Addison’s disease, also known as canine hypoadrenocorticism, is a condition that can have serious consequences for dogs. Proper treatment helps ensure that dogs with Addison’s disease lead normal lives.
Indicators that can point to an Addison’s disease diagnosis:
- Unusually high urea and potassium levels
- disrupted levels of calcium, chloride, and sodium
- Low concentration of urine
- Insufficient oxygen transportation through red blood cells (anemia)
“An Addisonian crisis occurs when a dog’s hormonal levels are so unbalanced that the animal goes into shock. A low aldosterone level causes a dog’s kidneys to fail to conserve sodium or excrete potassium, and dogs often become severely dehydrated.”
“In an Addisonian crisis, the disease reaches an acute stage, and dogs experience life-threatening symptoms such as shock and collapse.”
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