This disease is known in the medical world as hyperadrenocorticism, which means an overproduction cortisol in the body. Cortisol is the stress hormone and the disease usually appears in dogs at the age of 6 years or older. There are certain dog breeds predisposed to this illness. These breeds are: german shepherd, poodles, daschunds, terriers, and golden retrievers. Types of Cushing's disease Cushing's disease is known in 3 types: pituitary tumor, adrenal tumor, and iatrogenic. Pituitary tumor ? a tumor in the pituitary gland appears and this stimulates the over production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. This type of Cushing's disease is the most common in canine patients. Adrenal tumor- the adrenal gland develops a tumor and this breaks the equilibrium and causes big amounts of cortisol to appear. This is not a very common type of Cushing's in dogs. Iatrogenic ? this type of disease develops when the patient has abused with the use of corticosteroids. The corticosteroids are used to treat different ailments such as arthritis, allergies, and various skin disorders. Because the blood is filled with corticosteroids the adrenal glands doesn't secrete cortisol and starts to decrease in size. Clinical symptoms of Cushing's: -the dog starts to eat a lot, drink and urinate in big quantities. -it looses fur. -the belly becomes pot like. -excessive panting. -the skin becomes thinner. -the skin bruises easily. -the dog is lethargic and weak. -bladder infections appear. Diagnosis of canine Cushing's: In order to detect this illness, the veterinarian has to conduct a physical examination, do blood and urine tests, and also ultrasound and x-ray. Further laboratory tests may be necessary in order to determine the type of Cushing's disease. Treatment of Cushing's disease in dogs This disease is treated with drugs. Mitotane is well known and used and it destroys parts of adrenal cortex that produce cortisol. The dog under treatment needs to be watched carefully but if complications don't appear, the dog should be able to live a long life on medication. Another treatment is surgery. This implies that a part of the adrenal gland is removed so that it produces less cortisol. If the extracted tumor is benign, the life expectancy of the dog is very high. But if the tumor is malignant and it spreads to other body parts, the prognosis is not good and the dog could die. The iatrogenic Cushing's disease type is often treated by discontinuing corticosteroid in a controlled manner. This is done by slowly reducing the corticosteroid medication levels and, after a while, terminating the treatment when the adrenal gland can work on its own. Be aware that no matter what the treatment is, the dog will suffer drug side effects. This is why it is better to also research natural treatment methods and help the dog get healthy again.
As we all know, animals can suffer from many of the same diseases that humans do. Conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and infections are as common in the animal kingdom as they are in the human patient. Since this is the case, often times you will at least be familiar with the disease from the get go. Unfortunately Cushing’s is not one of those diseases. In fact until they have a diagnosis, many patients don’t even know that it exists. But, exist it does, and if your pet is suffering from Cushing’s Disease, then its time for you to get some answers. Come with us as we take a look at Cushing’s Disease and some new alternatives to conventional treatments.
Cushing’s Disease occurs when your pet’s adrenal glands produce more than they need to. Having ultra high levels of these hormones in the blood stream can lead to some very serious symptoms. And to make things more fun, the symptoms aren’t necessarily the same from animal to animal. In other words, Cushing’s Disease does not manifest the same way in every animal. Symptoms can include everything from an increased need for water, and as a result increased urination, to panting, high blood pressure, hair loss, thinning of the skin, and small hard knots under the skin. If you notice any or all of these symptoms in your pet then it is time to make an appointment with your vet. And it needs to be sooner rather than later.
One good thing about Cushing’s Disease that we cannot claim for many other conditions is that we know what causes it. Cushing’s Disease is caused by one of two factors, taking corticosteroids or a tumor. If your pet is diagnosed with Cushing’s and is not taking corticosteroids, medications such as Prednisone, then it probably has a tumor on either one of the adrenal glands or on the pituitary gland.
If a medication is the issue, then you are in for some smooth sailing as weaning the animal off of the drug can often take care of the Cushing’s Disease. But, if a tumor is to blame then things get a bit more complicated. For this form of the disease you will need to work with your vet to find the best treatment regimen for your pet. Tumors found on one of the adrenal glands are often removed surgically, but this procedure poses some very high risks for your pet. If the tumor is on the pituitary gland then surgery usually isn’t an option. Instead your vet will try to treat the tumor through some very targeted drug therapy. The drugs are designed to kill off part of the adrenal gland and therefore lowering the production of corticosteroids. This approach is risky as well since killing off too much of the gland is very easy to do. If too much is eliminated, then your pet will suffer from producing to little corticosteroids instead of too much.
Now remember when we promised you a better way? For those pet owners out there who can keep an open mind there are other viable options. We recommend a more holistic approach that combines natural remedies with diet and vet intervention. If you can find the right balance for your pet, then you might just be able to avoid the harsh side effect of surgery and targeted drug treatment. We know that a natural approach might not be what comes to mind first, but it is a strong option that should never be discounted. If this sounds like something that would interest you, then check out PetAlive’s Cushex Drops. These drops are all-natural and have strong patient testimonials to back them up. They are available for purchase at www.pethealthymeds.com/page/1014579. At the very least you need to print out their information and take it with you to your next vet appointment. Go over all of your options together and then decide what is best for your pet.
For many of us the knee jerk reaction is to go with conventional treatment methods right off the bat. These are the options that we have heard of, and for some reason that gives us a measure of comfort. Well, just because you have heard of something doesn’t mean that it is the best, or only, option out there. Natural cures are becoming more and more popular due increased research and the fact that they work. If you can help to ease your pets suffering with out all of the harsh side effects brought on by modern medicine, then isn’t it worth a try? Especially since sometimes, it seems as though the side effects are worse than the disease itself. Take the time to explore your options, all of your options, and you just might be surprised at what you decide.
Both Cristian Stan & Michelle Reynolds are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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