Young Wolfhound With Small Adrenal Glands and Heavy Thirst
Reader Question
My 11 month old Irish Wolfhound, spayed F, has been having urinary issues since she was 3 months old. She has been tested for several dieases, had sterile urine draws, been on antibiotics,had blood work done, UA's done, etc. She had an ultrasound done and they determined her adrenal glands are way smaller than normal but all else looked ok.
She drinks a lot of water and urinates a lot. She is not lethragic, vomiting, or had the runs.
She has been seen by several vets and no one seems able to determine exactly what is going on with her. Even if it is several things. They have all tried to their best of their abilities.
She is also being tested for Addison's.
Thank you very much.
She drinks a lot of water and urinates a lot. She is not lethragic, vomiting, or had the runs.
She has been seen by several vets and no one seems able to determine exactly what is going on with her. Even if it is several things. They have all tried to their best of their abilities.
She is also being tested for Addison's.
Thank you very much.
Answer from Our Team
Small adrenal glands on ultrasound can support Addison's, and testing for it is a good idea. Heavy thirst and urination can also be caused by kidney problems, urinary tract defects, diabetes insipidus or simply drinking a lot by habit.
An ACTH stimulation test will confirm or rule out Addison's. If it's normal, ask about a carefully supervised water deprivation test, usually done at a referral center, or referral to an internal medicine specialist.
See Addison's disease in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
