Cushing"s Disease in Dogs - What is It?
Cushing's disease in dogs is actually quite common, though some breeds are more at risk than others.
It also tends to strike older dogs much more frequently than younger ones.
This disease is a condition in which the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol.
So what does that mean? The adrenal glands manufacture and secrete several different hormones into the blood stream to help regulate a whole bunch of bodily processes.
One of the most important hormones is cortisol.
As with anything, when it's working right, everything goes along smoothly.
But when something messes up the cortisol delivery system, your dog ends up being poisoned with too much cortisol.
Symptoms of Cushing's Disease in Dogs So what happens when your dog gets too much cortisol flowing through his veins? The most common symptoms to watch for would be: * Increased drinking and urination * Pot-bellied appearance * Massive shedding * Heavy panting * Chronic skin infections * Recurrent urinary tract infections * Low energy * Muscle weakness Different Kinds of Cushing's Disease in Dogs Your dog is in this cortisol-imbalance situation for one of three reasons.
In about 85% of Cushing's cases, a tumor in the pituitary gland is the culprit.
The other 15% of the time, a tumor in the adrenal gland causes the imbalance.
If you're good with math, you've noticed that adds up to 100% of the cases in which a dog gets Cushing's disease due to a "system malfunction.
" But there's actually a third type--called Iatrogenic Cushing's disease--which we can create ourselves if we give a dog too much cortisone, especially for chronic conditions like allergies.
What was once helping your dog is now doing more harm than good.
Unfortunately, there's no single test to diagnose this disease.
But your vet can run several tests to determine if he has Cushing's, then more tests to find out which kind it is.
Treatment of Cushing's Disease in Dogs The type of treatment your vet prescribes will depend on whether the pituitary or the adrenal gland is affected.
Surgery or medications can be quite successful, again depending on the type of Cushing's your dog has.
When it comes to Iatrogenic Cushing's, the obvious solution is to stop giving your dog cortisol.
But since the cortisol has probably been given for quite a while, it will have to be discontinued gradually to give the body time to get used to properly regulating its metabolism on its own.
Unfortunately, ending the cortisol usually results in a flare-up of the allergy or arthritis that was being treated.
Is There a Way to Prevent Canine Cushing's Disease? At this time, there's no way to prevent this disease.
But diagnosing it quickly can increase your dog's chances of survival.
Here's how: * As your dog ages, visit your vet twice a year instead of annually to help catch the symptoms earlier.
* Monitor your pooch for any changes in behavior or attitude, especially increased drinking and urination.
Don't assume any such changes are just because he's getting older! Although most dogs with Cushing's disease can't actually be cured, their quality of life can be improved, and they can live longer, happier lives with early intervention.
It also tends to strike older dogs much more frequently than younger ones.
This disease is a condition in which the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol.
So what does that mean? The adrenal glands manufacture and secrete several different hormones into the blood stream to help regulate a whole bunch of bodily processes.
One of the most important hormones is cortisol.
As with anything, when it's working right, everything goes along smoothly.
But when something messes up the cortisol delivery system, your dog ends up being poisoned with too much cortisol.
Symptoms of Cushing's Disease in Dogs So what happens when your dog gets too much cortisol flowing through his veins? The most common symptoms to watch for would be: * Increased drinking and urination * Pot-bellied appearance * Massive shedding * Heavy panting * Chronic skin infections * Recurrent urinary tract infections * Low energy * Muscle weakness Different Kinds of Cushing's Disease in Dogs Your dog is in this cortisol-imbalance situation for one of three reasons.
In about 85% of Cushing's cases, a tumor in the pituitary gland is the culprit.
The other 15% of the time, a tumor in the adrenal gland causes the imbalance.
If you're good with math, you've noticed that adds up to 100% of the cases in which a dog gets Cushing's disease due to a "system malfunction.
" But there's actually a third type--called Iatrogenic Cushing's disease--which we can create ourselves if we give a dog too much cortisone, especially for chronic conditions like allergies.
What was once helping your dog is now doing more harm than good.
Unfortunately, there's no single test to diagnose this disease.
But your vet can run several tests to determine if he has Cushing's, then more tests to find out which kind it is.
Treatment of Cushing's Disease in Dogs The type of treatment your vet prescribes will depend on whether the pituitary or the adrenal gland is affected.
Surgery or medications can be quite successful, again depending on the type of Cushing's your dog has.
When it comes to Iatrogenic Cushing's, the obvious solution is to stop giving your dog cortisol.
But since the cortisol has probably been given for quite a while, it will have to be discontinued gradually to give the body time to get used to properly regulating its metabolism on its own.
Unfortunately, ending the cortisol usually results in a flare-up of the allergy or arthritis that was being treated.
Is There a Way to Prevent Canine Cushing's Disease? At this time, there's no way to prevent this disease.
But diagnosing it quickly can increase your dog's chances of survival.
Here's how: * As your dog ages, visit your vet twice a year instead of annually to help catch the symptoms earlier.
* Monitor your pooch for any changes in behavior or attitude, especially increased drinking and urination.
Don't assume any such changes are just because he's getting older! Although most dogs with Cushing's disease can't actually be cured, their quality of life can be improved, and they can live longer, happier lives with early intervention.
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