google-site-verification: googledc83aeb21012e5dc.html
Canine Cushings Disease in dogs is a subject that strikes home for me. My 17-year old poodle has recently been diagnosed with Canine Cushings disease after a routine blood test showed her liver enzyme levels had gone haywire. She also had many of the classic symptoms of Canine Cushings Disease in dogs which will be explained further in this page.
The medications for Canine Cushings Disease in dogs can be very expensive and have some side-effects. I therefore decided to try to treat her using some natural methods. I have been using Cushex for Cushing's Disease and this seems to have stabilized her symptoms. Cushex works on the adrenal system of an animal, the main area of the body affected by Canine Cushings Disease. |
Cushings Disease in dogs is a disease pattern where there is too much cortisol in a dog's body. Canine Cushings Disease can be caused by drugs such as prednisone, depo-medrol, betamethasone, or dexamethasone, which are commonly prescribed for other disease situations. When Canine Cushings Disease is caused by drugs, it is known as iatrogenic Cushing's Syndrome. It can also be caused by the body producing too much cortisone, almost always the result of either a pituitary or adrenal tumor.
Latrogenic Cushing's Disease is a result of giving the animal steroid drugs that are aimed at reducing the body's own cortisol production. The symptoms from this form of the disease are similar to those of regular Canine Cushings Disease. One side-effect of using these drugs is that the dog can become dependent on the drug, and an sudden withdrawl can lead to symptoms similar to those caused by a lack of cortisol including depression, lethargy, diarrhea, and vomiting. It is for these reasons that it is recommended that the use of steroids on a ongoing basis should be avoided in all but the most extreme, life-threatening circumstances.
Pituitary Dependent Cushing's Disease is caused by a tumor situated on the pituitary gland that stimulates the excess production of cortisol from the adrenal glands. Though the tumor is usually very small and benign, if it grows large enough, it can create pressure on the nerves to the eyes and in certain areas of the brain, causing lack of appetite, behavior changes, and even blindness, along with the other usual symptoms of Canine Cushings disease. Pituitary dependent Cushing's disease is responsible for about 85% of spontaneous Cushings disease in dogs.
Adrenal tumors can be either benign, called adenomas, or malignant, known as carcinomas. Adrenal tumors cause the excess production of cortisol that is separate from the normal mechanisms regulated within the body. Adrenal tumors account for about 15% of instances of Canine Cushings disease in dogs.
How is Canine Cushings Disease Diagnosed?Often it is a routine blood and urinalysis tests that first finds the signs of Cushing's. This is exactly how I discovered my own dog's Canine Cushings Disease. The vet looks for increases in certain liver enzymes, a significant increase in serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP), a mildly increased ALT,GGT due to liver "swelling", and an increase in the animal's white blood cell count. They also check for an elevated neutrophil count (these are the cells that fight infections) and a decreased lymphocyte count (these are the cells that produce antibodies) and decreased eosinophil count (cells that cause allergies) and the amount of creatinine in the urine. There are also several other specialized tests your vet may recommend, including:
You should weigh each test option carefully with your vet to decide which will be the most useful and which you can afford. |
|
Cushings disease in dogs can be treated effectively through a variety of methods. Below I've outlined the most effective conventional treatments for the three known causes of Canine Cushing's Disease:
Iatrogenic Cushings Disease in dogs is caused by the influence of steroid use in dogs over a long period of time. Most commonly, these steroid medications are given to dogs to treat allergies. In addressing Cushing's caused by steroid drugs, it is important to withdraw the animal off the steroids gradually over a period of weeks or months rather than all at once. This gives the body a chance to re-adjust to the change and begin producing cortisol on its own again. Frankly, though allergies can be difficult for animals, I don't think the risk of contracting Canine Cushings disease through these medications is worth reducing your dog's allergy symptoms.
Though it would seem that perhaps surgery to remove an abnormal pituitary gland or tumor on the gland would make sense in addressing Canine Cushings disease in dogs, attempts have not been very effective thus far. There are certain traits in the anatomy of a dog's head that makes surgery in this area difficult and can lead to permanent hypothyroidism.
Drug therapy is the more common approach in treating pituitary-based Cushings disease in canines. The most common of these drugs is Lysodren. Lysodren destroys the adrenal cells that produce cortisol, thus eliminating the primary source of excess cortisol production. This therapy is continued for the entire life of the dog. In the initial phase, a daily dose of the drug is given for 5-14 days to quickly lower cortisol levels, eliminating the symptoms of the disease. In the next phase is a maintenance phase where the drug is given 1-2 times per week to keep the cortisol levels in check. As the disease begins to be controlled, there will be a reduction in symptoms leading to a decrease in water consumption, urination, and appetite. If too much of the drug is given, you will notice weakness, lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea in your dog. Fortunately, such complications are rare, especially when being followed closely by your veterinarian. Ongoing communication with your vet is absolutely necessary, as further routine tests will need to be done to insure the proper dose is being given.
L-Deprenyl is one of the more recent drugs used to treat pituitary dependent type of Canine Cushings disease. It works by blocking the monoamine oxidase type B enzyme while at the same time enhancing dopamine levels. After treatment with this medication, many pet owners report that the activity level of their pet increases and their excessive need for water decreases. Therapy with L-Deprenyl is a lifelong treatment and is fairly expensive.
Ketoconazole has been used to treat Cushing's disease in dogs in the past. This is an anti-fungal drug that blocks the formation of steroid hormones. It is a rather expensive therapy and not all dogs can benefit or show improvement using this drug.
Macroadenomas are large pituitary tumors that can cause blindness, behavior changes and other neurological symptoms. Canine Cushings Disease in dogs caused by such large tumors are best treated with radiation therapy to shrink the tumor.
In most cases, surgery is the usual course of treatment for adrenal tumors. Removal of a benign or even small malignant tumor often results in a cure.
Drug therapy for adrenal tumors has been used successfully in dogs where surgery is not an option. Lysodren can be given in increased dosages and for a longer period of time to treat adrenal tumors. Not all tumors respond, however, and their is an increased risk of overdose and side-effects using high doses of Lysodren. Ketoconazole has had some success in treating adrenal tumors. The overall cost can be prohibitive, however, when using this drug. It requires a lifelong treatment and your vet will have to perform frequent ongoing tests to adjust to a proper dosage.
Dogs usually respond quite positively to therapy and are able to resume their normal lives. There are often relapses in cases of pituitary-dependent Cushings disease in dogs, occurring in about half of the dogs with this form of Cushing's. This generally leads to a change in the maintenance dose or re-induction therapy. Successful treatment of Canine Cushings Disease can be enhanced with good owner observation and regular communication with the veterinarian. Surgery can cure many benign adrenal tumors and small malignant tumors. Barring any post-operative complications, dogs can survive for many more years even with invasive tumors.
Recently, two new drugs have become available to treat cushings disease in dogs. These include Anipryl and Vetoryl. Vetoryl is currently undergoing FDA approval for animals, but Anipryl is fully approved in the United States for treating cushings disease in dogs. Anipryl takes longer to take effect in animals, but has a very high effectiveness in the long run. Also, since Anipryl is not a chemotherapeutic drug, it has no adverse side effects. So you may want to consider it as a first choice for treating your dog's Canine Cushings Disease.