Salt supplementation for Addisons

Re: Salt supplementation for Addisons

Karen Eggleton — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:32:26 GMT

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.

Appears to be one such case where the salt is needed. Guess it's a matter of titrating to effect on both Florinef & salt.

Re: Salt supplementation for Addisons

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:23:18 GMT

There are a few cases where with the best will in the world the sodium remains stubbornly low (I have one). These may benefit from salt supplementation. It is a suck it and see situation, as Andrew suggests start with a pinch and monitor the sodium/potassium ratio. The accepted wisdom on this is to keep it above 27 but with my case the dog goes into an Addisonian crisis if it falls below 30. It has never had a high potassium even in a crisis but then it was a bit unusual that it became symptomatic at 5 months and even the RVC wouldn't believe me it was an Addisonian case!!

So the moral is - monitor sodium.

Re: Salt supplementation for Addisons

Andrew Kent — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 16:22:06 GMT

Hi,

There are various doses described, in the cases in which I have used it I have started with 'a pinch' and increased from there depending on electrolytes. It can make them quite PUPD if you give too much. There are salt tablets available but I have never used them.

I would agree with Linda that the times that you are likely to need to do this are very slim, if the dog is mildly hyponatraemic then I wouldn't be concerned, if the dog is hyperkalaemic then I would increase the fludrocortisone dose. Really the only cases in which it might be indicated would be severe hyponatraemia with normal potassium.

Perhaps you could tell us a bit more about the case and the electrolyte levels?

Andy

Re: Salt supplementation for Addisons

Linda Filshie — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 16:15:45 GMT

Never supplemented my Addison's dogs with salt - I've always found florinef and pred (when needed) sufficient to sort the electrolyte abnormalities.