Cushing’s disease is quite common in older dogs. The symptoms can be mistaken for normal aging of a dog.

Cushing’s disease is also known as hyperadrenocorticism. Though Cushing’s disease can occur in dogs of any age, it is much more likely to develop later in life.

Diagnosis is not always straightforward. Most cases cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be controlled.

Untreated canine Cushing’s disease could shorten your dog’s life, so if you suspect Cushing’s disease get your dog checked.

 

• What is Cushing’s Disease
• What are the symptoms of Cushing’s Disease in Dogs?
• What are the consequences of untreated Cushing’s Disease?
• How is Cushing’s Disease diagnosed?
  • Urine Cortisol:Creatinine Ratio
  • Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test
  • ACTH Stimulation Test
  • Abdominal Ultrasound
  • High Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test
• If tests for Cushing’s Disease are inconclusive
• What are the treatments for Canine Cushing’s Disease
  • Vetoryl
  • Lysodren
  • Other drugs used to treat Cushing’s disease
• Once treatment has been started in a dog with Cushing’s Disease
  • Symptoms of arthritis may start to appear

What is Cushing’s Disease?

Cushing’s disease is most commonly caused by a tumor either in the pituitary gland or the adrenals. The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and the adrenal glands are located atop the kidneys. They are both involved in regulation of many of the processes of the body.

If a dog is on high doses of steroid (glucocorticoid) medication for a long period of time, the steroid in the dog can cause Cushing’s disease to develop. When steroid medication is tapered off and stopped, the Cushing’s disease symptoms will fade away.

The tumors, either directly or indirectly, cause the dog to secrete too much cortisol into the bloodstream. Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, has effects on a wide range of body processes, which explains the varied array of symptoms that can occur in a dog with Cushing’s disease. Cortisol is important in the body as a response to stress. However, long term high levels of cortisol result in the body acting as if it is under constant very high levels of stress.

A tumor in the pituitary gland is the most common form of Cushing’s disease. At least 80% of Cushing’s disease in dogs is due to a benign tumor in the pituitary gland. Most of the tumors are small, though occasionally if the tumor gets quite large it may create problems just due to the size.

A tumor in an adrenal gland is less common. Usually the adrenal gland with the tumor is enlarged and the other adrenal gland, trying to compensate for the constant high levels of cortisol, is very small. An adrenal tumor can be either benign or malignant.

What are the symptoms of Cushing’s Disease in Dogs?

As with all diseases, different dogs have different sets of symptoms, so if your dog has some of these symptoms get your dog examined by your vet. Generally the symptoms will slowly become more obvious.

Most frequent symptoms of canine Cushing’s disease include;

• Excessive thirst and drinking (polydypsia)
• Frequent urination (polyuria)
• Hair loss, usually same on both sides
• Dull, dry hair
• Panting
• Soft, hanging pot belly
• Increased appetite
• Calcified hard lumps under the skin
• Thinning skin
• Increased susceptibility to infection
• Loss of muscle mass
• Lethargy, and reluctance to exercise or jump up

 

The first two symptoms, excessive drinking and frequent urination, are probably the two symptoms that will lead to a suspicion that something is wrong with a dog. Many dogs will be drinking so much that they cannot hold their urine all night and start to have to urinate in the house at night.

Most, but not all dogs have changes in their coats and have hair loss. Often the first symptom in most dogs is starting to lose hair, but Cushing’s disease is often not diagnosed until other symptoms, such as excessive drinking and urination, are present. Hair loss can be due to other causes, and not all dogs that have Cushing’s disease lose hair.

Many dogs that have had Cushing’s disease for a while will get a soft hanging pot belly. This is due to fat accumulation in the abdomen.

Usually dogs will become more lethargic and not be so interested in walks, and may be reluctant to jump in the car or go upstairs. In older dogs an increasing lack of interest in exercise and not being so agile will often be attributed to aging. Of course, an older dog is going to slow down and be less agile, but usually not at the rate that often occurs with Cushing’s Disease.

If you notice any changes in your dog (whatever their age), such as increased drinking, development of a soft pot belly, symmetrical hair loss and sudden increased lethargy and agility, get your dog checked out by a vet.

 
 
Next Page – Cushing’s Disease – Diagnosis & Treatment
 
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