Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease) is a serious endocrine condition that can present as acute crisis or chronic debilitation. Correct diagnosis and management is life-saving and welfare-critical.
Addison's disease causes significant welfare harm primarily through delayed diagnosis, as the episodic and non-specific nature of clinical signs means many affected dogs experience repeated collapse episodes and hospitalisation before the underlying cause is identified. Each Addisonian crisis is acutely life-threatening and extremely distressing. Once diagnosed, however, the condition is highly manageable and affected dogs return to excellent quality of life with appropriate replacement therapy. Owner education is critical: understanding the signs of developing crisis, the need for stress dosing during illness or anaesthesia, and the importance of never abruptly stopping corticosteroid therapy can prevent life-threatening complications. The welfare trajectory from diagnosis onwards is very positive for the vast majority of dogs.