Q:  I just rescued a 3 year-old Toy Poodle who the vet said may have Addison’s.  I have only had her for one week, and I do not see any symptoms. Her initial bloodwork indicated that her potassium and electrolyte levels were off, and the vet is going to do bloodwork again in ten days. If she does have Addison’s disease, is there a particular type of diet or food that would be best for her?

A:  Good for you for rescuing a dog and for being so responsible about giving her the best care possible! While there is no specific diet that I can definitively say will be best for your dog if she has Addison’s disease other than recommending (as I do for all dogs) that you feed her a high-quality diet, I can tell you that dogs with Addison’s disease sometimes need an increased level of salt in their diets. In addition, if your dog’s potassium and electrolyte levels are low, you may need to supplement her diet with electrolytes. You should, therefore, ask your vet if s/he recommends supplementing your dog’s food with increased salt and/or electrolytes.

To learn more about Addison's disease, click here!
To learn about choosing the right food for your dog, click here!

 Your question has been answered by the following veterinarian:
Daniel Lauridia, DVM

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