Approved medications can help manage this disease
In dogs, Cushing's disease occurs naturally and is either pituitary-dependent or adrenal-dependent. |
Your nine-year old dog has been drinking a lot more lately and eating everything in sight. Plus, he's losing hair and has a pot-bellied appearance. A visit to the vet and some diagnostic tests confirm that he has hyperadrenocorticism, commonly known as Cushing's disease or Cushing's syndrome. Cushing's disease results when the body produces too much of a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is produced and stored by the adrenals, two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. "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. Cortisol also helps to fight infections and maintain proper body weight and condition. But too much cortisol weakens the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to other diseases and infections. Two Common Types In dogs, Cushing's disease occurs naturally and is either pituitary-dependent or adrenal-dependent. About 80% to 85% 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. The pituitary makes a number of hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). 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. In the other 15% to 20% of Cushing's dogs, a tumor in one or both adrenal glands produce excess cortisol. The type of Cushing's disease may determine what kind of treatment is prescribed. Veterinarians use blood tests to diagnose Cushing's and to differentiate between disease caused by the pituitary or the adrenals. They may also use an ultrasound to help detect a tumor on an adrenal gland. Treating Cushing's Disease Read More |
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