Is your dog continuously begging for food, and showing signs of excess thirst and urination? Those are just three of a number of possible symptoms of Cushing's disease, a serious illness that commonly occurs in dogs.
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About
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Cushing's disease, also referred to as Cushing's syndrome and Hyperadrenocorticism, is usually diagnosed in middle aged or geriatric dogs. It can occur when a dog's body produces excessive amounts of cortisol, a steroid hormone that is both made and stored in the adrenal glands located on top of the dog's kidneys. In normal quantities, cortisol aids the dog's body in times of stress, but it can weaken the immune system if too much of it is produced.
Types
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Cushing's disease is either pituitary-dependent or adrenal-dependent. Pituitary-dependent Cushing's, the most common form of the disease, happens when a small tumor growing on the pituitary gland (located at the brain's base) causes the gland to send signals to the adrenal glands to overproduce cortisol. In the case of adrenal-dependent Cushing's, a tumor on one or more of the dog's adrenal glands causes it to overproduce the cortisol steroid. The disease can also occur when a dog has been given too much steroid medication to treat another illness.
Symptoms
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Animal Hospitals USA reports that the "first and most common signs of Cushing's disease is often excessive thirst and urination." Other symptoms include increased appetite, excessive panting, heat intolerance, muscle stiffness, lethargy, and frequent skin infections. Cushing's dogs often develop potbellies and suffer hair loss from the trunk of their bodies. Their skin may be thinner than normal and they may bruise easily.
Diagnosis
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Veterinarians use blood tests as well as your dog's medical history and symptoms to diagnose the disease and to determine whether the problem is pituitary- or adrenal-dependent. Additional tests, such as an ultrasound, may be done to detect a tumor.
Treatment
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There is no real cure for Cushing's disease. Because surgery is not possible, pituitary-dependent Cushing's is most often treated with a chemotherapy drug called Lysodren. According to the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado, "most dogs tolerate Lysodren without any side effects, but side effects can be seen." Those may include trembling, vomiting and diarrhea. After the initial treatment, the dog will have to be given medication regularly.
Most cases of adrenal-dependent Cushing's are treated with drugs because the cost, complexity and risks of surgery are great. The FDA reports that the drug Vetoryl (Trilostane) has recently been approved for treatment of both adrenal and pituitary-dependent Cushing's.
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