Diet for Addison"s Disease in Dogs

Addison’s disease, or hypoadrenocorticism, affects a dog’s adrenal glands of the kidneys. Addison’s disease causes low sodium and high potassium by limiting the production of certain hormones. High potassium lowers blood pressure, but at the same time also reduces the heart’s ability to beat faster to make up for the loss of pressure. While a serious condition, Addison’s disease can be controlled with medicine and diet.

Association of American Feed Control Officials

AAFCO regulates commercial dog food in the U.S.
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The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulates the pet food industry. This includes ingredient definitions and nutritional requirements in commercially produced dog foods in the U.S. While the agency has established industry protocols for ingredients, these ingredients can still be less than desirable for owners of dogs with Addison‘s disease, such as “meat by-products.” Meat by-products generally refer to organs and fatty tissue from animals, which can introduce unknown qualities into a dog’s food.

Commercial Dog Food

Commercial dog foods may contain ingredients undesirable to some dog owners.
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While commercial dog foods in the U.S. may contain less than desirable ingredients, they shouldn’t be discounted as options for dogs with Addison’s disease. Owners should familiarize themselves with AAFCO’s definitions when selecting commercial dog food for their Addison’s-inflicted canine. Look for commercial dog foods that contain human-grade, whole ingredients. Avoid foods with ethoxyquin, an additive which has been linked to organ malfunctions, including the kidneys. Its use was limited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997.

Home-Cooked Food

Home cooked meals can provide appropriate, healthy diets for dogs with Addison‘s disease.
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Instead of buying commercial food, some owners of dogs with Addison‘s disease opt to prepare their dogs’ meals. This allows precise control over what the dog is eating, and recipes are available in a number of locations, including online and canine health books, such as “The Healthy Dog Cookbook: 50 Nutritious & Delicious Recipes Your Dog Will Love.” Veterinarians, especially those with holistic specialties, can provide appropriate recipes to fit a dog’s Addison’s diet requirements.

Raw Food and BARF Diets

Raw diets mimics dogs’ original eating habits.
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Don’t shy away if hearing about feeding BARF to the Addison’s afflicted dog. BARF, or biologically appropriate raw foods, or bones and raw foods, is becoming a popular option. Raw food diets focus on feeding raw meat, which attempts to re-create a dog’s original diet. Raw meat, vegetables and bones make up the meals, as canines would eat if in the wild.

Herbal Additions

Garlic is an easy-to-find herb that might provide some relief to a dog with Addison‘s.
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Holistic veterinarians may recommend adding some specific herbs to combat the effects of Addison’s disease. Licorice, garlic and ginger have properties that directly counter some of the results of Addison’s disease but in a natural way. Mix the herbs directly into the dog’s food, or brew a tea for the dog to drink. While they are not considered medicinal, some herbs may provide natural remedies that might play a role in alleviating the symptoms of Addison’s disease.

Causes of Canine Addison"s Disease - Addisons in Dogs

Canine Addison’s disease causes aren’t exactly known but there are several suspects, including a faulty immune system, vaccinations, and tumors:

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  Faulty Immune System. Many practitioners believe that most cases of primary canine Addison’s Disease are because of the immune system attacking the adrenal glands and destroying it. The reasons for why the immune system attacks the tissue are mostly unknown. However, the inherited immune disorder granulomatous disease can be a cause of Addisons.

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  Genetics: According to this research article, Addison’s occurs between 1.5% and 9% of domestic dogs, depending on breed. Some breeds, like Bearded collies and Standard poodles, have a high susceptibility to canine Addison’s (you can find a full list in this article of breeds more likely to have Addison’s). The Canine Genetic Analysis Project (CGAP) at the University of California found that out of 1470 Bearded Collies tested in the program (as of 2005), 92 had Addison’s disease, suggesting a high heritability and the possibility of a single recessive gene responsible for Addison’s disease. The team is still gathering data (as of 2009) for many breeds.

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  Cancer: Cancer of the pituitary gland, adrenal lymphoma, or cancer that has spread to the adrenal glands from somewhere else (i.e. the lung or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) can cause Addison’s disease.

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  Drugs: Addison’s disease can occur because of drugs that block corticosteroid (one of the adrenal hormones) synthesis in the body. One such drug is Ketoconazole–used in dogs and cats to treat fungal infections. An overdose of mitotane (a drug used to treat cancer of the adrenal glands) can also cause Addison’s disease.
  

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  Inflammation/trauma: any kind of damage to the adrenal gland can cause Addison’s disease. It could be from something as simple as an infection or something as major as a car accident.

Secondary Addison’s disease

is caused by pituitary gland problems, and like primary Addison’s can be caused by many different factors including inflammation, trauma and tumors.

Watch Out for Canine Addison"s Disease

Dr. Peterson’s expertise in veterinary endocrinology was tapped by Dog Fancy Magazine to provide professional insight into the diagnosis and treatment of Addison’s disease.

This article was a part of the monthly “Watch Out For” feature which gives an overview of common diseases and medical conditions, with Dr. Peterson’s Addison’s disease article appearing in the October issue.