Causes of Cushing’s DiseaseĬushing’s disease is a naturally occurring syndrome, but it can also be caused by administering excessive amounts of prednisone or dexamethasone for prolonged periods. Obesity and lack of energy are also symptoms.īecause it takes time - at least one year - for these symptoms to develop, and because the symptoms are often mistaken for common signs of aging, many dogs have the advanced form of CD before the owner even recognizes a problem exists. Owners might notice a thinning of the skin, lesions on the skin, and hair loss on the flanks, neck, and perineum. As the disease progresses, dogs lose muscle and become weak. The disease causes extreme thirst, so a dog with CD tends to drink tremendous amounts of water and urinate frequently. Often owners report that their first clue that something might have been wrong was their dog wanting to go out at night to urinate. ![]() In a pet with CD, a tumor in the pituitary gland or, less commonly, in one of the adrenal glands, causes the cortex to release an excess amount of cortisol. The pituitary gland, a tiny gland found at the base of the brain, releases adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), which in turn tells the adrenal glands to release cortisol, also called glucocorticoids. These two peanut-sized glands, situated in front of the kidneys, produce hormones to help the body perform essential functions. Cortisol is controlled by the adrenal cortex, located on the outer layer of adrenal glands. You may have heard of the stress hormone cortisol and the associated “fight or flight” response. Treatment is expensive and ongoing, and it requires consistent monitoring. This condition, usually caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland, is far more common than we realize, but because of the complex diagnostic testing required, it’s underdiagnosed. One cause your veterinarian may test for is Cushing’s disease (CD), also known as hyperadrenocorticism. If your older dog is drinking and urinating more than usual, it could be caused by a variety of reasons.
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