However, because of the complexity and risks of the surgery, most cases are treated with medication. The only way to "cure" Cushing's disease is to remove the adrenal tumor if the disease is adrenal-dependent and the tumor hasn't spread, says Stohlman. Most veterinarians treat both adrenal- and pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease with medication.
enlargement of the abdomen, resulting in a "potbellied" appearance. The disease develops slowly and the early signs are not always noticed. Symptoms of Cushing's DiseaseĬushing's disease typically occurs in middle-aged to older dogs. They may also use an ultrasound to help detect a tumor on an adrenal gland. Veterinarians use blood tests to diagnose Cushing's and to differentiate between disease caused by the pituitary or the adrenals. The type of Cushing's disease may determine what kind of treatment is prescribed. In the other 15–20 percent of Cushing's dogs, a tumor in one or both adrenal glands produces excess cortisol. The pituitary tumor causes overproduction of ACTH, which travels through the bloodstream to the adrenal glands, stimulating them to produce more cortisol than the body needs. The pituitary makes a number of hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). About 80–85 percent of Cushing's is pituitary-dependent, meaning it's triggered by a tumor on the pituitary, a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain. Most canine Cushing's disease occurs naturally and is either pituitary-dependent or adrenal-dependent. Cortisol also helps regulate proper body weight, tissue structure, skin condition, and other features of good health.īut too much cortisol weakens the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to other diseases and infections. 
"Cortisol is one of the body's natural steroids," says Ann Stohlman, V.M.D., a veterinarian in FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, adding that a normal amount of cortisol helps the body adapt in times of stress. It is more commonly found in dogs than in cats. Cortisol is produced and stored by the adrenals, two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys.ĭogs, cats, and humans can get Cushing's disease. Cushing's disease results when the body produces too much of a hormone called cortisol.
A visit to the vet and some diagnostic tests confirm that he has hyperadrenocorticism, commonly known as Cushing's disease or Cushing's syndrome. Plus, he's developed a potbelly and is losing hair. Your nine-year old dog has been drinking a lot more lately and eating everything in sight.
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