Hyper Adreno Corticism (HAD) “Cushing’s disease”
Cushing’s Disease is one of the most common hormonal (endocrine) diseases of older dogs.
It results in the body making too much cortisol – the “stress hormone” of the body which causes a weakened immune system and damage to many tissues in the body.
Signs can include
- Tendency to gain weight, often a “pot bellied” look
- Excessive thirst and/or hunger
- Excessive urination
- Puffing and panting
- Thin skin
- Hair loss, often over the sides of the rump
- Recurrent skin (and other) infections
Internal damage can include
- Weakening of muscles and connective tissues
- Fatty deposits in the liver
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Eye damage which can lead to sudden blindness
The cause of the overproduction is usually a tumour either in the brain (pituitary tumour) or in one of the adrenal glands (located above the kidney). These tumours are *usually* benign (they don’t spread to other organs). Patients may be sent for scans of the brain and abdomen to investigate this further.
Testing and ongoing management of HAD is costly. If the vet suspects HAD, we will usually do a complete blood count and biochemistry profile (approx. $300). However, this alone cannot diagnose HAD and further testing is required. We do ACTH stimulation tests (approx. $700) and/or LDDST testing to diagnose the disease.
Treatment is typically in the form of Vetoryl® (Trilostane) tablets and improvement of symptoms expected within the first 1-2 weeks. Careful monitoring of the patient is required with visits and ongoing blood tests to ensure that dosing is correct.
This is a lifetime management disease, not a disease that is cured, but with well managed treatment a good quality of life is achieved.