Cushing's Disease in Beagles

Hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing̵7;s disease afflicts middle-aged or older canines and occurs commonly in beagles. Since the onset of Cushing̵7;s disease is slow, symptoms of the disease can go unnoticed for a long time or be mistaken for the natural aging process. Symptoms of Cushing̵7;s disease include hair loss, weight gain, incontinence and excessive appetite and thirst. The disease occurs more frequently in female beagles.

  1. What is Cushing's Disease?

    • In a healthy beagle, the pituitary gland at the base of its brain produces a hormone that is released into the blood stream to stimulate the dog̵7;s adrenal glands, which secrete cortisol. Cortisol assists the body in regulating stress, blood-sugar levels, kidney and cardiovascular functions and the immune system. In Cushing̵7;s disease, the secretion and regulation of cortisol goes awry, according to Kate Connick, dog trainer and owner of Courteous Canines LLC, located in Westchester County, New York.

    Causes

    • The chronic excess of blood cortisol from Cushing̵7;s disease poisons the beagle; his body̵7;s natural ability to regulate cortisol is impaired. Veterinarians identify three reasons that cause Cushing̵7;s disease; a tumor located at the pituitary gland, an adrenal tumor, or overexposure to corticosteroids or prednisone, according to Connick.

    Signs to Watch For

    • If your beagle̵7;s normally glossy coat becomes thin and greasy, emitting a foul odor, it̵7;s time to schedule a veterinary exam. Beagles can also become heat sensitive if afflicted with the disease. Signs of heat sensitivity include excessive panting, even if temperatures are mild. While beagles generally tend to gain weight easily and need a balanced diet to prevent obesity, weight gain associated with Cushing̵7;s creates a ̶0;pot-belly̶1; appearance, in spite of managed nutrition.

    Screening for Cushing's Disease

    • The most common method used to diagnose Cushing̵7;s disease involves measuring the amount of cortisol in your beagle̵7;s blood serum and comparing its results with ̶0;normal̶1; baseline cortisol concentrations in healthy dogs, according to Newman Veterinary Medical Services in Seattle, Washington. Although a urinalysis can detect elevated concentrations of cortisol, veterinarians prefer the more reliable serum-screening tests.

    Diagnosis

    • Other tests to confirm a suspicion of Cushing̵7;s disease include cortisol stimulation to measure your beagle's reaction to an injection of cortisol, followed by abdominal radiographs to detect pituitary or adrenal tumors, liver enzyme tests and red- and white-blood cell counts.