Frequent urination or housebreaking “accidents”.Symptoms of Cushing’s disease in dogs often include: While in humans the condition can be noted by excess belly fat, a hump of fat between the shoulders, bone loss, high blood pressure, acne, easy bruising, decreased fertility, and pink or purple stretch marks, in dogs the symptoms are more easily mistaken for simple signs of aging. It can take a long time for symptoms of Cushing’s disease to become noticeable, and because the symptoms are similar to other conditions, Cushing’s disease in dogs can be tricky to diagnose. The disease may shorten the dog’s overall lifespan, but most improve with therapy.Cushing’s disease can be a serious condition in humans, but what about in beloved pets? Understanding Cushing’s disease in dogs can help pet owners take the best possible care of their canine companion and manage the disease for a long and healthy life.Ĭushing’s disease, also called Cushing’s syndrome, hypercortisolism, or hyperadrenocorticism, is a condition of having excess cortisol hormone in the blood, often from abnormalities in either the pituitary gland in the brain or the adrenal glands near the kidneys.Pet owners should research and understand the side effects to any drugs that are administered.Repeated laboratory testing is necessary to monitor the status of the condition.Tumors may be removed through use of radiation or surgery.There are a number of medications available to treat Cushing’s Disease such as milotane or trilostane.Test results may not be clear cut, so often Cushing’s Disease may be tough to diagnose.Screening tests are available to measure cortisol levels and usually require blood samples.Routine blood tests may show high levels of liver enzymes, cholesterol, blood sugar, and/or white blood cells.Because clinical signs are specific for this disease, extensive laboratory tests must be performed.Common symptoms include increased thirst, appetite, or urination, obesity, muscle weakness, lethargy, thinning of coat, heat intolerance, and urinary tract or skin infections.Pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism occurs when a tumor in the pituitary gland causes an increase in the production of ACTH, which causes the adrenal glands to become overactive.Middle aged and senior dogs are most susceptible to the disease.Hyperadrenocorticism, otherwise known as Cushings Disease, is the condition in which there is an overproduction of cortisol or other glucocorticoid hormones.

Overactive adrenal gland in dogs