Diagnosing Addison's disease in dogs correctly

Addison's disease, a condition in which the dog's adrenal glands are not functioning properly, is often missed by vets, according to a new survey of dog owners. 64 percent of owners visit at least 2 veterinarians before a diagnosis is made.

"It's not a reflection on the veterinarians, it's not the first thing that comes to mind," says one of the researchers of the number one manufacturer of pet medicines. "I was in practice myself and you think of the things you see more commonly first." Many of the symptoms of Addison's disease, including vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney or gastrointestinal problems, mimic those of other diseases.

The study was conducted in conjunction with a national telephone survey of several hundred veterinarians.

"The objective was to determine how many dogs they're diagnosing, how many they're treating, what products they're using," says the spokes person at the pet medication factory. "We found that there were roughly 20,000 dogs being treated for Addison's. The average clinic is treating one to two dogs." And she says that most of the cases were diagnosed by general practitioners, rather than specialists.

According to the Pet medicine manufacturer, certain breeds are predisposed to Addison's including Great Danes, Portuguese Water Dogs, Rottweilers, Standard Poodles, West Highland White Terriers, and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. However, they were not the breeds that most often showed up on the owners' surveys. Mixed breeds led the pack with 18 percent, followed by Poodles at 15 percent, Labrador Retrievers at 7 percent, Great Danes and Rottweilers both at 5 percent, West Highland White Terriers and Basset Hounds both at 4 percent, and German Shepherd Dogs at 2 percent.

The pet medicine manufacturer's spoke person says that the popularity of some breeds affects the results. In addition, the disease "generally shows up in middle-aged dogs and is slightly more commonly seen in females than males."

With this survey results the pet medicine manufacturer will encourage veterinarians to keep Addison's in mind when diagnosing a dog. "It is a relatively uncommon disease, but it's not rare," the researchers say. And it can be a disease with a happy ending. Veterinarians love to diagnose this disease because once you treat the dog they do great and they can live a normal life.