Cushing's Disease (also known as 'hyperadrenocorticism') is a disorder in which the adrenal gland produces excessive cortisol, a natural steroid hormone.
This disease is one of the more common endocrine disorders, and usually strikes older dogs. In most cases, it's caused by a lesion in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. A lesser common cause is when one of the adrenal glands has a tumor that excretes cortisol independently. The breeds most often afflicted with Cushing's Disease are Poodles, Dachshunds, Boxers, Beagles and Boston Terriers.
Cushing's Disease is not always easy to detect as the symptoms often mimic those of other conditions. Some of the symptoms seem to be connected with the normal aging process, so it's not always easy to recognize that it's actually Cushing's Disease. These symptoms include:
- Increased appetite
- Increased drinking and urination
- Panting
- Bulging abdomen
- Skin lumps and discoloring
- Hair loss
- Muscle weakness
- Nervous system disorders
One distinguishing symptom in dogs with Cushing's Disease is a bulging, sagging belly. This is caused by a decrease in muscle strength and redistribution of fat from body storage areas to the abdomen. Hair loss may also occur as the disease progresses.
Left untreated, Cushing's Disease can lead to disorders such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, liver and kidney failure, hypothyroidism and infections of the skin, ears, gums, eyes, or bladder. So please take your old companion to the vet if you suspect he or she may have this condition. If your veterinarian suspects your dog has the disease, he or she will perform a series of blood tests and possibly other diagnostics to determine if your dog is affected.
YOUR DOG MAY ALSO LIKE …
Making it Easier for Older Dogs to Get Around
There are ways you can make life easier and more comfortable for older dogs that have arthritic joints, hip problems, or other complications that make it difficult to get from here to there.
READ NOW
Therapy Dogs for Autistic People
Though a relatively new area, therapy dogs for autistic people are being trained and used in many areas of the country.
READ NOW
Common diseases in older dogs: Loss of Appetite
Next to fetch, eating used to be your dog's favorite activity. But lately you've noticed a gradual decrease in your dog's appetite. This can be fairly normal in older dogs - their sense of taste and smell decreases and food just isn't as appetizing.
READ NOW
Common Diseases in Older Dogs: Skin Lumps
It happens to many dog owners: You stroke your dog and suddenly feed an odd bump on your dog's skin. What could it be? Skin lumps are one of the most common conditions that vets are faced with—and determining what they are can be tricky. With most lumps and bumps on dogs, it's hard to predict with 100% accuracy what these "foreigners" may be. Your vet may want to take a fine-needle aspiration of the lump, which is a very simple way to gather cells for review under a microscope. This can help determine whether a lump should be removed right away, or whether you can take a wait-and-watch approach.
READ NOW