Learn How To Protect Your Dogs From Cushing's Disease

It’s hard to consider the fact that your dogs can be affected by diseases no matter what you do. Even so, it is important to be as informed as you can, so that you can take necessary precautions for your beloved pets.

Cushing’s Disease is an ailment that’s caused by an overproduction of cortisol. The hormone itself isn’t a bad thing – it is necessary for your dog’s physical and mental wellbeing. However, when your dog’s adrenal glands start to malfunction, they create too much cortisol. This can be dangerous.

Hormone imbalance in just about any creature is a great way to cause problems, and in dogs it’s no exception. Cushing’s Disease tends to target certain dog breeds – and often, it does so suddenly and quickly. Here’s a list of symptoms that should get you moving as soon as it appears.

• Lethargy
• Excessive eating
• Excessive drinking and urination
• Urinary incontinence or nighttime urination
• Increased panting
• White, scaly patches on the skin that feel hard
• Hair loss
• Pot-bellied stomach
• Fat deposits on shoulders and neck

Of course, just catching onto these symptoms alone isn’t quite enough. You’ll have to actually get several lab tests done to check if this really is Cushing’s Disease. Unfortunately, there’s no single test that can determine the disease – vets will have to cross-reference multiple reports to make a diagnosis.

Thankfully, treatment isn’t too difficult. Depending on what’s causing it, your dog may only need medication. If tumors are involved, surgery might be necessary – but afterward, your dog should be right as rain once more!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay