This disease occurs with corticosteroids reduces the secretion of the adrenal gland, a small gland in the vicinity of the kidney, the various substances to regulate body functions helps to produce. Glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoidele are two of the most important substances in this gland.

The opposite is Addison's disease or hyperadrenocorticism Cushing. This occurs when the glands to corticosteroid. Addison's disease is rare. First, it is difficult to detect, but may be once diagnosed, treated.

Glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid



There are two produced by the adrenal gland substances. Glucocorticoids, such as cortisol a role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. I am partly responsible for certain reactions in times of stress.

Mineralocorticoidele such as aldosterone, the electrolyte influences, sodium and potassium in the body. Specifically, helps regulate these electrolytes, especially in stressful situations. When the adrenal glands do not function properly, these hormones are produced in sufficient quantities and animal metabolism and electrolyte balance, lead to the symptoms and complications of Addison's disease.


Who is sick of Addison's disease and what are the symptoms?

Bitches young or middle-aged are particularly susceptible to this disease. However, may be affected by Addison's disease every dog of any age, gender and race. Even cats can get sick from Addison's disease, but is rare.

The symptoms are very vague, so many animals show symptoms until the disease is diagnosed: lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, and muscle weakness. Sometimes it happens that the animal to enter into a state of shock by electrolyte disturbance and metabolism in a stressful time. Sometimes owners do not know that their pet is sick, then comes an episode. If not treated in time, the shock can be fatal.


Why adrenal glands to stop production of these steroids?

There are many reasons by which the adrenal glands may fail. Sometimes the body begins to attack its own tissues. Other causes of these diseases are infections of the gland, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis or stroke, tumors or amyloidosis. Addison's disease can occur when the pituitary gland does not adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a hormone that stimulates the adrenal gland. There are cases in which the hypothalamus produces no CRH, a hormone which controls the adrenal glands. If the pituitary or hypothalamus is not working, a tumor, inflammation or injury may be.


Diagnosis hypoadrenocorticism?

In dogs with Addison's disease can be diagnosed by testing the rapid ACTH stimulation. However, since the disease often and has a plurality of symptoms, this test will not be used until many other analyzes to other diseases.

If you are in the hospital, when the dog caused addisoniana crisis caused by an imbalance of electrolytes and responds well to come to treatment, then make a diagnosis after the animal recovers. Then the diagnosis is confirmed by an ACTH stimulation test.

If the dog has recently lost weight, signs of lethargy and muscle weakness, signs that the existence of several diseases can point out are the first blood test. Often dogs suffer from this disease shows an increased level of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, together with a reduction in blood sugar. Blood tests may indicate chronic anemia.

In an ACTH test the dog hormone that stimulates the adrenal gland injected. In a normal dog, the result would be an increase in cortisol levels in the blood, while a sick dog, it will not happen.


How to treat Addison's disease?

Once your dog has been diagnosed with Addison's disease, treatment replacement is relatively simple and mineralocorticoidelor and glucocorticoids in the body. To do this, the doctor will prescribe a medication is first and sodium and potassium levels in the blood to monitor properly adjust the dose. After this phase, you have come to only 2-3 times may adjust the dose control in the year if necessary. It is a new treatment for Addison's disease, an injection of long-term effect, which is administered every 25 days.

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