Diagnostic testing enables our team to pinpoint the underlying cause of your pet’s symptoms, diagnosing their condition(s). We want our pet parents to be involved in the decision-making process, and we thoroughly discuss the diagnostic testing we recommend for your pet and their diagnostic test results. Personalizing your pet’s diagnostic plan ensures we avoid unnecessary tests and procedures while leading us to a more personalized and effective treatment plan.

Diagnostic Overview

ACTH Stimulation Test for Addison’s Disease

An ACTH stimulation test is a diagnostic tool that measures the ability of your pet’s adrenal glands to produce cortisol, a type of hormone that helps the body respond to stress. During this test, a synthetic version of the ACTH hormone is administered to your pet, which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. Blood samples are taken before and 1 hour after the administration of the synthetic ACTH to measure cortisol levels. In pets with Addison’s disease, the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol in response to the synthetic ACTH, resulting in minimal or absent cortisol response.

The ACTH stimulation test is considered the standard gold test for diagnosing Addison’s disease in dogs and cats. The advantage of this test is that it can accurately diagnose Addison’s disease, which can help your Pet Health veterinarian provide the best treatment options for your pet. However, some variables can affect the test’s accuracy, such as human or laboratory error, the type of synthetic ACTH hormone used, and other medications your pet may be taking..

It’s important to note that the ACTH stimulation test should not be performed on pets that are either currently taking steroids or have recently taken them, as this can affect the test results. The test results are usually received within 24-48 hours, and your Pet Health veterinarian will discuss the results with you and recommend appropriate treatment options if necessary.