Signs Your Dog Is Having an Addisonian Crisis

An Addisonian crisis is the result of undiagnosed Addison's disease in dogs. If your dog does not get immediate medical attention, she could die from multiple organ failure. The hardest part about Addison's disease is knowing your pet has it. Signs are subtle, and it takes an attentive dog owner to see the changes. Once diagnosed, Addison's disease is easily managed at a reasonable cost. Here are some tell-tale signs that your dog could be having an Addisonian crisis.
What is Addison's Disease?
Addison's disease is a genetic disorder where your dog's adrenal glands no longer produce the hormones necessary to deal with stress. The disease mostly affects female dogs, and it does not present symptoms until about the age of five.
Taking long walks, new dogs in the house, people moving in and out and a change of environment are all triggers for your dog's stress. Normally, your dog's adrenal glands excrete glucocorticoids to deal with the stress. In addition to glucocorticoids, the adrenal glands also release mineralocorticoids to balance electrolytes. When these steroids aren't excreted during stress, your dog is unable to handle it, electrolytes become imbalanced, and your dog's heart and kidneys cease to function. The result is a tragedy, but you can avoid it by rushing your dog to an emergency vet who can stabilize your pet.
Signs of a Crisis
To identify symptoms, you must know your dog's behavior. Even veterinarians tell you that Addison's disease is an extremely difficult disorder to diagnose unless the vet knows to take blood work. First, your dog will probably be more lethargic. If your dog normally follows you around the house, she will probably stop and lay there as you move around.
Next, your dog will lose its appetite and show signs of anorexia. She might try to eat, but as soon as she eats, she will vomit it up. Diarrhea is also a problem. Between the diarrhea and vomiting, the dog becomes dangerously dehydrated.
If you sleep with your dog, another noticeable sign is the shakes. The dog will shake as if she's cold or sick. She might try to sleep close to you for warmth, but she shakes and wakes you up.
What might throw dog owners off is that the dog will still drink water regularly. She will even walk regularly. Although, when she walks she won't want to go far distances and might even sit down. Your dog's behavior will be overall lethargic regardless of the activity.
If any of these symptoms are present with your dog, it's imperative that you immediately take the dog to a vet. If it's night time, find an emergency vet in your area. Dogs going through an Addisonian crisis will collapse fast, so it's important to act quickly.
Treating Addison's Disease
If you get your dog to the vet quickly, the vet will give the dog fluids, medication and stabilize her. Depending on how critical the condition, the dog could have sodium and potassium imbalances, a heart murmur and malfunctioning kidneys.
After your dog is stabilized, you can usually take her home after a couple of days. Your dog will be dependent on two medications: Prednisone and Percorten. Your dog will take daily doses of Prednisone. The dosage is determined by your vet. Percorten shots are given every month. Percorten is the more expensive treatment, but you can buy the bottle for about $200 and have the vet give your dog a shot for about $10 each visit. The Percorten bottle will last several months for a small dog. Prednisone is much cheaper. The Prednisone bottle costs about $15 each month.
A small dog will only need about 1.5mg of Prednisone each day. However, you'll need to double that dosage when you anticipate stressful times for the dog. For instance, if you take the dog to the vet, travel with her, introduce a new dog or have visitors, you need to double her dosage.
Prognosis for a treated dog with Addison's disease is very promising. As long as you get the dog to the vet during crisis symptoms, your dog will recover. Knowing your dog is key to identifying any further episodes, but with proper medication and treatment, your dog will live a long, happy life.
What is Addison's Disease?
Addison's disease is a genetic disorder where your dog's adrenal glands no longer produce the hormones necessary to deal with stress. The disease mostly affects female dogs, and it does not present symptoms until about the age of five.
Taking long walks, new dogs in the house, people moving in and out and a change of environment are all triggers for your dog's stress. Normally, your dog's adrenal glands excrete glucocorticoids to deal with the stress. In addition to glucocorticoids, the adrenal glands also release mineralocorticoids to balance electrolytes. When these steroids aren't excreted during stress, your dog is unable to handle it, electrolytes become imbalanced, and your dog's heart and kidneys cease to function. The result is a tragedy, but you can avoid it by rushing your dog to an emergency vet who can stabilize your pet.
Signs of a Crisis
To identify symptoms, you must know your dog's behavior. Even veterinarians tell you that Addison's disease is an extremely difficult disorder to diagnose unless the vet knows to take blood work. First, your dog will probably be more lethargic. If your dog normally follows you around the house, she will probably stop and lay there as you move around.
Next, your dog will lose its appetite and show signs of anorexia. She might try to eat, but as soon as she eats, she will vomit it up. Diarrhea is also a problem. Between the diarrhea and vomiting, the dog becomes dangerously dehydrated.
If you sleep with your dog, another noticeable sign is the shakes. The dog will shake as if she's cold or sick. She might try to sleep close to you for warmth, but she shakes and wakes you up.
What might throw dog owners off is that the dog will still drink water regularly. She will even walk regularly. Although, when she walks she won't want to go far distances and might even sit down. Your dog's behavior will be overall lethargic regardless of the activity.
If any of these symptoms are present with your dog, it's imperative that you immediately take the dog to a vet. If it's night time, find an emergency vet in your area. Dogs going through an Addisonian crisis will collapse fast, so it's important to act quickly.
Treating Addison's Disease
If you get your dog to the vet quickly, the vet will give the dog fluids, medication and stabilize her. Depending on how critical the condition, the dog could have sodium and potassium imbalances, a heart murmur and malfunctioning kidneys.
After your dog is stabilized, you can usually take her home after a couple of days. Your dog will be dependent on two medications: Prednisone and Percorten. Your dog will take daily doses of Prednisone. The dosage is determined by your vet. Percorten shots are given every month. Percorten is the more expensive treatment, but you can buy the bottle for about $200 and have the vet give your dog a shot for about $10 each visit. The Percorten bottle will last several months for a small dog. Prednisone is much cheaper. The Prednisone bottle costs about $15 each month.
A small dog will only need about 1.5mg of Prednisone each day. However, you'll need to double that dosage when you anticipate stressful times for the dog. For instance, if you take the dog to the vet, travel with her, introduce a new dog or have visitors, you need to double her dosage.
Prognosis for a treated dog with Addison's disease is very promising. As long as you get the dog to the vet during crisis symptoms, your dog will recover. Knowing your dog is key to identifying any further episodes, but with proper medication and treatment, your dog will live a long, happy life.
Comment(s)41
I Australia it is very much cheaper to get the VET to write a prescription for the tablets and get it from the chemist.
One of my spaniel/point/plott hound mix dogs was diagnosed last year after going into Addisonian Crisis. Was in ER for 5 days. Lost 20 pounds. Fur was falling out, was losing control of legs. Wouldn't eat or drink anything. She was 4 when diagnosed.
My other dog, her sister, is starting to slide too. Had issues with diarrhea last month. Took antibiotics and probiotics and that righted the issue, but she continued to be lethargic. Also, she was getting dehydrated because she had no interest in drinking water. A few days ago she started vomiting. Can't hold food down and has no interest in anything other than sleep. We've been to the vet every morning for the past 3 days. Finally today they admitted her and I asked for the Addison tests to be run again. They ran them last month and one came back low normal and the ACTH came back normal.
Maybe the vet needs to check your dog's electrolyte levels again? If he is on a steroid and on percorten, maybe the dosage isn't right?
I do remember that when my first dog was diagnosed, she had zero interest in her old food. We found that Newman's Own Organic beef canned food was of interest to her and she would eat that heartily. But we had to start with baby food first. We also had to try a few types of canned foods before we found one she would tolerate. She was on the canned food for about two weeks before we started to slowly introduce her old kibble and FreshPet back into her diet.
is this more common in shorthaired pointers? mine is !/2 Pit and Pointer
I just as a last resort shoved a prednisone in her mouth and an hour later she was out of crisis??? everyone is confused
Yes we have gone through an Addisons Crisis twice before it was diagnosed correctly. Molly was only 12 weeks old the first time the vets did not get it right and she had a second crisis, this time they found the problem, she almost died both times. Now at 18 weeks old she has a little Prednisolone each day and will have an injection once a month to begin with, she is now a happy little healthy little girl full of fun again. So don't be disheartened dogs can live a long healthy life with this disease. All you have to do is pay attention to changes in her habits and act on them. Hope this is helpful.
Vivienne
Thinking about you!
Myriam
Did your dog finally start eating on his own? How long did it take to go back to normal. Did you do anything special to return your dogs health to normal eating?
I am definitely in tune with her moods and I can sense when she needs her shot (if she’s had a stressful month with thunderstorms and vet visits sometimes she gets it a day or two early.) So it’s definitely helpful to know your dog well. And it’s not super cheap, although there is now a generic for Percorten and it’s about $150/vial which can last 6+ months. Learn to give the injection yourself (it can be subcutaneous even if your vet says differently, my first one said intermuscular only which is MUCH harder to do at home, but I did more research and SC has worked just fine) and that will save you a lot of money in the long run. We do a full electrolyte panel each year, but other than that the maintence costs aren’t too bad. So while there are obviously lots of different scenarios, if anyone’s pup was just diagnosed, take heart - lots of dogs live completely normal and wonderful long lives with Addison’s.
Please read what people have written.
I have a dog, 14 pounds, diagnosed with this illness. Clearly at times sadly fatal, but at other times can have a good life!
I have had to stand up to my vet in regards to cost! Don’t feel guilty! Speak up! This is your dog you love!
Very much appreciated your information!
Wish you many more years of joy!
For those whose animal have continued, after treatment, did your dog/cat perk up? Do they ‘improve’? Does the depression lift? Our dog is so sad he seems so miserable.
I have found that many vets have limited experience with Addisons and NO understanding of Atypical forms of it. If your vet is unable to diagnose your dog's problem, get another opinion. Go to a specialty clinic or go to an AAHA accredited vet hospital.