Cushing's Disease
Cushing's disease affects carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, and is the result of a malfunction in the adrenal gland. The body produces too much glucocorticoid (a natural blood cortisol). The most common form of the disease is caused by tumours on the pituitary. It can also be caused by a tumour on the adrenal gland, or by drugs which stimulate excessive adrenal hormone production, such as corticosteroids like prednisone.
Signs of Cushing’s disease include increased drinking and urination; increased hunger, weight gain, panting, abdominal enlargement, skin bruising, symmetrical hair loss, exercise intolerance, lethargy, possible muscle atrophy and obesity. Dogs may suddenly start urinating in the house, and may look pot bellied. There is sometimes a lack of coordination, circling, aimless wandering or pacing.
Your vet may notice fragile skin that tears easily, an enlarged liver, and/or changes in the genitalia.
Cushing’s is treatable.
Treatment depends on the type of Cushing's disease and the health of the patient. Surgery may be indicated for adrenal tumours. Pituitary tumours are not removed surgically as they are usually small and slow-growing. Instead, the symptoms themselves are treated rather than the root cause. They may be treated with radiation to shrink them, although this is expensive and hard on the dogs.
Chemotherapy may be used to treat pituitary-dependent or adrenal-based Cushing's. Fifty percent of adrenal tumours are malignant and may have already metastasized to the liver or lungs before they are discovered. Most owners opt for non-surgical treatment.
Left untreated, Cushing's disease will progress. Dogs with Cushing’s are prone to infections and may develop hypothyroidism, pancreatitis, diabetes, seizures, hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots, and liver and kidney failure.
With treatment, symptoms of Cushing's should resolve within 4-6 months and the dogs may live happily for years. Some will die within a few years of diagnosis, although not necessarily due to Cushing's itself, but from age-related illnesses.
Cushing's disease affects carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, and is the result of a malfunction in the adrenal gland. The body produces too much glucocorticoid (a natural blood cortisol). The most common form of the disease is caused by tumours on the pituitary. It can also be caused by a tumour on the adrenal gland, or by drugs which stimulate excessive adrenal hormone production, such as corticosteroids like prednisone.
Signs of Cushing’s disease include increased drinking and urination; increased hunger, weight gain, panting, abdominal enlargement, skin bruising, symmetrical hair loss, exercise intolerance, lethargy, possible muscle atrophy and obesity. Dogs may suddenly start urinating in the house, and may look pot bellied. There is sometimes a lack of coordination, circling, aimless wandering or pacing.
Your vet may notice fragile skin that tears easily, an enlarged liver, and/or changes in the genitalia.
Cushing’s is treatable.
Treatment depends on the type of Cushing's disease and the health of the patient. Surgery may be indicated for adrenal tumours. Pituitary tumours are not removed surgically as they are usually small and slow-growing. Instead, the symptoms themselves are treated rather than the root cause. They may be treated with radiation to shrink them, although this is expensive and hard on the dogs.
Chemotherapy may be used to treat pituitary-dependent or adrenal-based Cushing's. Fifty percent of adrenal tumours are malignant and may have already metastasized to the liver or lungs before they are discovered. Most owners opt for non-surgical treatment.
Left untreated, Cushing's disease will progress. Dogs with Cushing’s are prone to infections and may develop hypothyroidism, pancreatitis, diabetes, seizures, hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots, and liver and kidney failure.
With treatment, symptoms of Cushing's should resolve within 4-6 months and the dogs may live happily for years. Some will die within a few years of diagnosis, although not necessarily due to Cushing's itself, but from age-related illnesses.
Cushing’s is an autoimmune disease, where the body is unable to recognise its own biochemicals, and considers them to be foreign invaders. When we vaccinate our dogs, we inject cow blood products.
These confuse the dog’s body, since cow blood is similar to, but not the same as, the dog’s blood. An immune defence is mounted, and the dog attacks his own cells and tissues. By reducing the number of times we vaccinate our dogs, we reduce the potential for causing autoimmune diseases.
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