Addison's disease is an underdiagnosed but highly treatable hormonal condition in dogs. With appropriate management, affected dogs can live full, comfortable lives.
Addison's disease causes significant welfare harm in the period before diagnosis, which is often prolonged due to its non-specific presentation. Episodes of weakness, gastrointestinal distress, and collapse cause acute suffering that is bewildering to owners who cannot identify the cause. Once diagnosed and stabilised, the welfare picture transforms: well-managed dogs typically have excellent quality of life. The ongoing welfare concern is crisis risk when management lapses — missed injections, inadequate stress dosing during illness, or failure to seek veterinary care promptly during acute collapse. Owner education is central to welfare: understanding the condition, recognising early deterioration signs, and always informing treating vets about the diagnosis allows proactive management that prevents crisis episodes.