Addison's Disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism, was first identified by
Dr. Thomas Addison in 1855 -- as a human ailment. (The most famous homo sapien sufferer
was President John F. Kennedy.) Other breeds besides Bassets can be affected: Standard
Poodles, Labradors and Portuguese Water Dogs all have high instances of the disease.
Your Basset (like all other dogs) has two adrenal glands that are located right in front
of each kidney. They produce all kinds of important hormones -- adrenaline, cortisone,
aldosterone, even a little estrogen and testosterone. The pituitary and hypothalamus
glands in the brain direct the adrenal glands to make the hormones in the first place.
A dog with Addison's cannot produce enough cortisone and aldesterone, both of which
are necessary for life. Cortisone affects every single organ in the body, while aldesterone
regulates sodium and potassium levels in the blood.

Symptoms of Addison's include intermittent appetite changes, thirst, vomiting or diarrhea,
lethargy, and loss of weight. Your Basset may appear depressed, and have a slow heart
rate (caused by high blood potassium). Critical cases may include shock and circulatory
collapse. Because the symptoms seem to wax and wane, it may be easy for an owner to
overlook the first signs of Addison's. (It took years to diagnose Kennedy!) Your vet can
diagnose Addison's with a blood and urine test. The vet may also take a chest x-ray, or,
for a definitive diagnosis, do an ACTH response test. This measures the level of cortisone
in the blood stream before and after the stimulation of the adrenal glands.

Treatment requires your Basset to be on lifelong therapy with synthetic cortisone
and aldosterone. Your vet may use a low-dose prednisone to replace the cortisone.
Don't worry about side-effects: the dose is about one-fifth the amount used to treat
flea allergy dermatitis. To replace the aldosterone, your vet may use a daily oral
medication called Florinef or else a monthly injectible therapy called DOCP
(desoxycorticosterone pivalate). Costs are about the same for each treatment.

With prompt and adeaquate treatment, including a calm lifestyle, your Addison's dog
can live a long and healthy life!