Cushing Syndrome in Dogs - Symptoms and Causes

Author: Peter Berry
Date Of Creation: 13 February 2021
Update Date: 26 September 2024
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Dog Cushings Disease. Dr. Dan covers symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Cushing’s disease
Video: Dog Cushings Disease. Dr. Dan covers symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Cushing’s disease

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Dogs have shared their lives with us for thousands of years. More and more we have furry friends in our homes, or even more than one, with whom we want to share everything. However, we need to be consistent and realize the responsibility that comes with relating to an animal that, as a living being, has its rights. We must not only care for and feed him, but also meet all his physical and psychological needs, both puppies and adults and seniors.

Certainly, if you are a happy and responsible companion for your dog, you are already informed about the most common ailments of dogs. In this new PeritoAnimal article, we will bring information about the Cushing's Syndrome in Dogs - Symptoms and Causes, in addition to offering more related information. Read on to learn how this syndrome affects our furry friends and what to do about it.


What is Cushing Syndrome?

Cushing's syndrome is also known as hyperadrenocorticism, and it is a endocrine disease (hormonal), which occurs when the body produces high levels of the hormone cortisol chronically. Cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands, located near the kidneys.

An adequate level of cortisol helps us so that our bodies respond in a normal way to stress, helps to balance body weight, to have good tissue and skin structure, etc. On the other hand, when the body experiences an increase in cortisol and there is an overproduction of this hormone, the immune system is weakened, and the body is exposed to possible infections and diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. This hormone in excess can also damage many different organs, significantly reducing the vitality and quality of life of the animal that suffers from this syndrome.


Furthermore, the symptoms are easily confused with those caused by normal aging. This is why many puppies are not diagnosed with cushing syndrome, as the symptoms go unnoticed by some older puppies' guardians. It is vital to detect the symptoms as soon as possible and carry out all possible tests to diagnose the origin of the cushing syndrome and treat it as soon as possible.

Cushing syndrome in dogs: causes

There is more than one origin or cause of cushing syndrome in dogs. Specifically, there are three possible causes that can cause cortisol overproduction:


  • Malfunction of the pituitary or pituitary gland;
  • Malfunction of the adrenal or adrenal glands;
  • Iatrogenic origin, which occurs secondarily due to treatment with glucocorticoids, corticosteroids and drugs with progesterone and derivatives, to treat certain diseases in dogs.

As we've already mentioned, the adrenal glands produce the hormone cortisol, so a problem in these glands can trigger a cushing syndrome. However, the adrenal glands are, in turn, controlled by the hormone that is secreted by the pituitary or pituitary gland, located in the brain. Thus, a problem in the pituitary can also cause cortisol levels to run out of control. Finally, there are glucocorticoids and other medications that are used to treat certain diseases in dogs, but if misused, for example in contraindicated states or in very high amounts and periods, they can end up producing cushing syndrome, as they alter production of cortisol.

It can be said that the most common origin of cushing syndrome, or hyperadrenocorticism, among 80-85% of cases is usually a tumor or hypertrophy in the pituitary, which secretes a high amount of the ACTH hormone, responsible for making the adrenals produce more cortisol than normal. Another less frequent way, between 15-20% of cases occur in the adrenal glands, usually due to a tumor or hyperplasia. Iatrogenic origin is much less frequent.

It is vitally important that the cause of cushing syndrome in dogs is detected as soon as possible. Of course, a specialist veterinarian must do this by performing several tests and prescribing the most appropriate treatment that will completely depend on the cause or origin of the cushing syndrome in dogs.

Cushing syndrome symptoms

Many of the visible symptoms can be confused with typical old age symptoms in dogs. and because of this, many people do not realize that the signs and symptoms that their faithful friend presents are due to an abnormality in the production of cortisol, or Cushing's syndrome. As the disease tends to develop slowly, symptoms appear little by little, and it may take months or even years for all of them to appear. Keep in mind that not all dogs respond in the same way to increased cortisol, so it's quite possible that not all dogs show the same symptoms.

Although there are others, the symptoms mmost frequent symptoms of cushing syndrome are as follows:

  • Increased thirst and urination
  • Increased appetite
  • Skin problems and diseases
  • Alopecia
  • Skin hyperpigmentation
  • poor hair quality
  • Frequent gasps;
  • muscle weakness and atrophy
  • Lethargy
  • Obesity located in the abdomen (swollen belly)
  • Increased liver size
  • recurrent skin infections
  • In advanced cases of pituitary origin, neurological changes occur
  • Changes in the reproductive cycle of females
  • Testicular atrophy in males

Sometimes, the most direct way of realizing that it is cushing syndrome is not the symptoms, but when the veterinarian detects a secondary disease produced by the syndrome, such as diabetes mellitus, secondary hypothyroidism, nervous and behavioral changes , among other possibilities.

Cushing syndrome: predisposition in some dogs

This abnormality in the functioning of the adrenal glands that causes an overproduction of cortisol is more frequent in adult dogs than in young ones, usually occurring from 6 years and especially in puppies over 10 years. It can also affect dogs that experience stress episodes from some other type of problem or related conditions. There seems to be evidence to think that the most frequent cases of Cushing's syndrome originating from the pituitary occur in dogs weighing less than 20 kg, while cases of adrenal origin are more frequent in dogs weighing more than 20 kg, although the adrenal type also occurs in small size puppies.

Although the dog's sex does not influence the appearance of this hormonal syndrome, the breed does seem to have some influence. These are some of the breeds most likely to suffer from cushing syndrome, according to the source of the problem:

Cushing syndrome: origin in the pituitary:

  • Daschshund;
  • Poodle;
  • Boston terriers;
  • Miniature Schnauzer;
  • Maltese Bichon;
  • Bobtail.

Cushing syndrome: origin in the adrenal glands:

  • Yorkshire terrier;
  • Dachshund;
  • Miniature Poodle;
  • German Shepherd.

Cushing syndrome: iatrogenic origin due to contraindicated or excessive administration of glucocorticoids and other medications:

  • Boxer;
  • Pastor of the Pyrenees;
  • Labrador retriever;
  • Poodle.

Cushing syndrome: diagnosis and treatment

It is very important that if we detect any of the symptoms discussed in the previous section, even though they may seem like old age, we go to a trusted veterinarian to carry out any examinations he deems necessary to rule out or diagnose cushing syndrome in our hairy and indicate the best solution and treatment.

The veterinarian should take several exams, such as blood tests, urine tests, skin biopsies in areas that show changes, X-rays, ultrasounds, specific tests to measure the concentration of cortisol in the blood and, if you suspect of origin in the pituitary, you should also do CT and MRI.

The veterinarian should prescribe the most suitable treatment for cushing syndrome, which will depend completelyof origin that the syndrome will have in every dog. Treatment can be pharmacological for life or until the dog can undergo surgery to regulate cortisol levels. Treatment can also be directly surgical to remove the tumor or solve the problem presented in the glands, either in the adrenal or pituitary. Treatment based on chemotherapy or radiation therapy can also be considered if the tumors are not operable. On the other hand, if the cause of the syndrome is of iatrogenic origin, it is enough to stop the medication of the other treatment that is being administered and that is causing the cushing syndrome.

It is necessary to consider many other parameters of the dog's health and the possibilities in each case to decide whether it is better to follow one treatment or another. Also, we will have to carry out periodic visits to the veterinarian to control cortisol levels and adjust medication if necessary, as well as to control the post-operative process.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.