Meet Present, affectionately known as Pressies — a brave dog living with a rare hormonal condition called Addison’s Disease, also known as Hypoaldosteronism. Addison’s is a serious and potentially life-threatening disorder that affects the adrenal glands, which are responsible for producing essential hormones that regulate many body functions.

Pressies’ Journey to Diagnosis

Pressies was brought in to see me after she had been losing weight for about two weeks and seemed a little down. In the few days before her visit, she had stopped eating and had become very listless and depressed.

I performed routine blood tests, which pointed to mild kidney issues. However, Addison’s disease can often mimic kidney disease, and Pressies’ clinical signs didn’t quite fit the pattern. She showed signs of dehydration and abdominal pain — a variable but important indicator of Addison’s.

To investigate further, I performed electrolyte tests, which revealed high potassium and low sodium levels. While this can occur in kidney disease, it is also typical of Addison’s.

We then ran one more specific confirmatory test, which confirmed that Pressies’ illness was indeed caused by Addison’s. In her case, the adrenal glands were not producing enough cortisone and aldosterone — two hormones vital for regulating electrolytes, hydration, and stress response.

Since Addison’s can lead to sudden and severe collapses known as Addisonian crises, constant attention and careful monitoring are essential. These crises require intravenous fluids with electrolytes to correct life-threatening imbalances quickly.

What Is Addison’s Disease?

In healthy dogs, the adrenal glands produce hormones such as aldosterone, which controls sodium and potassium levels, hydration, and blood pressure.

When the adrenal glands fail to produce enough aldosterone (or when the kidneys don’t respond properly to it), the body can’t maintain the right fluid and electrolyte balance — causing dangerous drops in blood pressure, severe dehydration, and compromised heart function. Without prompt treatment, Addison’s can be fatal.

Why Addison’s Is So Serious

Because aldosterone affects multiple organ systems, Addison’s can cause a wide range of symptoms that may appear gradually or suddenly.

Dogs may experience weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, or even collapse during what’s known as an Addisonian crisis — a medical emergency that requires immediate veterinary care.

Diagnosis and Ongoing Care

Diagnosing Addison’s disease can be complex, as its symptoms often mimic other illnesses, especially kidney disease. Diagnosis requires:

• Routine and electrolyte blood tests
• A specific confirmatory test to accurately identify the condition

Once diagnosed, dogs with Addison’s require lifelong hormone replacement therapy and regular monitoring to keep their electrolytes balanced.

With consistent care and attention, dogs like Pressies can live long, happy, and active lives.

A Message from the Team

Pressies is a wonderful reminder of the resilience of animals and the importance of early diagnosis and consistent care.

If your dog shows signs of weakness, vomiting, or unexplained weight loss, don’t wait — early testing can make all the difference.

Bruma Lake Vet

1 Glanville Avenue, Cyrildene

Call 011 622 8813 or WhatsApp 065 977 1082 to book a consultation or discuss your pet’s health concerns.