Dogs of all ages may be developing Cushingโs disease. Here are five facts you should know about the disease.
Whether middle aged or older, your dog may be developing
Cushingโs disease without notable
symptoms. It is important for your veterinarian to know any
and all physical or behavioral changes your dog experiences,
even if they seem a natural progression. Cushingโs disease
often can be controlled or cured, and finding it early may
increase the efficacy of
treatment. These five facts may help guide you toward
helping your dog live a longer and happier
life.
1. It may be more than just getting old.
Cushingโs disease is often not identified correctly, due to
symptoms seeming too mild or just a natural progression of
aging. In fact, many instances of Cushingโs disease are
diagnosed late in the development, because the dog just seemed
to be getting old. Thinning fur around the body, and a
distended abdomen are easy to spot, but subtle behavioral
changes, such as increased thirst or lethargy after exercise
can go unnoted. Ask your veterinarian for Cushingโs tests
around six years and older.
2. Certain Dog Breeds Tend to Get Cushingโs More than Others.
There are several breeds that tend to suffer from Cushingโs,
such as beagles, Boston terriers, boxers, dachshunds, German
shepherds, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, poodles,
Scottish terriers, Yorkshire terriers, and terriers in general.
If your dog is one of these breeds, be on the lookout for
symptoms and request a blood test from your vet. While these
breeds may be more prone to Cushingโs than others, all breeds
can get it.
3. Itโs Hormonal.
Cushingโs disease is caused by
tumors on either the pituitary gland or the adrenal glands,
preventing the endocrine system from effectively understanding
information delivered through hormones in the blood stream, and
disabling the ability to maintain hormonal balance.
4. Is Cushingโs Disease Preventable?
No. While there is no known way to effectively prevent
Cushingโs disease, there are diagnostic tests that can be
performed early enough to prevent further damage. As dogs reach
middle age, more frequent visits to the veterinarian for blood
tests may become necessary.
5. Cushingโs Can Be Controlled, and in Some Cases, Cured.
Pituitary dependent Cushingโs may be controlled by oral
medication, while adrenal dependent Cushingโs may be controlled
by oral medication (such as Vetoryl), and in some cases, cured
by surgical removal of tumors or the entire adrenal gland.
This information is for informational purposes only and
is not meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or
diagnosis or treatment by,your veterinarian. Always seek the
advice of your veterinarian or other qualified professional with
any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never
disregard or delay seeking professional advice due to what you
may have read on our website.
Cushing's Disease Symptoms in Dogs
It is very common for Cushingโs disease symptoms to be
mistaken for normal signs of aging, as the symptoms appear very
gradually, and mostly in older dogs. These symptoms are also
shared by many other conditions, making Cushingโs difficult to
diagnose without in-depth testing.
Cushingโs disease symptoms can be categorized into behavioral and
physical symptoms.
Behavioral Symptoms of Cushingโs Disease
Cushingโs disease behavioral symptoms include polydipsia,
polyuria, polyphagia and lethargy.
Polydipsia is increased
or sudden excessive consumption of water. Since it is sometimes
difficult to determine if a dog is thirsty or excessively so,
there is a formula that may help. Normal daily consumption of
water is [140 x (body weight of dog in kg.)0.75]. Any volume
above the formulaic solution is most likely polydipsia.
Polyuriais increased
or excessive urination, often seemingly uncontrollable, or
atypical to training. Typically, an adult dog produces between
20-40 milliliters of urine per kilogram of body weight, per day.
Urine production in excess of 45 milliliters per kilogram of body
weight per day, is consistent with polyuria.
Polyphagia, an
increased or excessive appetite, often manifests itself as trash
rooting, food stealing, intensified food guarding, and begging.
The ravenous appetite of a Cushingoid dog is often accompanied by
weight gain, or weight loss.
Lethargy is
avoidance of exercise and play, often when the dog typically
would be energetic and playful. Sometimes a weakness may be
detected in the hind legs, causing dogs to resist jumping up onto
furniture or people, whereas before it was easy. Cushingoid dogs
tend to seek out cool surfaces to lie on, while excessively
panting.
Physical Symptoms of Cushingโs Disease
Physical symptoms of Cushingโs disease gradually become apparent
over time, and are often disregarded by dog owners as typical
aging breakdown. Physical symptoms of canine Cushingโs disease
include visible aging, slowed healing, skin and coat problems,
additional endocrine diseases, and seizures.
Visible Aging in
Cushingoid dogs means they visibly look older than their years,
with thinning hair on the body, a saggy pot-belly, fat
redistribution, and a bony face. It also may include sudden
difficulty breathing, stiff walking and paws knuckling over.
Slowed Healing is
a result of the hormonal imbalance created by Cushingโs disease
dogs heal slowly and bruise easily.
Skin and coat
problems in Cushingoid dogs include thin skin,
increased number of wrinkles and folds, muscle atrophy, and their
remaining coat gets dull and dry. Cushingโs disease increases
susceptibility to skin infection, and may cause hard lumps on
skin called calcinosis cutis.
Additional endocrine
diseases may result from Cushingโs disease, such as
diabetes and pancreatitis. Arrange a blood test for your dog, and
begin treatment so Cushingโs disease does not progress to other
diseases.
As some of these symptoms are difficult to identify as abnormal,
it is important to keep track of any behavior or physicality that
is inconsistent with your dog previously.
This information is for informational purposes only and is not
meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or
diagnosis or treatment by, your veterinarian. Always seek the
advice of your veterinarian or other qualified professional with
any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never
disregard or delay seeking professional advice due to what you
may have read on our website.
