Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism) is a serious but treatable endocrine disorder in dogs that requires lifelong management to maintain quality of life.
Untreated Addison's disease causes progressive weakness, vomiting, and potentially fatal adrenal crisis during periods of physiological stress. Once diagnosed and managed with appropriate hormone replacement therapy, most dogs achieve excellent quality of life with minimal ongoing welfare compromise. The primary welfare burden is the Addisonian crisis before diagnosis and the ongoing owner commitment to stress management and medication adherence for the dog's lifetime.