Hydrocortisone for Cortisol Deficiency

Cortisol deficiency can cause lethargy in dogs.

Addison's disease is a fairly rare endocrine disorder in dogs. It causes an lack of production of cortisol, which can result in a dog requiring hydrocortisone.

Cortisol

A dog's body needs cortisol to create glucose, conserve it and to perform anti-inflammatory functions. A dog with a cortisol deficiency could experience vomiting, tiredness and weight loss.

Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone can be given intravenously to a dog experiencing a critical drop in cortisol levels. A dog with Addison's disease can be giving hydrocortisone tablets to control the condition, according to "The Whole Dog Journal."

Considerations

It can take time to determine the correct dosage of hydrocortisone needed to compensate for a dog's cortisol deficiency, so the amount administered could be raised or lowered until the right balance is found.

References

• "The Whole Dog Journal"; Nancy Kerns, Pat Miller, C. J. Puotinen; 2007.