What is Addison's Disease and is it typically treated?
What is Addison's Disease and is it typically treated?
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If your dog gets sick whenever he’s stressed, you might have him tested for Addison’s Disease.
Katharine Lunn, Assistant Professor of Small Animal Medicine at Colorado State University states, “Addison’s Disease is an endocrine or hormonal disease of dogs, and it is caused by loss of activity of the adrenal glands.”
She says dogs with Addison’s do not produce enough cortisol, the hormone that helps them deal with stress. They’re also missing aldosterone, which helps regulate the body’s sodium, potassium, and water levels.
Fortunately, Lunn says Addison’s Disease can be treated with supplemental hormones. She continues, “it’s lifelong therapy, but it’s very successful and these pets can have normal lives.”
You can also help by minimizing your dog’s stress.
– Dr. Andrea Looney, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series