Cushing’s is a dreadful disease that usually affects older dogs. Although most dog owners have at least heard the name before, many are unaware of the what the disease is, symptoms to look for, and even worse, that it can actually be caused by us.
Dr. Cathy Alinovi, DVM, owner of Healthy Pawsibilities, answered a few of our questions about this terrible disease.
What is Cushing’s?
Cushing’s is over-production of body cortisol by the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland is a tiny little gland that sits on top of the kidneys.
There are three causes of Cushing’s disease –
Pituitary dependent (PDH) – In pituitary-dependent Cushing’s, there is a tumor in the pituitary gland, a tiny little gland in the base of the brain that makes many hormones to tell body organs how to perform. The pituitary tumor causes overproduction of the hormone that tells the adrenal gland how to function.
Adrenal dependent (ADH) – In ADH, there is a tumor on the adrenal gland itself, causing the gland to over-function.
Iatrogenic – In iatrogenic Cushing’s, humans cause the disease by giving too many steroids to their dog, usually for allergies or cancer.
All result in too much cortisol in the body.
Be sure to talk to you vet about the risks of your dog developing Cushing’s from the medication he is currently on. Is it worth the risk? Are there alternative medications/treatments that may be safer?
What is Cortisol?
Cortisol is a stress hormone. When we are stressed, we eat more, we urinate more and we drink more. The same is true for our dogs – they get hungrier, so gain weight, they urinate more, which makes them thirsty and they drink more. Due to the weight gain, they get round in the belly. Other common findings are thin skin, hair loss or thinning coat, muscle wasting, and enlarged liver due to excess sugar storage in the liver.
Which Breeds are Predisposed?
- Terriers
- Dachshunds
- Poodles
- Eskimo/Spitz
The Symptoms
Petmd.com lists the following symptoms to watch for:
- Increased thirst and urination
- Increased hunger
- Increased panting
- Pot-bellied abdomen
- Obesity
- Fat pads on the neck and shoulders
- Loss of hair
- Lack of energy
- Inability to sleep (insomnia)
- Muscle weakness
- Missed heat cycle
- Shrinking of testicles
- Darkening of the skin
- Appearance of blackheads on the skin
- Thin skin (from weight gain)
- Bruising (from thin, weakened skin)
- Hard white scaly patches on the skin, elbows, etc. (associated with the disease calcinosis cutis)
How is it Diagnosed?
Measuring cortisol levels in the blood, and how the levels change in response to giving cortisol is basically how the test is done to determine if Cushing’s exists.
More recently, a newer test to measure cortisol in the first morning urine is an inexpensive test to rule in or out the disease.
What are the Treatment Options?
Medication that suppresses adrenal gland function is given to slow the signs of Cushing’s disease.
There are three drugs that treat Cushing’s:
- Lysodren – works by destroying the adrenal gland slowly so it cannot make too much cortisol.
- Trilostane – inhibits steroid production by the adrenal gland
- Selegiline – works at the pituitary gland by decreasing hormone production to the adrenal gland.
Regardless of the medication, they are all quite expensive and have serious side effects.
What alternative medicine approaches are there?
Herbal medicine looks at the whole picture of the Cushingoid dog – how advanced is the disease, is the dog hot or cold, drinking a lot, pulses weak on the right or the left, etc. Classical Chinese herbal formulas include Mai Men Dong, Xia Xiao Feng, and Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan.
Food therapy includes switching to a grain-free diet as sugars and grains will worsen the effects of cortisol on the body. The food should also be low in carbohydrates as the body can turn carbs into sugars as well. Because dry dog food is full of either grain or carbohydrates or both, the dog should eat real food – cooked or raw.
About the Author
Based in Wilsonville, Ore., animal lover Kristina N. Lotz is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and works as a full time trainer. She is the founder of, A Fairytail House, a unique all-positive all-sport dog training facility that helps rescue dogs in her area and provides free seminars and training classes for the community. In her spare time, she trains and competes in herding, agility, obedience, rally, and conformation with her Shetland Sheepdogs. She smartly married a Veterinary Technician, who helps keep the fur kids happy and healthy, and provides a quick resource for articles.
Toledo, United States.
