There are three possible causes of Cushing's Syndrome, each with different treatment and prognosis:. Your veterinarian may perform 2 types of blood tests, which will usually be enough to make a diagnosis:. It is necessary to determine if Cushing's syndrome was caused by a growth on the pituitary gland or on the adrenal gland because the treatments and prognoses differ. Pet Assure is the largest veterinary network in the U. Pet Assure powers DVM Network, a brand built to support our participating veterinary professionals and help them grow their practice.
Visit www. If the adrenals are within normal limits, they will respond to the stimulation of the ACTH and the post cortisol level will be increased. In an Addison's patient, the adrenals are incapable of responding to even a supraphysiologic dose and post ACTH cortisol levels will be flat as with the pre level.
Salient points of the ACTH stimulation test are listed in table 1. Dexamethasone administered during a crisis situation will not cross react with the assay. However, long term administration of ANY steroid will blunt the adrenal response. Replacement of glucocorticoids is the hallmark of the management of Addison's disease.
Additionally, mineralocorticoid deficiency must be addressed in all dogs with typical Addison's. The most common treatment options for Addison's disease are listed in table 2, along with pro's and con's of each. It should be noted, that a very small minority of dogs treated with DOCP may not need prednisone as listed, however, this is uncommon.
Prognosis for dogs with typical Addison's disease is excellent if they have committed owners willing to deal with the initial titration phase and vigiliantly monitor their pets. Cushing's syndrome is the opposite of Addison's: it is an excess of cortisol. However, other levels of the adrenal cortex are usually not significantly affected, therefore, electrolytes are normal. The excess cortisol is either the result of a functional adrenal tumor primary Cushing's or a functional pituitary tumor secondary Cushing's: pituitaty dependant, or PDH resulting in an excess of ACTH.
This causes bilateral adrenal enlargement in contrast to primary Cushing's syndrome, when only the affected adrenal is enlarged. Several options are available for diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. As with all tests, it is important to test only a suspect population or many false positives will emerge. Normal dogs can have abnormal tests for Cushing's, therefore, only animals showing clinical signs associated with Cushing's should be tested.
The natural response of the body to stress is to increase secretion of cortisol, therefore, in animals with poorly controlled or undiagnosed concurrent illnesses, false positives are common. The average age at diagnosis is about 4 years old. When a pet is stressed, its adrenal glands produce more cortisol, which helps them deal with the stress.
Routine laboratory tests often show low blood sodium and high blood potassium. Increased blood potassium can cause life-threatening abnormalities in the heart rhythm. It is very important that owners do not try to adjust the medication or change brands without consulting with their veterinarian, as this could lead to another hormonal imbalance. This helps your veterinarian find the right dosage for your dog. After that, expect to bring your dog in once a month for a shot of replacement hormones, and make sure you follow any additional medication protocols that your veterinarian may prescribe.
The exception to this is a medication-induced Addisonian crisis. This article is not intended as a replacement for veterinary advice. AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale. Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration.
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