Cushings in dogs seems to be on the rise in the United States. We are finding more cases of dog Cushings disease because we as veterinarians have developed better screens for the disease. Many veterinary hospitals offer annual blood screen testing at the time of the annual physical exam. Often, the results of this annual blood testing will point to dog Cushings disease. The common symptoms of Cushings in dogs are discussed as well as how we diagnose and treat the disease.
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Cushings in Dogs
Dog Cushings Disease is a hormone disorder where your dog’s body is producing an oversupply of cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands which are located adjacent to each kidney. Cortisol is helpful to the body in many ways especially in handling stress. In Dog Cushings Disease, the adrenal gland produces too much cortisol and the effects of too much cortisol are what lead to the symptoms of Dog Cushings Disease. These symptoms may include any or all of the following: increased drinking and urination (cortisol is a diuretic), increased appetite, poor hair coat, increased infections, a pot-bellied appearance, restlessness and increased panting.
Why does the adrenal gland produce too much cortisol in Dog Cushings Disease? The excess production of cortisol can happen for one of two reasons: 1) the adrenal gland may have a benign tumor on it that is producing too much cortisol on its own, or 2) the pituitary gland (located at the base of the brain) which normally controls the production of cortisol by the adrenal gland has a benign tumor itself. In the latter case, the benign tumor of the pituitary gland produces too much of a hormone called ACTH. The adrenal gland then responds to this overproduction of ACTH by secreting excess cortisol.
How is Dog Cushings Disease diagnosed? The most common method to diagnose Dog Cushings Disease is to do an ACTH stimulation test. A baseline blood cortisol level is taken from your dog. Then ACTH is injected into your dog and a second blood cortisol level is taken at a certain time interval afterwards. If the cortisol level jumps by a certain amount, then Dog Cushings Disease is diagnosed. Other tests include both high and low dose dexamethasone suppression tests. An ultrasound of the adrenal gland can be done to see if your dog has Dog Cushings Disease caused by an adrenal tumor (versus a pituitary tumor).
Treatment of Dog Cushings Disease involves giving medications that either decrease the size of the adrenal gland or suppress the pituitary gland. Periodic testing is necessary to make sure the cortisol level is indeed staying at a normal level. With treatment, one should see a decrease in the symptoms of Dog Cushings Disease.
- Sam Meisler DVM
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