Cushing's Disease is a glandular problem. When pituitary or adrenal glands malfunction, they can secrete too many hormones. These hormones affect a dog's metabolism and health and can cause hyperadrenocorticism, commonly called Cushing's Disease. Without treatment Cushing's can spur more complicated diseases like diabetes, kidney failure and heart disease.
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Symptoms
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Typically, the dog owner sees hair loss and behavioral changes in the dog. The dog is eagerly hungry and thirsty. He drinks water constantly and urinates often. He is overstimulated by excess hormones and may be hyperactive. Over a period of weeks the dog develops a potbelly and muscles waste away. Meanwhile, his hair falls out or becomes brittle.
Diagnosis
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When the owner takes the dog to a vet, the disease may not be easily diagnosed. Diabetes and other diseases have similar symptoms to Cushing's. The veterinarian will need to do several tests to find the specific disease troubling the dog, including a urinalysis, blood chemistry panel and other clinical tests measuring gland activity. When Cushing's disease is confirmed, the veterinarian determines whether steroid drugs, pituitary gland tumors or adrenal tumors caused the disease. The treatment for Cushing's depends on the cause.
Iatrogenic Treatment
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The easiest type of Cushing's to treat is caused by steroid or corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone. These drugs cause iatrogenic Cushing's by overstimulating the glands. Lowering the drug dose or giving it less often until the glands return to normal levels controls Cushing's.
Pituitary Treatment
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The most common type of Cushing's is caused by benign tumors on the pituitary gland. The gland puts out too much cortisone. Drugs usually treat this type of Cushing's. The traditional drug is Lysodren, but newer drugs include Trilostane, Ketoconazole and Anipryl. Each drug has pros and cons. The veterinarian may run a series of tests to find the drug and dosage suited to the dog---and to the owner's lifestyle. These medications are often costly and require precise dosage that not everyone can manage.
Less-common treatments include radiation or holistic herbs. Radiation is costly and must be repeated under anesthesia, often hazardous for older dogs that commonly develop Cushing's. Herbal medications have strong effects on the dog and can, like prescription drugs, be lethal if not properly monitored.
Adrenal Treatment
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Adrenal tumors, less common than pituitary tumors, are sometimes removed by surgery. In about half of cases with adrenal tumors, the tumor is malignant and cancer may be in vital organs. Surgery does not offer much benefit for these dogs and is an added stress to the dog and his owner. Short-term medication may be suggested by the veterinarian depending on canine pain or discomfort.
Considerations
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Treating Cushing's Disease is challenging, time-consuming and costly. In many cases proper treatment significantly improves the dog's quality of life and adds years to his lifespan. In some cases, an older dog has other serious problems. The owner may decide not to treat Cushing's Disease; the dog may eventually die of more serious complications or may need to be euthanized.
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