The Standard Poodle Club Open Register
with thanks to
standardpoodledatabase.com
These registers contain an A-Z listing of Standard Poodles
who have been diagnosed with Addison's Disease through the ACTH stimulation test
Owner's permission has been obtained and the breeder is aware.
A printed version will be available from SPC stand at Crufts and our Open and Champ Shows.
Please advise our Breed Health Coordinator of any new dogs with Addison's Disease via this form here
Pedigrees of Dogs with Addison's Disease are listed alphabetically.
Updated 3rd June 2022 - Link below
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Welcome to the Standard Poodle Club’s health registry update on Addison’s disease. I would like to thank each person reading this for playing an important role in our breed’s health and hope that you find this to be a helpful tool in planning for healthy litters in the future. The goal of this tool is to allow information about Addison’s disease to be used to make informed decisions on matings, allowing us to reduce the risk of producing affected pups while we await research into identifying genetic markers for these diseases.
ADDISON'S DISEASE
Addison’s disease is a hormonal disease of the adrenal glands, these glands sit just on top of the kidneys, one on each side. They are best known for their role in the ‘fight or flight’ response where they release adrenaline to prepare the body for exertion. The adrenal glands also have other jobs including managing bloods pressure, adjusting metabolism, preventing dehydration, and helping the body manage stress.
While Addison’s disease is luckily a relatively rare disease, due to genetic bottlenecks in the 1960s, our standard poodles have become more prone to this than the general canine population.
Often referred to as ‘the great pretender’, Addison’s disease can be a challenge to diagnose as the symptoms can be vague and wax and wane. Some symptoms to look out for in chronic cases include: Poor appetite, lethargy, weight loss, vomiting or regurgitation, weakness, dark black stools or blood in stools, sometimes abdominal pain, drinking and urinating more.
On the other hand, Addison’s cases can present in ‘crisis’ where the symptoms can include: lethargy, collapse, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, hypothermia, slow heart rate and low blood pressure. These cases need urgent and intensive medical attention and unfortunately are life threatening.
There are several different tests that can help us reach a diagnosis of Addison’s disease, including general blood profiles (cell counts, electrolytes etc.), and hormone tests. The most definitive hormone test is the ACTH stimulation test which involves 2 blood samples collected before and after a medication is given to stimulate the adrenal glands. Should the adrenal glands not respond appropriately to this then a diagnosis of Addison’s has been reached.
The good news about Addison’s disease is that once under control, poodles can live a very normal life with medication. Monthly injections along with tablets to replace the deficient hormones allow their bodies to function near normally, enabling them to do manage stress, maintain their blood pressure and feel normal.
There is very strong evidence for Addison’s being inherited in poodles and hence the Standard Poodle Club’s desire to put together a register of affected dogs and their pedigrees to help breeders and puppy buyers alike make informed decisions about breeding. This is while we await research into genetic testing which is currently under way to identify a genetic screening tool to identify carriers of Addison’s disease.
Dr. Kate Bleasdale BVMedSci BVM BVS MRCVS
SPC is currently conducting a survey on environmental conditions experienced prior to the onset of Addison's Disease as there seems to be a link with stress.
With special thanks to Molly Windebank without whose dedication to the Standard Poodle this registry would not be possible.