Addison’s disease is inherited in the Standard Poodle and also the Portuguese Water Dog, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and the Bearded Collie. Two of last week’s ER patients with Addison’s disease were poodles. The hormone most important in Cushing’s and Addison’s disease is cortisol. Because the adrenal glands produce so many different hormones, either condition hypo- or hyperactivity can cause a wide variety of serious clinical signs. Small compared to the liver or kidneys, these glands are powerhouses pumping out an array of hormones critical to maintaining normal homeostasis. In cats, adrenal glands are half that size. The normal width of a dog’s adrenal gland is less than half an inch. Small but MightyĪdrenal glands are tiny organs, one sits atop of each kidney. Additionally, I evaluated two of my patients for adrenal gland hyperactivity, or Cushing’s disease. Not one, but three dogs were admitted by The Animal Medical Center’s 24-hour Emergency Service with a diagnosis of Addison’s disease, or hypoactivity of the adrenal gland. Last week was a big week for adrenal gland disorders at The Animal Medical Center.
