Hypoadrenocorticism in a family of Standard poodles

Thirty-one ancestors of a Standard Poodle with hypoadrenocorticism were located. Hypoadrenocorticism had been confirmed in 8 of 32 dogs (25%) by use of ACTH response testing or necropsy. In 2 additional dogs, hypoadrenocorticism was diagnosed on the basis of characteristic clinical signs and serum electrolyte abnormalities consistent with adrenocortical insufficiency. Although an obvious pattern of inheritance was not evident, the high prevalence of hypoadrenocorticism suggested that heredity may have been a factor in the development of idiopathic adrenal insufficiency in dogs of this family.