Addisons Disease?

[JKW]

Hey guys,

Recently my Golden Retriever has been very fussy when it comes to food, she has lost all her coat and looks unhappy.

She is 14mths old and has been through a number of tests, the vet has confirmed that she does not have a thyroid problem and all her internal organs are normal.. BUT.... he thinks she may have addison's disease......

My question... Has anybody ever had a dog with this disease or know somebody else that has? Can you please tell me if it is worth getting her the treatment if addison's disease is what she has?? Will she have a normal life when she starts and continues treatment or will she still be sad and eventually go downhill again?

I have researched this disease so i know all about it.. i just want to know if its worth getting treatment for her or would it be kinder for me to just put her to sleep??

Thanks..

Edited October 22, 2009 by JKW

[PandaGirl]

I'm sort of going through this myself, my girl is getting tested for it tomorrow. Any treatment that will keep her with me and healthy is worth it IMO.

[Kelly_Louise]

Chloe has the opposite of Addisons Disease – which is Cushings disease. However, if her medication dosage is too high at any particular stage she goes into Addisons Disease. Personally, I find Addisons Disease to be more dangerous, however I believe is easier to treat than Cushings once it’s diagnosed.

These kinds of diseases requires fairly regular monitoring, and working closely with your vet – however with medication there is no reason that dogs can’t live a normal, happy life. Chloe has been on medication for almost 2 years now for Cushings – and for most of those has been just like a normal dog. The only time she becomes ‘not herself’ is when her medication dosage is no longer correct for her body – and that’s a sign she needs her med dosage changed. You become very in tune with your dog, and it’s brought us much closer.

But there is no reason, once meds are started, that your dog should be any different to how they were before the diagnosis. You will see a big difference once the medication is started. The coat issues might take a little while to resolve, but most other symptoms should disappear very quickly.

I understand that it’s all very scary – and that you feel bad because your pup is not well… but once you get the hang of these diseases and understand how they work, you will find that they are not as bad as first thought – that they are TOTALLY manageable and the dogs can live happily, it’s just that they take a bit more work and consideration than other diseases – and I believe that if your dog is affected with a similar disease that it is beneficial for owners to know as much as possible about the disease so they understand what is happening and how they can help and monitoring symptoms. It’s a bit like diabetes in humans really – similar concept. We give medication to resolve symptoms and artificially create the body to work better. It’s just that dogs can’t tell us if they are feeling unwell, so we have to be aware of the symptoms so we know when they aren’t well and what action needs to be taken, that’s all.

It really IS worth treating.

[Cavalier]

In my experience once dogs are on treatment for Addisons Disease they are managed extremely well.

You are very correct Kelly. Addisons Disease is much more deadly than Cushings if left untreated, but much more easily managed.

Treatmet either involves daily tablets or an injection every 3 weeks

[Kelly_Louise]

In my experience once dogs are on treatment for Addisons Disease they are managed extremely well.

You are very correct Kelly. Addisons Disease is much more deadly than Cushings if left untreated, but much more easily managed.

Treatmet either involves daily tablets or an injection every 3 weeks

That's great info Cavalier... I had heard that Addisons is easier to manage. Loraine even mentioned some Cushinoids are overdosed into Addisons and then treated for their Addisons in some cases.

JKW, I hope your girl is okay - and once treatment starts you will definitely see a difference

[Loraine]

Addison's disease is also known as hypoadrenocorticism. It is a disease that results from the reduction in corticosteroid secretion from the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland is a small gland located near the kidney that secretes several different substances that help regulate normal body function. Some of the most important products that it secretes are called glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. There is another disease called Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism) that occurs when the adrenal gland produces too much of these hormones. Addison's disease is not as common as Cushing's disease, but it still occurs with regular frequency in the dog population. It is difficult to recognize initially, but once it is diagnosed, it can be successfully treated.

The adrenal gland produces both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Glucocorticoids such as cortisol have an effect on sugar, fat, and protein metabolism. They are partially responsible for the reaction known as fight or flight response during stressful periods. Mineralocorticoids such as aldosterone have an influence on the electrolytes sodium and potassium in the body. They help regulate these electrolytes particularly in stressful situations. When the adrenal glands stop functioning, these hormones are not produced and the metabolism and electrolyte balance of the animal gets out of whack creating the symptoms and complications of Addison's disease.

Addison's is primarily a disease of young to middle-aged female dogs, however, a dog of any age and either sex can develop the disease. It does not appear to be more common in any one particular breed. Cats can develop this disease, but it is extremely rare. The symptoms of Addison's disease are very vague and many animals may have symptoms for a long time before the disease is diagnosed. Some of the more common symptoms include lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, and muscle weakness. The symptoms may wax and wane further complicating the diagnosis. The other presentation for this disease is an episode called an 'Addisonian crisis.' In this scenario, the animal collapses in a state of shock due to an imbalance of electrolytes and metabolism during a period of stress. This episode may be the first time the owner suspects disease and may be fatal, if not treated promptly.

How is Addison's disease treated?

Once the disease is diagnosed, the treatment is fairly straightforward. The standard treatment involves replacing the mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids in the body. The drug most commonly used to accomplish this is Florinef (fludrocortisone). Florinef is usually given twice a day. Initially, the blood sodium and potassium levels are monitored to help obtain the correct dose. After the animal is regulated, then the levels are rechecked 2 to 3 times a year and adjustments in dosing are made as needed.

A newer option in the treatment of Addison's disease has recently been made available. The new medication is an injectable medication called DOCP. The injection is long acting and only needs to be given every 25 days. DOCP was available years ago, but was taken off the market and recently reintroduced as an approved drug for dogs. DOCP has been intensively tested and been shown to provide better electrolyte regulation than Florinef. Some animals on DOCP may also need to be placed on a low maintenance dose of prednisone. Novartis is manufacturing this drug.

Good luck with the testing and the treament. I know people with Addy dog that are doing just fine and I also have an Addy fried (helps me understand how the dogs are actually feeling).

[InspectorRex]

You can always PM Charles Kuntz( DOL member and Specialist Vet) and he will gladly assist you with information on the condition.

It is actually noted to be inherited in several breeds too from the research I have done for my cousin who may have a dog with it.

[4Kelpies]

There are several discussion/support groups for this disease.

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/k9Addisons/

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/AddisonDogs_/

People here may be able to tell you more about treatment. Good luck.

[Man]

Hi

Sorry for the delay responding I havent been in the forum for a bit but my little girl Dida (Jack Russell 5.5 years) had an Addisions Crash on the 3rd of August and she went into cardiac arrest, the wonderful vets at ARH revived here and she has not looked back.

she is on an injection every 25 days and gets an oral dose of medication everyday, apart from that she is back to her normal energetic self and it is didfficult beleive that she was so ill. The cost of the medication is not that prohibitive and she now only requires quarterly visit to the hosptal for a blood test.

I hope everything works out for you and my experience has been helpful. If I can help further please let me know.

Regards

Man

Edited November 17, 2009 by Man

[Kelly_Louise]

Hi Man - wow that's absolutely fantastic news about Dida! I'm so pleased that she is doing so well... no doubt due to the great care that she has received from ARH, and also from yourself!

Really happy things are going so well, and we hope that they continue that way for many,many years

[GoldenWei]

My first golden had Addisons. She developed it at 6 years of age. In answer to your question, its definately worth the treatment. My girl was on tablets, up to 5 per day I think, however her dosage did flunctuate through the course of her life. If she has Addisons, yes she'll be on medication for the rest of her life, but once its under control and she's stable, she should lead a reasonably normal life. You will need to watch her for signs that she may need more (or less) medication, and of course watch that she doesn't have an Addisionian Crisis. My girl used to be scared of thunderstorms, so in those times, ie. in times of stress, I would need to watch her even more closely.

Anyway, happy to answer questions if you had any. Good luck with her.