Out of the majority of the ailments of conditions that animals get, a very uncommon, but highly-possible one is Addison’s Disease (hypoadrenocorticism) and is recognized by the lack of two significant hormones, aldosterone and cortisol being absent or very minimal in the animals adrenal glands, i.e. the glands located above the kidneys that help with a few important bodily functions such as blood pressure, metabolism and the immune system.
How Does Cortisol Help Pets?
The first hormone this disease hinders is Cortisol. This is the hormone that is responsible for responding to negative emotions such as stress or anxiety. It is also meant to balance protein, carbohydrates, and fats at the same time. other functions it aids in are fighting inflammation, help keep blood pressure regulated and other cardiovascular tasks.
How Does Aldosterone Help Pets?
This second important hormone helps flush out the kidneys from excess water, salt, and sugar and regulates levels keeping them optimal. It also combines with cortisol to help with blood pressure levels, and when the body has low levels of this component it affects blood pressure and lowers it, thus the condition known as – low blood pressure.
The More Susceptible Breeds
The predicted estimates have stated that one in every 100,000 canines can suffer from this condition and female dogs that are between younger years and middle ages, are more susceptible to it.
Many types of dogs can get it, but there a selective few that are more prone to it than the others. Below is a list of six of them.
- Portuguese Water Dogs
- Bearded Collies
- West Highland White Terriers
- Standard Poodles
- Wheaten Terriers
Primary and Secondary Addison’s Disease
These are the two variations that the condition falls into. Primary is the more common of the two. When a dog has this type, it’s immune system inadvertently terminates the pet’s glands. This can happen in cases where the pooch has cancer or it may have internal toxins of any kind due to specific medications that have been given to it. Unfortunately, the main cause is still not known and continues to be researched.
The secondary type of this condition is related to the issue with the pituitary glands which is located in the brain and is responsible for regulating all the hormones present in the body. When steroids have been used for a long period and usage suddenly stops, it results in the disease.
When you notice any of the 12 symptomatic behaviors below from your canine, it is time to get him or her checked at the vet immediately.
- Blood in its feces
- Weight Loss
- Abdomen pain
- Hair Loss
- Peeing Very often
What You Can Do at Home
It is sometimes not possible to take your pooch to the vet due to a lack of appointments. Therefore, you might end up trying treatments at home. However, due to the various side effects of ibuprofen, you should never give your dog ibuprofen (or other pain killers meant for humans such as acetaminophen and naproxen). If you are going to treat it at home, then you might want to try some natural medicine instead.
If your pup may have Addison’s disease and all that comes with it, there are few natural and organic remedies you can try. One such addition is CBD Oil (Cannabidiol). This natural extract has been seen to treat symptoms that are caused by adrenal gland complications such as depressions, weight loss, muscle, and joint pain, lacking appetite, and also nausea. It may not be the direct remedy for the disease itself but it will help with everything that comes with it.
Another treatment for this that has found some relief is hormone injections for the dog. This will replace the lost ones and needs to be done every few weeks or months depending on the severity of it.
Last but not least, visiting the vet frequently is the best thing you can do. Whether your pet has a condition or not, this should be done in any case just to make sure he gets a proper check-up and you can avoid anything from starting. There are some basic checks that vets can do to make sure everything is in working condition and your canine is a happy camper overall!