The Stages of Cushing's Disease

While Cushing's disease in pets is a serious disease, the alterations it makes can be rather subtle in the earlier phases. A lot of pet owners do not distinguish the signals and symptoms of Cushing's disease in their pet, instead believing the animal is naturally aging rather than experiencing changes induced by the disease. As an owner, it is crucial to acquire an immediate diagnosis for this disease because stricken animals can have a normal, productive life with professional treatment.

Cause of Cushing's Disease

• When the tissues of the body are exposed for long periods of time to cortisol, the hormone, Cushing's disease is the result. The disease gets it name from the doctor who first discovered the affliction, Harvey Cushing. The medical terminologies for the disease are "hyperadrenocorticism" or "hypercortisolemia." The adrenal glands, which are by the kidneys of a dog, produce cortisol. Cortisol has many responsibilities in the body. Cortisol aids in keeping blood pressure stabilized, decelerating the immune system's inflammatory reaction, equalizing the insulin effects of energy by breaking down of sugar and modulating the use of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Adrenal Glands

• Cortisol created by adrenal glands is perfectly balanced in the animal's body, because it is very important to sustain normal health. The pituitary gland, located in the brain, makes hormones that control the manufacturing of cortisol. The adrenal glands are triggered by these hormones from the pituitary gland. The adrenal glands, in reaction, make cortisol in the body. When your pet experiences times of high stress activity, cortisol is made, thus in Cushing's disease, cortisol levels in the blood system are abnormally high.

Beginning Stages of Cushing's Disease

• Signs and symptoms of Cushing's disease will vary from animal to animal. Early signs of Cushing's disease in dogs are the need to drink water excessively in addition to getting up in the middle of the night just to urinate. As the illness develops further, the afflicted dog will display an increasing appetite as well as weight gain. In later stages of the disease, the skin and coat of the dog will show alterations. The skin of the animal will become thin, causing it to injure easily. Injuries to the dog's skin will not heal very well. The dog's hair will come out in clumps plus the stomach area will develop stretch marks that are pink in color.

Later Stages of Cushing's Disease

• As the Cushing's disease continues to grow, the dog may develop problems walking normally because its muscles will become weak due to muscle dystrophy. The dog's stomach area will hang down and be noticeable due to liver inflammation that is caused by the storing of extra fat. Also, in the later stages of the disease, the immune system of the animal may malfunction due to excessive steroid hormones in the blood stream. This results in chronic infections and injuries that heal very slowly.

Diagnosing and Treatment

• For the disease to be properly diagnosed by a veterinarian, blood tests specific to the disease need to be undertaken as the disease can be difficult to diagnose. These specific tests measure cortisol levels in the blood system. One blood test is not sufficient though, as cortisol levels in the blood can change. A number of blood tests have to be run and the laboratory will have to carefully analyze the samples to confirm a diagnosis. Ultrasounds are also given to the dog to measure the adrenal glands. One adrenal gland will be larger due to the presence of a tumor in it, if this is the case. If both adrenal glands appear abnormally large, this points to a tumor in the brain. Mitotane, Selegilene and Trilostane are medications administered to treat Cushing's disease in dogs.