Cushing’s Disease in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Cushing’s disease is a debilitating syndrome in dogs that has a few different names. It’s also known as hyperadrenocorticism and Cushing’s syndrome. Whatever the title, this chronic health condition can easily go unnoticed, despite being life threatening in some cases.

Being a pet parent is a beautiful blessing and being the best pet parent means looking out for our furbaby’s quality of life. Your pet can’t say “Mum, I think I’ve got Cushing’s disease”. So, it’s important to understand what symptoms mean trouble – because an affected dog is likely looking at a much shorter life expectancy.

In this article we’re going to have an in-depth look at Cushing’s disease. We’ll go over what exactly it is, the symptoms and what you can do to help your doggo avoid it.

What is hyperadrenocorticism?

Also known as hyperadrenocorticism (and just by reading that you can see why they chose to give it an easier name), Cushing’s disease is a syndrome that causes a dog’s adrenal glands to overproduce cortisol (or cortisone).

It’s more commonly found in dogs once they get older and can cause several serious conditions and illnesses. This can stem from kidney damage to diabetes and it’s often life threatening.

Cortisol is a naturally produced steroid that’s also called “the stress hormone”. Certain levels of this are necessary to aid in functions of the immune system. However, when these levels rise it causes an imbalance of hormone regulation within the body and that’s where the problem lies.

What causes Cushing’s disease?

So, we now know what hyperadrenocorticism aka Cushing’s disease is, but what causes this overproduction of cortisol?

There are two causes for Cushing’s disease. The first, and most common, cause is a tumour in the pituitary gland. Interestingly enough it can be benign or malignant. The pituitary gland is a tiny, pea-sized gland at the base of the dog’s brain.

“This is a really small little gland that sits at the base of your brain and sends out messages to other hormone producing organs, and in particular the adrenal glands, and tells them to produce hormone based on other factors in the body.”

– Dr Cath Watson, Chair of Healthy Pets NZ

In some, less common, cases hyperadrenocorticism can be caused by a tumour found on the adrenal glands or on top of the kidneys. It can also occur if your fur kid is receiving high doses of steroids as a treatment for a different condition.

What are the first signs of Cushing’s disease in dogs?

This is a good question, because it’s exactly what makes Cushing’s disease in dogs tricky to spot as a pet parent. In dogs, hyperadrenocorticism can and often will go unnoticed as it progresses very gradually. You may mistake the symptoms of Cushing’s disease with signs of aging.

“The symptoms of Cushing’s disease are very similar to sugar diabetes. Basically, they drink a lot of water, they pee a lot as a result and often can’t hold on through the night.”

– Dr Cath Watson, Chair of Healthy Pets NZ

What also makes it tricky is that because cortisol is used for many different functions within the body, it can affect pups differently. So, you likely won’t see all the symptoms in one pet. We recommend that if you see any you should consult your vet.

Most common symptoms

The most common symptoms of Cushing’s disease are:

• Increased appetite
• Heightened thirst or excessive drinking
• Increased urination
• Decreased activity
• Hair loss
• Thinning of skin
• Swollen or enlarged abdomen (often called pot-belly)
• Increased panting
• Loss of muscle tone

If you’re wondering if there are other reasons why your dog’s not eating, read this.

Dr Cath also explains that Cushing’s syndrome in dogs means, “they’re really prone to skin infections – like calcium nodules, flaky/greasy skin, muscle weakness and other infections like urinary tract infections.”

Diagnosing Cushing’s disease

If you suspect Cushing’s disease, or notice signs that your dog is unwell, your vet will perform a few tests. This will often include a physical exam, urinalysis and a blood test.

There are many other tests they may elect to choose from, depending on the symptoms. This can include adrenal function tests – although these can result in false positives when a similar disease is present. Your vet may do adrenal low dose testing and high dose dexamethasone suppression tests too.

They might also elect to do an ultrasound to rule out some other possible conditions such as tumours or bladder stones.

Unfortunately, the most effective tool for testing for Cushing’s disease is the most costly. Doing an MRI allows the vet to assess the adrenal glands accurately. Watch the PD Pet Care Vlog for more insights on Cushing’s disease from Dr Cath Watson:

How do you treat Cushing’s in dogs?

Is Cushing’s disease treatable? Yes, though there’s a catch. Cushing’s disease can be treated, but in most cases it can’t be cured. Depending on what’s causing the Cushing’s disease in your pup, there are different treatments:

• Medication. In most cases cortisol production is kept in check with daily tablets. This will also help to keep their hormone levels balanced. As these prescriptions are lowering your furbaby’s cortisol production, you should keep a close eye on them. Check for signs of weakness, vomiting or diarrhoea. If you notice any of these symptoms it’s probably that the medication has lowered or suppressed their cortisol levels too much.

• Surgery. Your vet may, in some instances of adrenal-dependent Cushing’s disease, recommend surgery to remove the tumour. If you pup is on steroid treatment for another condition, definitely discuss that before lowering or stopping it. Stopping steroid treatments too suddenly can come with severe side effects.

• Management. On a lighter note, Cushing’s is not always so severe. It may not require treatment immediately; just ensure you have regular vet check-ups to make sure it stays under control. And it won’t hurt to make sure your furball has great gut health!

How much does it cost to treat a dog with Cushing’s disease?

Because of the multiple factors that may cause Cushing’s syndrome in dogs as well as multiple diagnostic or treatment avenues, there’s no set figure that can be applied to treating it.

“It’s a relatively common disease that can be a little awkward sometimes to diagnose though can be pretty straightforward to treat, but can be costly and is a good reason to have pet insurance.”

– Dr Cath Watson, Chair of Healthy Pets NZ

Sometimes the costs of treating or managing Cushing’s syndrome in dogs are indirect. For example, if your pup is peeing around the house, then the costs may involve additional measures to keep the house sterile.

Pet insurance – get it before you need it

We know you love your pup. Why else would you be here? Part of being a responsible pet parent is ensuring you have financial cover in case of an accident or if you find a medical condition like Cushing’s disease. Last year, our highest claim for Cushing’s disease in dogs came to $1,488.

You should be covered if you take out pet insurance before it’s diagnosed (pre-existing conditions aren’t covered). Our dog insurance will give you the peace of mind that you can afford treatment for your fluffball if something goes wrong. And, when you buy a pawlicy, we’ll give you one or more months of FREE award winning pet insurance.

Click below to get a hassle free quote.