Early signs of Addison’s disease in dogs, often called "the great pretender" due to its vague nature, include intermittent lethargy, weakness, reduced appetite, weight loss, and chronic, mild vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms frequently wax and wane, sometimes worsening during stress, and may include increased thirst and urination.

How does Addison's disease start in dogs?

What causes Addison's disease? Addison's disease in dogs is primarily caused by an immune–mediated destruction of adrenal tissue. Less commonly, the adrenal glands may be damaged by trauma, infection, or cancer.

Can Addison's disease in dogs cause bloody diarrhea?

Dogs can lose their appetites and may lose weight as a result of this decreased appetite. The condition frequently causes diarrhea (which is sometimes bloody as well) and vomiting.

How to rule out Addison's disease in dogs?

Your veterinarian will perform blood and urine tests to evaluate your dog's illness and look for signs suggestive of Addison's disease, such as electrolyte imbalances in sodium and potassium. Addison's disease is confirmed with a blood test called ACTH Stimulation.

At what age does Addison's disease show up in dogs?

Addison's disease most commonly occurs in young to middle-aged dogs, though it can theoretically occur at any age, starting from as young as four months old.

Addison's disease in the dog. Dr. Dan explains symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

What breeds of dogs are prone to Addison's disease?

While any dog can get Addison's disease, certain breeds have a higher genetic predisposition, including Bearded Collies, Standard Poodles, Great Danes, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, Portuguese Water Dogs, and West Highland White Terriers, with Rottweilers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, and Leonbergers also being overrepresented. It's an endocrine disorder where adrenal glands don't produce enough hormones, often striking young to middle-aged female dogs.
 

What are the red flags of Addison's disease?

Red flags for Addison's disease include extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, darkening skin (hyperpigmentation), salt cravings, low blood pressure (causing dizziness), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can worsen into a life-threatening adrenal crisis with severe pain, confusion, and shock. These symptoms often develop slowly but can appear suddenly during stress or illness, requiring immediate medical attention.

What not to feed a dog with Addison's disease?

Avoid low-protein diets unless your vet advises it for another medical condition (like kidney disease). Dogs with Addison's often have low sodium and high potassium levels. Their treatment usually addresses this, but it's wise to avoid low-sodium dog foods and consult your vet before adding supplements.

What can be mistaken for Addison's disease in dogs?

It is common for Addisonian dogs to be misdiagnosed as having kidney disease at first. Because the onset of Addison's disease usually happens around two to three years of age, veterinarians should always have it in mind as a possibility in any young dog that has blood work suggestive of kidney problems.

Do dogs with Addison's disease pee a lot?

Symptoms of Addison's Disease are many — increased thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, no appetite, shaking or shivering, abdominal pain, weak pulse, slow heart rate. Once diagnosed, dogs with Addison's Disease must receive hormone therapy for life.

What does stress poop look like in a dog?

Stress poop in dogs often looks soft, mushy, or watery (diarrhea), sometimes with excess mucus, resembling pudding or liquid instead of a firm log, and can appear more frequently, occasionally with bright red streaks of blood or a greenish tint, accompanied by urgency, straining (tenesmus), or changes in appetite and behavior. It's essentially stress colitis, indicating gut inflammation from anxiety, with hallmarks being loose consistency, mucus, and urgency, though the dog might otherwise seem fine. 

What are the early signs of Addison's?

Symptoms of Addison's disease

• fatigue (lack of energy or motivation)
• lethargy (abnormal drowsiness or tiredness)
• muscle weakness.
• low mood (mild depression) or irritability.
• loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss.
• the need to urinate frequently.
• increased thirst.
• craving for salty foods.

What potential clinical signs in a dog with Addison's include decreased appetite and extreme fatigue?

Clinical Findings of Addison Disease in Animals

Usually, GI signs predominate, including loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. Lethargy is common, and polyuria/polydipsia is also reported. These signs can wax and wane, and they are typically brought on or exacerbated by stress.

What age does Addison's start?

Addison's disease can affect people of all age groups, but it's most common in people 30 to 50 years old. People who have autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome, a rare, inherited condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks many of your tissues and organs, are much more likely to have Addison's disease.

What mimics Addison's in dogs?

vulpis infections are reported as causing hyponatremia and hyperkalemia [4–7]. Although this kind of syndrome (pseudo-Addison disease) due to T. vulpis infection has been reported, its pathogenesis is not well understood. The symptoms mimic those of Addison's disease with waxing and waning weakness.

How does a dog act with Addison's disease?

Signs of atypical Addison's Disease in dogs may include, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, or weight loss. Typically these dogs experience chronic or intermittent gastrointestinal issues leading up to their diagnosis.

What can mimic Addison's?

The diagnosis may be delayed if the clinical presentation mimics a gastrointestinal disorder or psychiatric illness. We report a case of Addison's disease presenting as acute pain in abdomen mimicking clinical presentation of acute pancreatitis.

Does Addison's disease affect the eyes?

Virtually all patients have visual symptoms. Loss of acuity, hemianopia, visual agnosia, optic atrophy, and strabismus are the most common features. Neuropathy may cause a decrease in corneal sensation. Gaze abnormalities due to ocular apraxia are sometimes seen.

What dog breeds are more prone to Addison's disease?

While any dog can get Addison's disease, certain breeds have a higher genetic predisposition, including Bearded Collies, Standard Poodles, Great Danes, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, Portuguese Water Dogs, and West Highland White Terriers, with Rottweilers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, and Leonbergers also being overrepresented. It's an endocrine disorder where adrenal glands don't produce enough hormones, often striking young to middle-aged female dogs.
 

Which skin color is associated with Addison's disease?

Brown patches of the gingival, vermillion border of the lips, buccal mucosa, palate, and tongue may represent the first signs of Addison's disease.

What are the 5 S's of Addisonian crisis?

The 5 Ss of adrenal crisis treatment are Salt (0.9% saline), Sugar (50% dextrose), Steroids (100 mg hydrocortisone IV once, then 200 mg over 24 hours), Support (normal saline to correct hypotension and electrolyte abnormalities), and Search (for the underlying disorder).

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