Hi everyone, we’ve just found out that our dog has Addison’s disease. This involves lifelong monthly treatment costing around £130 a month, which is a massive amount for us. Is anyone else in the same boat? Do you have any advice or suggestions for us? Thanks for your help, we’re feeling a bit desperate about the whole situation, especially as our dog is only eighteen months old. Thanks for your replies.
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Hi,
My 11-year-old dog Java was diagnosed with heart failure about 5 or 6 years ago and is on medication for it. She’s recently stopped eating, she’s vomiting, and she’s extremely lethargic. She doesn't even want to go out for walks anymore.
The vet is suggesting it could be Cushing’s, but I’m wondering if it might be Addison’s. Her skin has been in a bad way for years, but now her whole underside (she’s quite low to the ground) looks as though it’s been burnt.
Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks
Hi, Liberty has turned 9.
She was diagnosed when she was 2; we had to rush her to the out-of-hours vet one evening at 7 pm where she was put on a drip. Two days later, we were told it was Addison’s disease. Our world just came crashing down... the vet was so reassuring about the future and explained that she’d need an injection every 25 days and a cortisone tablet once a week. The dosage for the jab is based on the animal’s weight; for us, it’s about £40 for the injection and the consultation included, and £6 for a 3-month supply of omeprazole. So, it’s a far cry from the prices I see some of you being asked for... and besides, my little sweetheart gives us such unconditional love... we just cut back a bit on other things and that’s that...
Evening all, I personally get my Zycortal from the chemist’s; it’s about £100 for a 4ml vial, which covers 2.5 injections for my 59lb (26.75kg) girl. She’s on 1.6ml per jab (1.5mg/kg), so the injection works out at about £40 as well, and the vet doesn't charge for the appointment (our whole family takes their pets there—9 dogs and 4 cats in total). The steroid tablets are about £15 for a blister pack of 16 which lasts 64 days, and then every 6 months she has blood work which costs around £33. Honestly, what I was told at the start really scared me; I’d been quoted about £155 just for the injection, plus meds and blood tests 😅.
Hi everyone, Liberty is 9 now. She was diagnosed when she was 2; we had to rush her to the out-of-hours vet at 7pm and she was put on a drip. Two days later, they told us it was Addison’s disease. Our world just fell apart... but the vet was really reassuring about the future. He explained that she’d need an injection every 25 days and a cortisone tablet once a week. The jab is based on the animal's weight; for us, it costs around £40 including the consultation, and about £6 for a 3-month supply of Omeprazole. So it’s a far cry from the amounts I see some of you being asked for... and besides, my little darling gives us such unconditional love... we tighten our belts a bit and that’s that...
Hi, my 8-year-old dog was diagnosed with atypical Addison’s back in November. No Zycortal at this stage. He’s gone from about 9 lbs to 15 lbs. For the last two days, he’s been on a quarter of a Dermipred 5 tablet and I’m worried he might be crashing, but I see that others are on a quarter too.
Hello,
My Malinois x Beauceron, who is 2 and a half, had her last injection last Saturday. When the illness first flared up (late October 2024), she had dropped from 4 stone to 3 stone 6 lbs by the time we found out what was wrong. A month later (5th December), she was back up to 3 stone 13 lbs. She was spayed on 19th December because we obviously don’t want any litters and wouldn't want to pass those costs on to other families. At her last injection, she was weighing in at 4 stone 3 lbs. I think the condition definitely encourages weight gain. The vet doesn’t think it’s down to the spay; it’s true that she had everything happen within two months of each other, so it’s hard to tell exactly what’s making her put on weight.
Regarding the Dermipred, if you notice your dog starting to seem a bit lethargic or if he's off his food, you need to increase the dose and give half a tablet. At least, that’s what my vet advised me to do.
Hi everyone, my 8-year-old dog was diagnosed with atypical Addison’s back in November. No Zycortal at this stage. He’s gone from 9 lbs up to 15 lbs. For the last two days, he’s been on a quarter of a 5mg prednisolone (Dermipred) tablet, and I’m worried he’s not getting enough, but I’ve noticed that others are also on a quarter dose.
Hi everyone, my girl has had Addison’s disease for a year now.
She’s two years old, and over the last year her Zycortal dose has gone from 2.2ml down to 1ml every five weeks, along with half a prednisolone tablet a day.
Every month the vet lowers the Zycortal dosage. Just so you know, I pay around £130 for a 4ml vial of Zycortal. Every month it costs me about £70 in total, including the blood test to check her levels and then sorting the Zycortal dose based on the results.
Hi, my dog Plume also has Addison's disease. I give her Zycortal injections every 30 days (it used to be every 25), and she takes a 5mg prednisolone (Dermipred) tablet every day.
It's costing me a lot, and we have to do blood tests every now and then to adjust the dosage. I'm really struggling to find a diet that works for her, and she’s been prone to putting on weight since starting her treatment. I'd love to hear your feedback on food and what treatments your pooches are on. That first crisis was horrific, and I imagine it was the same for you. Best of luck to you and your pups 🐶🤎
Hi,
How much are you paying? We found a pharmacy that does the Zycortal for about £100, and that lasts us for two and a half injections.
Personally, Nala (a Malinois x Beauceron) was on a high-end grain-free dry food, but we've since switched her to another premium brand, and she was also spayed recently. It's a bit too early for us to tell if she puts on weight easily; her first crisis was at the end of October, and she’d dropped down to about 48 lbs (she was at death's door). She's managed to get back up to 56 lbs, which is where she is now. As for the prednisolone, Nala is on a quarter of a tablet a day.
Hi, my dog Plume also has Addison's disease. I give her Zycortal injections every 30 days (it used to be every 25 days) and she takes one 5mg Dermipred tablet a day.
It’s costing me a fair bit and we have to do blood tests every now and then to adjust the dosage. I’m really struggling to find a diet that suits her well, and she’s had a tendency to put on weight since starting her treatment.
I’d love to hear your feedback on food and how your own pooches are getting on with their treatments.
That first crisis was horrific, and I imagine it was the same for you. Best of luck to you and your pups 🐶🤎
Hi,
How much are you paying? We found a chemist that does Zycortal for about £100, which lasts us for 2.5 injections.
Personally, Nala (a Malinois cross Beauceron) was on an ultra-premium grain-free dry food, but we've switched her to a "pure origin" kibble. On top of that, we’ve recently had her spayed. It’s too early for us to say if she puts on weight easily; her first crisis was at the end of October, and she’d dropped down to 48 lbs (she was at death's door). She luckily got back up to 56 lbs quite quickly and she’s still at that weight now. As for the Dermipred, Nala is on a quarter of a tablet a day.
Hi there, my dog Plume also has Addison’s disease. I give her Zycortal injections every 30 days (it used to be every 25) and she takes one 5mg prednisolone tablet a day.
It’s costing me a fair bit, and we have to get blood tests done every now and then to adjust the dosage. I’m really struggling to find a diet that suits her well, and she’s been prone to putting on weight since starting her treatment.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on food and what treatments your pups are on.
That first crisis was horrific, and I imagine it was the same for you. Sending lots of love to you and your pooches 🐶🤎
My girl has also just been diagnosed with Addison’s disease and I’d like to chat with other owners who have dogs with this condition and about the cost of the treatment involved.
My dog was diagnosed with Addison’s disease 2 years ago.
She is treated with Zycortal, which is a prolonged-release injectable suspension.
It’s a sub-cut injection that I give her every 25 days for the rest of her life.
But even with the treatment, a dog can still have an Addisonian crisis. So you always need to keep some prednisone, glucose (and a glucose monitor) and a thermometer (and a heat pad) in your dog's cupboard for emergency first aid before seeing your vet.
With this illness, it’s best to have a solid routine to avoid stressing the dog, as stress can trigger a crisis.
The dog must always have access to water and a high-quality food that is high in protein and low in sodium.
Luckily, dogs under treatment have a lower risk of a crisis; in 2 years, Molly has only had one.
