Veterinary Medicine - June 2008 - (Page 321)

TABLE 1 Clinical Signs in Dogs with Glucocorticoid or Glucocorticoid and Mineralocorticoid Deﬁciency* • Vomiting • Anorexia • Lethargy • Diarrhea • Weight loss • Polyuria/polydipsia • Tremors • Collapse • Painful abdomen • Melena • Seizures *Source: Reference 7. SIGNALMENT Hypoadrenocorticism is most often diagnosed in young to middle-aged female dogs but has been recognized in both male and female dogs between 4 months and 14 years of age.6,8 Standard poodles, Portuguese water dogs, Great Danes, rottweilers, West Highland white terriers, and Wheaton terriers are some of the overrepresented breeds.8,10 Hypoadrenocorticism may be inherited in certain breeds, such as Portuguese water dogs, and a complete genetic evaluation of hypoadrenocorticism is being investigated in many breeds.10 immune system.1,6 The most common clinical signs of glucocorticoid de ciency include lethargy, weakness, anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea (Table 1).4,7,11 Other less common clinical signs include polyuria and polydipsia, exercise intolerance, and seizures.7,12 Clinical signs may be intermittent and associated with stressful events such as boarding, grooming, and medical evaluation. Physical examination ndings in dogs with glucocorticoid de ciency are nonspeci c and can include weakness and thin body condition.6 Gastrointestinal (GI) signs are common in dogs with glucocorticoid deciency because glucocorticoids are important for maintaining GI mucosal health, GI motility, and colonic sodium absorption.1,7,8 Hypocortisolemia may potentiate mucosal ulceration and hemorrhage as a result of decreased vascular integrity.6 Exercise intolerance or seizures may develop if severe hypoglycemia occurs; however, hypoglycemia is typically mild.12 Common ndings on a CBC include normocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia and a lack of a stress leukogram (Table 2).7 Glucocorticoids, along with other hormones, stimulate erythropoiesis, so glucocorticoid de ciency may result in anemia. GI hemorrhage can further contribute to anemia in dogs with hypocortisolemia.6,7,11 A lack of a stress leukogram most commonly manifests as a normal or increased lymphocyte count with or without eosinophilia.5,6 Christine A. Gaydos, DVM Webster Groves Animal Hospital 8028 Big Bend Blvd. Webster Groves, MO 63119 Amy DeClue, DVM, MS, DACVIM Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery College of Veterinary Medicine University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 CLINICAL FINDINGS Clinical signs and the ndings from a physical examination, complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry pro le, and urinalysis vary depending on the type of de ciency present. Glucocorticoid deﬁciency Glucocorticoids are important for maintaining homeostasis, especially during stress. They play a role in metabolizing glucose, fats, and proteins; stimulating erythropoiesis; and regulating the VETERINARY MEDICINE June 2008 321

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - June 2008

Veterinary Medicine - June 2008 Contents Leading Off Clinical Exposures Idea Exchange A Challenging Case: Conjunctival Lymphoma in a Cat Updates on Canine Hypoadrenocorticism Product Preview CE Form Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller Clinical Edge - June 2008 Table of Contents Managing Diabetes Mellitus in Cats: What Makes it Work? Porcine Insulin Zinc Suspension in the Management of Feline Diabetes Mellitus Monitoring Diabetes Mellitus in Diabetic Cats Feline Diabetes Mellitus: Important Client Communication Points

Veterinary Medicine - June 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.