If your dog has Addison's disease what is it and what is the cure?

Answer 1

CAUSES:Failure to produce adequate levels of cortisol can occur for different reasons. The problem may be due to a disorder of the adrenal glands themselves (primary adrenal insufficiency) or to inadequate secretion of ACTH by the pituitary gland (secondary adrenal insufficiency).

Primary Adrenal Insufficiency:Addison's disease affects about 1 in 100,000 people. Most cases are caused by the gradual destruction of the adrenal cortex, the outer layer of the adrenal glands, by the body's own immune system. About 70% of reported cases of Addison's disease are caused by autoimmune disorders, in which the immune system makes antibodies that attack the body's own tissues or organs and slowly destroy them. Adrenal insufficiency occurs when at least 90% of the adrenal cortex has been destroyed. As a result, often both glucocorticoid (cortisol) and mineralocorticoid (aldostertone) hormones are lacking. Sometimes only the adrenal gland is effected, as in idiopathic adrenal insufficiency; sometimes other glands also are affected, as in the polyendocrine deficiency syndrome.

SYMPTOMS:The symptoms of adrenal insufficiency usually begin gradually. Characteristics of the disease are:

chronic, worsening fatiguemuscle weaknessloss of appetiteweight loss

about 50% of the time, one will notice:

nauseavomiting diarrhea

Other symptoms include:

low blood pressure that falls further when standing, causing dizziness or fainting skin changes in Addison's disease, with areas of hyperpigmentation, or dark tanning, covering exposed and nonexposed parts of the body; this darkening of the skin is most visible on scars; skin folds; pressure points such as the elbows, knees, knuckles and toes; lips; and mucous membranes.

TREATMENT:

Treatment of Addison's disease involves replacing,, or substituting the hormones that the adrenal glands are not making. Cortisol is replaced orally with hydrocortisone tablets, a synthetic glucocorticoid, taken once or twice a day. If aldosterone is also deficient, it is replaced with oral doses of a mineralocorticoid called fludrocortisone acetate (florinef), which is taken once a day. Patients receiving aldosterone replacement therapy are usually advised by a doctor to increase their salt intake. Because patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency normally maintain aldosterone production, they do not require aldosterone replacement therapy. The doses of each of these medications are adjusted to meet the needs of individual patients.

During an addisonian crisis, low blood pressure, low blood glucose, and high levels of potassium can be life threatening. Standard therapy involves intravenous injections of hydrocortisone, saline (salt water) and dextrose (sugar). This treatment usually brings rapid improvement. When the patient can take fluids and medications by mouth, the amount of hydrocortisone is decreased until a maintenance dose is achieved. If aldosterone is deficient, maintenance therapy also includes oral doses of fludrocortisone acetate.

PATIENT EDUCATION:A person who has adrenal insufficiency should always carry identification stating his or her condition in case of an emergency. The card should alert emergency personnel about the need to inject 100 mg of cortisol if it's bearer is found severely injured or unable to answer questions. The card should also include the doctor's name and telephone number and the name and telephone number of the nearest relative to be notified. When traveling, a needle, syringe, and an injectable form of cortisol should be carried for emergencies. A person with Addison's disease also should know how to increase medication during periods of stress or mild upper respiratory infections. Immediate medical attention is need when severe infections, vomiting, or diarrhea occur. These conditions can precipitate an addisonian crisis. A patient who is vomiting may require injections of hydrocortisone.

People with medical problems may wish to wear a descriptive warming bracelet or neck chain to alert emergency personnel. A number of companies manufacture medical ID products.

Answer 2

Addison's disease is there when your adrenal cortex dose not secrete enough corticosteroids. You have to give supplement of corticosteroids, on daily basis to the patient. In developing countries, there are ten quacks for every qualified doctor. They use the corticosteroids, very recklessly, to suppress the hypothalamo-hypopituitory-adrenal axis of masses.

Answer 3

Addisons Disease is also called hypoadrenocorticism, or adrenal insufficiency. It is very hard to detect because it has very vague symptoms and they are similar to other diseases's symptoms. It is at times a process of elimination when dealing with a dog's diagnosis. The Adrenal Glands one on each kidney are made up of two layers ( the cortex and the medulla ). The cortex (the outer layer) secretes Corticosteroid Hormones which are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems which deal with a persons stress level , immune response or protein level. The medulla part of the sypathetic nervous system secretes adrenaline (at times isn't affected by Addison's Disease ) .

There are two forms of Addison's Disease .

1) Primary is a result of damage to the adrenal glands.

2)Secondary is from the failure of the pituitary gland.

To help your veterinarian diagnose the disease, inform him of all of your dog's symptoms, e.g. seeming depressed , not wanting to move a lot, vomiting , diarrhea , lethargy (drowsiness), lack of appetite, tremors or shaking, muscle weakness, and pain in hind quarters.

Addison's disease is treated by two medications, an oral medication called Florinef â„¢ (fludrocortisone acetate) or the injectable Percorten-Vâ„¢ (desoxycorticosterone pivalate or DOCP) plus prednisone oral tablets.

For dogs that have atypical or secondary Addison's prednisone alone is used.

There is no cure for Addison's disease--most dogs will remain on Addison's disease for the rest of their lives.

Source: Stephanie Kenrose, Addison's in Dogs, 2009 ISBN 1449513077

Answer 4

Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's Disease)

In animals with Addison's disease, there is a deficiency of the corticosteroid hormones. It is unusual to discover the direct cause of this deficiency unless the patient is taking medications that disrupt adrenal balance (like Ketoconazole or Lysodren) but, fortunately, the disease can be managed with the administration of corticosteroid hormones even if the cause of the deficiency is unknown

Clinical Signs

Patients are usually young (age 4-5 years) female dogs. (This disease occurs in cats but is very rare.) Predisposed breeds include: the Great Dane, the West Highland White terrier, all sizes of poodles, and Portuguese water dogs. At first signs are very vague - listlessness, possibly some vomiting or diarrhea. Ultimately, the disease results in a phenomenon known as the "Addisonian crisis." The animal collapses in shock due to its inability to adapt to the caloric and circulatory requirements in stress. Blood sugar may drop dangerously low. Potassium levels soar and disrupt the heart rhythm because there is not

enough conserved sodium to exchange for potassium. Heart rate slows, and arrhythmias result. The patient may not survive this episode.

Corticosteroid hormones are needed to adapt to stressful situations and without these hormones, even small stresses could lead to physiologic disaster.

The most important aspect of treatment for hypoadrenocorticism is the replacement of the missing mineralocorticoids hormones. One way to do this is with oral Fludrocortisone Florinef. Florinef is given usually twice a day at a dose determined by the patient's sodium and potassium blood tests. At first, these electrolytes are monitored weekly. When levels seem stable, these blood tests are repeated 2 to 4 times per year. Often with time, it will be found that the dose of Florinef needed to control the Addison's disease will increase. This is unfortunate as the medication is relatively expensive. Since Florinef has glucocorticoid activity as well as mineralocorticoid activity, it is not necessary to use additional medications for treatment.

Another way to treat this condition is with an injectable medication called DOCP (brand name Percorten-V). This treatment is given approximately every 25 days. Electrolytes are measured prior to injections at first but testing can usually eventually be tapered to once or twice a year. There is some feeling among experts that DOCP produces better regulation of electrolytes than does oral Florinef. Some dogs however, do require glucocorticoid supplementation (such as a low dose of prednisone).

At the moment, DOCP is only available directly through Novartis Animal Health. It cannot be ordered through regular veterinary distributors and, of course, pet owners may not directly order it. Your veterinarian may obtain DOCP by contacting the Novartis Animal Health Customer Service Department at: 1-800-332-2761

Salting the patient's food is sometimes recommended to assist the patient with sodium balance.

Answer 5

were your poo is red and runny and looks like reece potter