Signs and symptoms of Addison’s disease

Addison’s disease is relatively rare but the symptoms are similar to more common diseases. The symptoms are often vague and wax and wane over a period of time leading to diagnosis being difficult.

The more noticeable signs of Addison’s disease are:

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Weight loss
• Shivering, tremors and or muscle stiffness
• Depression
• Dehydration

Two year old dog with Addison’s disease, showing loss of muscle around the face

Not all dogs will react to the disease in the same way and your dog may not necessarily display all of these signs.