Which breeds are relevant?
For dogs diagnosed with Addison's disease: All breeds
For healthy control dogs: Large Poodle, Bearded Collie, Portuguese Water Dog, Finnish Lapphund
RESEARCH PROJECT
Addison's disease
Updated: August 2025
Project overview
Project manager:
Jeanette Hanson
Contact:
Jeanette Hanson
Participants
More related research
Short summary
In a dog with Addison's disease, the adrenal cortex does not work, usually because the dog's own immune system has broken it down. When the body fails to recognize the body's own tissue in this way, it is called autoimmunity. Addison's disease is one of many diseases associated with autoimmunity.
Background facts on the disease
The cause of this type of disease is likely to be the effect of both genes and environmental factors. This means that a dog with a certain set of genes exposed to certain environmental factors is affected by the disease. Our research has shown that the disease is diagnosed in most breeds, but that Addison's disease is over-represented in some dog breeds, which may indicate a hereditary predisposition.
The normal function of the adrenal cortex is to secrete vital hormones. Of these hormones, cortisol and aldosterone are the most important as they help to balance the body in stressful situations and by regulating blood pressure and fluid balance. If the disease goes untreated for a long time, the dog can suffer from an ‘Addison's crisis’, which is a life-threatening condition where blood circulation fails and the return of blood to the heart is insufficient. Dogs with Addison's disease show diffuse signs of illness, such as general fatigue, muscle weakness, diarrhea, increased thirst and loss of appetite. The diagnosis is made by a so-called ACTH test, which stimulates hormone secretion from the adrenal cortex and then measures the concentration of cortisol in the blood before and after stimulation. For a couple of years now, we have been able to complement the diagnosis with additional hormone measurements, which allows us to better characterize and treat the disease. This is particularly important as Addison's dogs cannot be cured, but must be treated with the hormones they lack in order to survive.
Objective of the research project
One of the aims of the project is to identify the genes that increase the risk of developing Addison's disease. This may help to better understand the onset of the disease and treatment options, as well as to reduce the incidence of the disease in affected breeds in the long term.
Join the research with your dog!
Do you have a dog that has been diagnosed with Addison's disease OR have an older (over 7 years old), healthy dog of any of the breeds below? Would you like to volunteer with a blood sample? Please contact us for more information. We are also interested in samples from whole families where Addison's disease is present.