How Can I Identify Cushing Syndrome in Dogs? | Prevent it or Treat it? 2023

What is Cushing’s Disease in Dogs?

Cushing’s disease is triggered when the pituitary or adrenal glands produce excessive cortisol levels. If your dog is 6 years or older, he has an increased risk of being afflicted with Cushing’s compared to younger dogs.

The overproduction of cortisol hormones during a dog's Cushing's disease can be set off by two distinct grounds. This can be caused by adrenal tumors (adrenal-dependent) or some imbalance in the pituitary gland (pituitary-dependent) like pituitary tumor.  

Additionally, adrenal and pituitary tumors that can cause Cushing's disease can be detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is also crucial to remember that untreated Cushing's disease in dogs can be fatal!

How is Cushing's Disease Diagnosed?

The most common way of diagnosing Cushing's disease in dogs is through the conduct of blood tests. Besides determining if the disease is caused by the adrenal glands or by pituitary tumors, blood tests can also help pinpoint if the problem is caused by the excessive use of steroids like in the case of iatrogenic Cushing's disease.

ACTH stimulation tests

The specific blood test performed to diagnose Cushing's disease in dogs is the Adrenocorticotropin Hormone or ACTH stimulation test. These tests are also referred to as "adrenal function tests."

As the name implies, adrenal function tests primarily utilize the hormone ACTH to check if there is really an excessive production of cortisol in a dog's adrenal gland or if there is a case of pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease in dogs.

Low dose dexamethasone suppression

Another test to confirm Cushing's disease in dogs is the low-dose dexamethasone suppression or LDDS test. It makes use of urine culture to monitor how the adrenal glands produce cortisol within a fixed timeframe. Follow-up blood tests may also be required.

It is crucial to take note that dogs Cushing's disease can be triggered by either benign or malignant tumor. Make sure you have your pet checked for this health problem as soon as you observe the clinical signs.

What Causes Cushing's Disease?

Cushing's disease in dogs can either be pituitary-dependent (caused by a serious health condition like pituitary gland tumors) or triggered by some issue in a dog's adrenal glands. Let's examine them in detail:

Adrenal gland tumor

A dog's adrenal glands just sit above the kidneys. When these produce and store excessive levels of cortisol, adrenal-dependent Cushing's disease sets in and will make your pet vulnerable to health problems like recurrent skin infections, gallbladder disease, high blood pressure and gastrointestinal disease.

Pituitary gland tumor

The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland located at the brain's base. Most dogs Cushing's disease is caused by pituitary issues, technically referred to as pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease. A surgical removal of the entire tumor is required in this scenario.

Under these circumstances, your pet could be prone to urinary tract infections, elevated liver enzymes, damage to abdominal organs, chronic inflammatory liver disease and even major abdominal surgery in some cases.

Excessive steroid use

Too much steroids can already affect dogs' normal health. This type of Cushing's disease in dogs is called Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome. It isn't triggered by pituitary tumor or adrenal tumors. Iatrogenic Cushing's disease can be deemed as one of the few medication side effects of steroids and treatment requires gradual discontinuation of the same.

What are Your Pet's Symptoms of Cushing's Disease in Dogs?

The most common symptoms are:

• Fur loss
• Swollen belly
• Increased appetite
• Increase drinking
• Increased urination
• Tendency to bruise easily
• Blood clots due to high blood pressure

Less common symptoms are:

• Weakness
• Decreased appetite
• Difficulty breathing or panting
• Abnormal walking
• Adrenal tumor (specific to adrenal-dependent)
• Enlarged liver
• Adverse neurological symptoms caused by medication treatments

Does Cushing's Disease Have to Do With the Adrenal Glands or Pituitary Gland?

Cushing’s can be the result of medications given to treat other problems. Dogs that are given too much prednisone, dexamethasone, prednisolone, or similar drugs to regain normal health can develop signs of this disease.

Unfortunately, some dogs naturally overproduce the cortisol hormone in their bodies. Since this hormone weakens the immune system, they are more prone to catching any passing bacterial infection quickly.

This also tends to complicate the identification process. Your vet may keep treating the different symptoms and infections without realizing that the cause is Cushing’s disease.

This means added stress, money, and grief for you before getting satisfying relief for your poor pet!