Cushings Disease in Dogs
What is Cushing Disease?
Hyperadrenocorticism is one of the most common hormonal disorders in middle-aged to older dogs.
The disorder, also known as Cushing’s Disease, is caused by the harmful effects of high cortisol concentrations on many organs in the body.
Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, which are located near the kidneys.
Most cases of hyperadrenocorticism are caused by enlargement of the adrenal cortex. The enlargement may be caused by tumours of the adrenal gland that produce adrenal hormones (15% of cases) or of the pituitary gland (located in the brain) that produce excessive ACTH, a hormone which stimulates the adrenal gland to produce corticosteroids - this form of the disease is referred to as pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and accounts for around 85% of cases. The tumours can be benign or malignant (cancerous).
The signs of hyperadrenocorticism can also be produced by the long-term, daily administration of large doses of corticosteroids.
Symptoms that may indicate Cushings Disease:
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- Excessive urination (polyuria)
- Excessive thirst (polydipsia)
- Increased appetite
- Pot-bellied or bloated appearance (pendulous abdomen)
- Hair loss (alopecia) - usually symmetrical
- Rough coat
- Thin, fragile skin
- Increased skin pigmentation
- Calcified lumps in the skin
- Enlarged liver
- Panting
- Lethargy
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle atrophy
- Lack of oestrous cycles in intact females
- Testicular atrophy
- Facial nerve paralysis
Heal with Ease has worked with a number of clients with ‘Cushings Disease’. Really it is just a label and when working with homeopathy we work with the body as a holistic being taking in all the symptoms, plus any other factors, like environment, emotional and mental stresses like rehoming, surgery, grief.
If you have a dog with the above symptoms then if you want go to the vet and a diagnosis but it isn’t necessary for the work we do here. As mentioned above the name is only a label and doesn’t deal with the body in a holistic way, nor does it give a solution to the problem. Using homeopathic medicine we can assist you to lift the symptoms and the underlying cause of the problem.
Our Personalised Healing Plans are the best option for animals showing the serious symptoms above. Please email us at healwithease@bigpond.com and we will answer any questions you may have.