Adrenal Problems in Canines

In a dog, the adrenal glands are located near the kidneys. The adrenal glands are crucial to the total health of the dog since they produce hormones that affect many parts of the dog. These hormones have an affect on heart rate, glucose and sodium levels and other critical operations of the dog's body. If the glands are not working properly and producing the proper amounts of hormones, serious problems can result.

  1. Cushing's Disease

    • Cushing's disease is a disease that is caused by malfunctioning adrenal glands. This disease is caused when the glands produce too much cortisol. When the adrenal glands produce too much of this hormone, it weakens the immune system, allowing infections to run rampant. Cushing's disease can also cause the liver to become enlarged. Usually a tumor on the pituitary gland causes Cushing's disease. Cushing's can also be caused if the dog has been on a steroid treatment for an extended period. Some of the other symptoms of Cushing's are unusual hunger, excessive water intake, bloating of the stomach, heavier than normal panting and hair loss. If any of these symptoms are seen in dogs take them to a veterinarian right away.

    Addison's Disease

    • Addison's disease is the opposite of Cushing's disease because this disease is caused when the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol. Some of the symptoms of Addison's disease are dehydration, unusual change in heart rate, weakness and signs of depression. When taken to a veterinarian the dog will undergo short-term treatments that will alleviate the symptoms by replacing the missing cortisol. Once the dog is stable, the veterinarian will discuss the long-term care of the dog with the owner. Several ways of treating this disease over the long-term will allow the dog to live a normal and healthy life.

    Canine Tumors

    • Any type of tumor that is found on the adrenal glands can be a problem. Some tumors will not cause any symptoms in the dog and will only be found by accident or when they are so large that treatment is nearly impossible. The other problem is that only a veterinarian can see the tumors via an X-ray, so again the tumor may be very large when it is found. Generally, medium to large breeds of dogs such as Terriers, German Shepherds and others will be affected by these tumors in middle to late age. If you own one of these breeds, it may be a good idea to have them X-rayed once a year after the age of six. If a tumor is found, the veterinarian will discuss treatment options and cost so that the owner can make an informed decision on how they want to treat the dog. If only one gland is affected, the outlook for the dog is good but if more than one gland has problems, the outlook may not be very good, depending on the circumstances.