Cushing's Disease in Dogs

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Cushing’s disease in dog is one of the significant diseases encountered in case of dogs. In these conditions, there is always increased secretion of the hormone called cortisone. Hence, this condition is otherwise called as hyperadrenalcorticism.

Leg weakness is associated with the Cushing’s disease in dog. The affected dogs may be having hair loss on the flank regions and the skin may be seen remarkably thin in the affected dogs. However, the hair material on the leg and head may look normal.

The connective tissue adhering the joints will get loosened due to the deranged hormonal status and hence, limping is seen in Cushing’s disease. Dog with this kind of problem may be seen dull and may not take normal food, some times.

Weakness of the muscles, and limbs ultimately produce lethargic status in the affected dogs and finally the dog may have the imbalance in the nutritional status. Some times, there may be mineralization of nodules within the skin. Dog with this condition however appears dull for the owners.

Diagnosis of Cushing’s Disease in Dogs
The Cushing’s disease in dog often is diagnosed by the blood examination for the presence of various specific metabolites. For example, serum level of alkaline phosphatase, alanine amino transferase, cholesterol and glucose gets abnormally elevated in these cases.

Hence, whenever, such enhanced values are seen in the concerned dogs, go for other confirmatory test like dexamethasone suppression test and ACTH stimulation test.

Treatment of Cushing’s disease in dogs
Usage of compound like lysodren will be of helpful in the affected animals with Cushing’s disease. Dog will have reduced cortisone level due to the suppression of cortex layer of the adrenal gland by lysodren.

Anipril is one of the recently formulated drugs used for the treatment of Cushing’s disease in dog. However, the appearance of the dog in good condition reflects the treatment response of the dog. But, the drug effect takes very long time and many times, this may take months together to get the condition recovered.

Since the Cushing’s disease in dog often leads to the imbalance in the nutritional status of the dog though the animal may show the polyphagia.

The animal may be seen excessively begging for food materials and may be seen eating in a voracious manner inspite of the pathogenesis that is present due to the disease condition.

Prophylaxis of Cushing’s disease
The condition of the animal needs to be taken care of by providing the suitable nutritious food like leafy vegetables, shellfish, sardines, sesame seeds, avocada, psyllium seeds etc.

Most of the times, the liver parenchyma reveals the hyperechoic nodules are seen in majority of the liver parenchyma. Hence, in Cushing’s disease, dog often may have lethargic status in an increasing frequency.

GLOSSARY

POLYPHAGIA-the increased consumption of feed materials

REFERENCES

• Cushing's disease can trouble older dogs
• Cushing's Syndrome - Wikipedia Guide