Adrenal Gland Disease in Dogs

Tumors

• Pituitary tumors, according to the Chastain Veterinary Medical Group, are the leading cause of adrenal gland disease in dogs. Situated just beneath the brain, the pituitary gland produces AHCT, which signals the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. If a pituitary tumor causes the release of too much AHCT, the adrenal glands will respond with excessive cortisol, leading to Cushing's disease.
  The most common adrenal gland tumors in dogs are called functional tumors. They stimulate adrenal function, causing over-secretion of hormones. A functional tumor can grow larger than the adrenal gland it affects. These tumors are associated with the development of other adrenal gland diseases.
  
  Pheochromacytomas are rare and usually benign tumors of the adrenal medulla, most often affecting dogs older than 10 years old. They're hard to diagnose because their symptoms resemble those of many other diseases, including adrenal-related Cushing's disease, liver and kidney disease, and diabetes. Dogs with these tumors may refuse food, drinking and urinating copiously. They also retain fluids, develop high blood pressure, and become lethargic and weak.

Addison's Disease

• Addison's disease, or hypoadrenalcorticism, occurs when a dog's adrenal glands aren't making enough cortisol. Primary and secondary Addison's occur because of malfunctions in the adrenals, while atypical Addison's results from the pituitary's not producing adequate AHCT. Immune-related adrenal damage and medications used to treat Cushing's disease can also cause Addison's.
  Symptoms, which may fluctuate over time, include fatigue, weakness in the hindquarters, weight loss and loss of appetite, and digestive problems including vomiting and diarrhea. Advanced Addison's causes a potentially fatal potassium buildup, with associated heart and kidney problems known as Addisonian crisis.

Cushing's Disease

• The opposite of Addison's disease, Cushing's disease occurs in dogs who produce too many stress hormones. Pituitary or adrenal tumors are its most common causes. Dogs receiving corticosteroids to treat other diseases, however, may develop iatrogenic Cushing's as their adrenals' cortisol production shuts down to compensate.
  Classic Cushing's symptoms are excessive thirst and urination, and hair loss from the torso.

Traditonal Treatments

• Surgery is seldom performed on dogs with pituitary tumor-related adrenal gland disease. They are instead treated with medication to improve or reduce their adrenal glands' hormone secretion levels.
  
  Dogs with primary and secondary Addison's need medication to keep their electrolytes, including potassium, in balance. These dogs--and dogs with atypical Addison's--need cortisol replacement, for which prednisone is most widely prescribed.
  Surgery to remove benign adrenal tumors is widely used in Cushing's dogs, and in many cases will solve the problem. Nearly 80 percent of Cushing's dogs, however, have pituitary-related symptoms that are treatable with medicine: Lysodren works by destroying adrenal tissue to reduce cortisol production, and Ketoconazole interferes with stress hormone synthesis (see Resources).

Alternative Treatments

• Homeopathy treats the individual symptoms of each dog suffering from adrenal gland disease instead of attempting to cure the disease itself. Homeopathic remedies for adrenal disease include mercurius, hepar, sulphur, astralagus and arcsenicum to relieve thirst, skin and digestive problems.
  Astralaglus and arsenicum, along with homeopathic preparations of dandelion and burdock, are useful in treating Addison's symptoms. Licorice root, thought to stimulate adrenal corticosteroid production, can also help dogs suffering from Addison's (see Resources).