Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs and diagnosis of atypical Addison's disease in dogs
By Sadek, D & Schaer, M·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·1996·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Atypical Addison's disease in the dog: a retrospective survey of 14 cases.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 14 dogs with Addison's disease showed unusual electrolyte levels, which can make diagnosis tricky. Most of these dogs were female and displayed symptoms like not wanting to eat, weakness, and vomiting. Interestingly, many had low sodium levels without high potassium levels, or their electrolyte levels were normal. This highlights that even if a dog has normal or slightly altered electrolyte levels, it can still have Addison's disease. The best way to confirm this condition is through a specific test that checks how well the adrenal glands respond to a hormone called ACTH.
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Abstract
Fourteen dogs diagnosed with Addison's disease and having atypical serum electrolyte levels are described. Seventy-eight percent were female, and most showed signs of inappetence, weakness, or vomiting. Ninety-three percent of the cases had either hyponatremia without hyperkalemia or normal serum electrolyte concentrations. Hemogram features were variable and were not useful in suggesting a diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism. The results of this study show that normal or mild serum electrolyte changes in a dog with clinical signs compatible with Addison's disease should not exclude this diagnosis from consideration. Definitive diagnosis depends on the demonstration of inadequate adrenocortical response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8680923/