Which test confirms primary Addison's disease in a dog?

Prepare for the Veterinary IV CFE Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations. Ensure success with our comprehensive test prep!

Multiple Choice

Which test confirms primary Addison's disease in a dog?

Diagnosing Addison’s disease requires testing how the adrenal glands respond to stimulation. The ACTH stimulation test directly challenges the adrenal cortex with synthetic ACTH and measures the cortisol produced after stimulation. In primary Addison’s, the adrenal cortex is damaged and cannot respond, so cortisol fails to rise after cosyntropin. That lack of cortisol increase is the clearest confirmation that the adrenal glands aren’t functioning properly. Baseline cortisol alone isn’t enough to confirm Addison’s because cortisol levels can be affected by stress, illness, or other factors and may be low for reasons other than adrenal failure. Urinalysis and CBC can show nonspecific signs or electrolyte issues, but they don’t definitively establish the diagnosis. Hence, the ACTH stimulation test is the definitive test for confirming primary Addison’s in a dog.

Diagnosing Addison’s disease requires testing how the adrenal glands respond to stimulation. The ACTH stimulation test directly challenges the adrenal cortex with synthetic ACTH and measures the cortisol produced after stimulation. In primary Addison’s, the adrenal cortex is damaged and cannot respond, so cortisol fails to rise after cosyntropin. That lack of cortisol increase is the clearest confirmation that the adrenal glands aren’t functioning properly.

Baseline cortisol alone isn’t enough to confirm Addison’s because cortisol levels can be affected by stress, illness, or other factors and may be low for reasons other than adrenal failure. Urinalysis and CBC can show nonspecific signs or electrolyte issues, but they don’t definitively establish the diagnosis. Hence, the ACTH stimulation test is the definitive test for confirming primary Addison’s in a dog.

More practice questions