Addison disease in dogs is a life-threatening but manageable endocrine disorder that requires lifelong treatment and careful monitoring.
Addison disease causes significant welfare impact before diagnosis through the prolonged illness of progressive adrenal insufficiency, and acutely through Addisonian crisis where affected dogs may collapse and die within hours without emergency treatment. The insidious onset means dogs suffer months of episodic illness characterized by weakness, gastrointestinal distress, and fatigue before diagnosis. Once diagnosed and treated appropriately, the welfare transformation is dramatic: most dogs return completely to normal function within days of starting treatment. The lifetime dependence on mineralocorticoid replacement (monthly DOCP injection) requires owner commitment and financial resources, and families must understand the emergency risk during periods of stress when cortisol requirements increase, requiring supplemental prednisolone. Dogs with Addison disease should carry a medical alert identification and owners should have emergency protocols for acute decompensation.