How to Diagnose Addison's Disease in Dogs
Addison's disease has been called "The Great Pretender" because it mimics hundreds of other diseases. This article describes one elusive case of canine Addison's disease and describes the only test that can properly diagnose the disease.
When I was working as a veterinary assistant at an animal hospital, a lady called Joan rushed through the door just as we opened on Monday morning with her Dalmatian, Charley, in her arms. Charley, according to Joan, had been suffering from diarrhea and vomiting all week. Finally he refused to eat all weekend and was now so sick that he couldn't even walk from the car. After several hours of IV fluids, Charley seemed to recover from his apparent bout of gastroenteritis which, according to the veterinarian I worked for (I'll call him "Doc Jones") had created an electrolyte imbalance.
I was all too familiar with gastroenteritis causing electrolyte imbalances. The year before, I had gastroenteritis for two weeks. Despite my attempts to hydrate, my blood pressure dropped to 80 over 60 and my heart rate slowed to 50 b.p.m., necessitating emergency infusion of fluids to properly rehydrate my body and replace lost electrolytes: potassium, chloride, and sodium. It seemed logical that dogs with a chronic stomach virus would also have similar symptoms.
After an overnight stay, Charley left the animal hospital with his tail wagging, apparently fully recovered from his "virus."
Two months later, Joan rushed in again with Charley. This time, he was so weak he couldn't even stand. A simple blood test revealed high potassium and low sodium levels. Along with Charley's lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea, "Doc Jones" suggested that Charley might have Addison's disease.
Charley was given an ACTH stimulation test, which is the only test that can definitively test for Addison's. After the test came back as positive, Charley's treatment plan was adjusted for the long term medications he would need for the rest of his life.
Addison's disease is called the "Great Pretender" for good reason: it is extremely difficult to diagnose. Weakness, diarrhea and vomiting are all signs of the disease, but they can also indicate a host of other disorders. For a full list of symptoms of canine Addison's disease, visit the Addison's in Dogs website.
I was all too familiar with gastroenteritis causing electrolyte imbalances. The year before, I had gastroenteritis for two weeks. Despite my attempts to hydrate, my blood pressure dropped to 80 over 60 and my heart rate slowed to 50 b.p.m., necessitating emergency infusion of fluids to properly rehydrate my body and replace lost electrolytes: potassium, chloride, and sodium. It seemed logical that dogs with a chronic stomach virus would also have similar symptoms.
After an overnight stay, Charley left the animal hospital with his tail wagging, apparently fully recovered from his "virus."
Two months later, Joan rushed in again with Charley. This time, he was so weak he couldn't even stand. A simple blood test revealed high potassium and low sodium levels. Along with Charley's lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea, "Doc Jones" suggested that Charley might have Addison's disease.
Charley was given an ACTH stimulation test, which is the only test that can definitively test for Addison's. After the test came back as positive, Charley's treatment plan was adjusted for the long term medications he would need for the rest of his life.
Addison's disease is called the "Great Pretender" for good reason: it is extremely difficult to diagnose. Weakness, diarrhea and vomiting are all signs of the disease, but they can also indicate a host of other disorders. For a full list of symptoms of canine Addison's disease, visit the Addison's in Dogs website.
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