Severe gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage in three dogs with hypoadrenocorticism.

Three dogs with gastrointestinal tract bleeding of sufficient severity to necessitate blood transfusion were determined to have hypoadrenocorticism on the basis of adrenocortical response to exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone. All dogs survived the acute crisis and are being managed with fludrocortisone acetate. Hypoadrenocorticism should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute severe gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage.