Cushing’s Disease
Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s Disease)
Cushing’s Disease is most commonly seen in older dogs but can be seen in younger dogs as well. Basically, what happens with this disease is the body begins to overproduce the hormone cortisol, either due to a tumor in the pituitary gland or in one/both of the adrenal glands. Some common signs of Cushing’s disease are:
- pot-bellied appearance
- excessive water consumption
- excessive urination
- excessive appetite
- symmetrically thinning coat mostly on body
- easily bruised skin
- exercise intolerance
- excessive panting
- urinary accidents in house-trained dogs
There are two types of Cushing’s Disease: pituitary-dependent (accounting for about 85% of cases) and adrenal-dependent (accounting for about 15% of cases). For more in depth information on how this disease effects the body, please visit the following links.
