Addisonian crisis and severe acidosis in a cat: a case of feline hypoadrenocorticism

Abstract

A 4-year-old female neutered British Shorthair cat was presented as an emergency owing to progressive apathy, anorexia, adipsia, weight loss and weakness. Clinical findings showed severe weakness, collapse, weak pulse, bradycardia, hypovolaemia and hypothermia. Blood examinations revealed marked metabolic acidosis, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, hyperphosphataemia, hypercalcaemia, hypochloraemia and azotaemia. The diagnosis of feline hypoadrenocorticism was based on low cortisol and aldosterone plasma levels before and after synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone administration. Initial treatment consisted of intravenous fluid therapy. After stabilisation a combination of fludrocortisone and prednisolone was given orally. One year after diagnosis the cat is free of clinical signs and in good condition.