Cushings Disease In Dogs

When you are an avid dog lover like I am, you would surely have one aged dog or two in your household, at one time or another, pets who have been with you for several good years and are a part of your family. There may be times that you seem to notice a lack of activity on their part and they appear to be thirsty all the time. Most people would attribute this as signs of the dogs' old age, but be wary as your pets might be suffering from Cushings Disease in dogs or Cushing's Syndrome instead.

Canine Cushings disease is a degenerative disease and brain-endocrine disorder that is known to affect more than half a million dogs. This is considered a medical complex disorder and is attributed to an excess of the naturally produced steroid called cortisol or glucocoticoid. This steroid hormone is necessary for the normal function of the dog's bodily systems but in excess, it can be debilitating as it affects several of the normal bodily functions of the dog.

Signs and Symptoms to Look For-So you can help your dog

Cushings is often mistaken as normal signs of aging and would include symptoms such as: reduced appetite; less activity and some signs of weak muscles and panting; increased thirst coupled by an increase in frequency of urination and sometimes a loss of housetraining; an overweight appearance due to an enlarge abdomen and even hair loss.

If Cushings is suspected, the dog would need to undergo the required urine and blood tests under a veterinarian's care. These tests will verify if the disease exists and would try to pinpoint the exact cause, whether it is adrenal or pituitary gland. Additional tests may include an ultrasound to check enlargement of the adrenal glands and the possibility of tumors. If left untreated, Cushing's syndrome can lead to severe complications like hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes, blood clotting and even kidney disease.

Canine Cushings Disease - Treatments and Proper Care

There is yet no known cure for Cushings disease and all you can do for your dogs is to undergo treatment of symptoms and to help them maintain a change to a healthy lifestyle. Treatments administered by veterinarians should be followed to the letter so that your dogs can live normal lives again.

If Cushings is caused by your dog’s adrenal glands it can be treated surgically through the removal of adrenal tumors that is causing the disease. However, if the tumor is not located or identified, therapy through medications may need to be administered. The most common medication for Cushings is called lysodren, however there are certain side effects to the drug that you need to keep a lookout for. Another drug, called trilostane, is an improved but more expensive version of lysodren but still has the same side effects. The drugs should be administered for several months to have a complete treatment.