Dog Addisons Hair Loss

by Eileen
(Pittsburgh, PAQ)

He had been diagnosed for Addisons in crisis. My dog was immediately given treatment and prednisone for one month.


He has been off prednisone for one month and about 2 weeks ago began to lose his hair and it is continuing. The Veterinarian says prednisone is the cause, which I believe.

But how long will he continue to lose hair and when will it start to grow again?

Vet Sugggestion dog hair loss due to prednisone

Hi Eileen,

I am not sure exactly what medications your dog is taking for his Addison’s disease at this point, but if he really is losing hair because of the prednisone, you should look into a different treatment protocol.

Two good treatment options for canine Addison’s disease are widely available. The first is a pill called fludrocortisone that is usually given twice daily. You may or may not need to give additional low doses of prednisone with this drug.

Percorten-V is an injection that is given every 25 days. Most Addisonian dogs do need to receive a low dose of prednisone on a regular basis with Percorten-V.

Owners of Addisonian dogs should always have prednisone on hand to give on an emergency basis during a crisis or during times of stress.

Talk to your veterinarian about which option might be best for your dog.

Good luck,

Jennifer Coates, DVM

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Apr 06, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		Addison's dX positive after 4 months, thick fur on tail
by: Anonymous

Addison's disease is hard to recognize and the symptoms mimic other intestinal and pancreatic conditions. After 4 months on varying tapering doses of prednisone (prednisolone) and special diets,i asked if there was any chance the dog had Addison's disease. My vet tested my chihuahua wth a ACTH challenge and a steroid shot. She was sent home and still wasn't doing well the next AM so I took her back in.The vet had the results.My 5 year old female was found to have primary addison's. Baseline cortisol was 0.2 with no change after one hour. He kept her overnight, rehydrated her and drew blood for electrolytes and CBC.Potassium was high at 6.8 and sodium was 145 to give a ratio of 21. Her calcium was low and she was somewhat anemic, but the vet said that could be a dilution factor. Finally there was a dramatic change in energy level when the vet gave her a precortin(?) shot. She also started eating. Our plan is tapering steroid and the precortin shot every 25 days. This may be a silly question but during this time her tail fur has grown thick. Why?

Editor Comment on Hair Growth



Changes in hair coat or fur can be associated with hormonal imbalances. In some cases, when dogs receive appropriate hormone replacement therapy, such as prednisone and the precortin shot you mentioned, it can positively affect their coat condition. It's possible that the improved hormonal balance and general health resulting from treatment may be contributing to the change you've observed in your dog's tail fur.

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