Cushing's disease, also known as hyperadrenocorticism, is an overproduction of hormones in a dog's body. Dogs suffering from the disease do not always immediately show symptoms, and have been known to show symptoms up to six years before receiving a positive diagnosis.
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Causes
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There are two causes of Cushing's disease in dogs: a tumor of the adrenal gland, or over-stimulation of the adrenal gland by the hormones that control it. A pituitary tumor (the most common cause) stimulates the adrenal gland to over-produce corticosteroids, which leads to a chemical imbalance in the dog's brain. This imbalance can lead to some serious side effects, like malfunction of the liver.
Symptoms
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Symptoms occur gradually, and often are mistakenly attributed to old age. Typical symptoms include increased water consumption and urination, an increase in appetite, abdominal enlargement, hair loss and thin skin.
Diagnosis
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There are some common tests for Cushing's, which include urine cortical screening, creatinine ratio, low dose dexamethasone suppression test and ultrasound. Common abnormalities in Cushing's positive dogs are increases in alkaline phosphates, liver enzymes and cholesterol.
Treatment
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There are several treatment options for Cushing's, depending on the cause of the disease. If it is tumor related, surgical removal of the tumor is feasible. The majority of cases, however, are treated with oral remedies. These medications prevent the dog's body from over-producing adrenalin, to rebalance its system.
Prognosis
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It is quite possible for a dog to continue an active lifestyle with Cushing's if it receives the correct medications. The average lifespan for a dog after diagnosis is two years, however this is partially due to the fact that dogs with Cushing's are generally older.
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