Cushing’s Disease

Cushings disease is the overproduction of stress hormones by the adrenal glands.

In about 85% of cases, the pituitary gland in the brain sends too many signals to the adrenal gland to make cortisol, the stress hormone.

In 15% of cases, one of the adrenal glands is independently producing too much cortisol.

Symptoms

Signs of Cushing’s disease include:

Increased thirst and urination
Increased hunger
An enlarged abdomen
Excessive panting
Thin skin
Muscle wasting
Thin hair coat or hair loss

Diagnosis and Treatment

Testing for Cushing’s disease may be recommended by your vet if your pet exhibits some of the above clinical signs. This may involve:

Bloodwork- haematology and biochemistry
Urinalysis
Measurement of water intake
Dynamic tests such as an Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test or Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test (LDDST) where 2-3 blood samples are taken over a prescribed number of hours to measure your dog’s adrenal response to either ACTH or dexamethasone.

If your dog is diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, treatment is usually medical and carries a good prognosis. Trilostane is a medication which blocks production of cortisol and reverses or prevents the clinical signs of Cushing’s disease. Treatment requires regular monitoring using blood tests and physical examinations.