AdiCARE and AdiWARE: Evaluation of impact on diagnosis, long-term treatment, and quality of life from the canine Addisonian owners via an online survey

Introduction The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of Addison’s disease on the quality of life (QoL) of dogs and their owners.

Methods Owners of dogs with Addison’s disease were recruited via social media to complete the web-based questionnaire. The survey contained questions concerning QoL of dog and owner and long-term replacement therapy.

Results 322 surveys were answered. The greatest fear of owners about Addison’s disease was adrenal crisis and forty-nine percent of the participants reported an increase in the human animal bond compared to before the diagnosis. Although most of the participants responded that their own QoL is rarely and not affected by his/her dog’s adrenal disease, worries about high veterinary costs, leaving their dog unsupervised, and changes in vacation planning were frequently reported in our study population. Sixty-four percent of owners reported to have noticed side effects of prednisolone administration and half of our study participants claimed to boost their dog’s medication whenever a stressful situation is foreseeable. Some owners administrate hydrocortisone as glucocorticoid replacement therapy, most of them discontinued prednisolone because of its side effects. Eighty-nine percent reported an improvement of the side effects after the switch.

Conclusions Understanding what impacts the QoL of Addisonian dogs and their owners might help veterinarians to offer an overall better assistance to their patients and clients. Special attention should be given to the glucocorticoid replacement therapy due to its individuality. Hydrocortisone might represent a safe alternative to prednisolone in the long-term treatment associated with an improved safety profile.

Publication History

Article published online:
08 March 2022