Cushing's Syndrome aka Hyperadrenocorticism
Cushing’s disease in dogs is a condition where excess levels of cortisol in
the bloodstream exists. Cushing's disease is also known as Cushings
Syndrome and is more common in older dogs. Cushings in dogs is often
misdiagnosed because symptoms resemble the normal aging process.
Cushings is also known as hyperadrenocorticism and is usually caused by either
tumors in the adrenal glands or tumors in the pituitary glands but sometimes is
caused by a vet administering too many corticosteroids.
Normal Endocrine Function. In a normal dog the pituitary gland produces
ACTH which stimulates the adrenal glands telling them to produce cortisol.
Cortisol is a vital hormone in the body which affects numerous bodily functions.
Causes of Canine Cushings Disease. Cushing’s disease is caused by
one of three sources. 1) Adrenal tumors 15% of the time. 2) Pituitary tumors 85%
of the time. And 3) by administering too many corticosteroids by the vet which are
usually given for allergy treatments.
Symptoms of Cushings in Dogs. Symptoms of Canine Cushings disease
include lethargy, weight gain, loss of hair, excessive water consumption,
excessive eating, excessive urination and even accidents in the house, excessive
panting, and diabetes. Another symptom can be a pot belly or drooping stomach.
Canine Cushing’s Treatment.
Surgery. With dog Cushings, the majority of tumors are located in the pituitary
glands and surgery is not performed at all on these tumors. Surgery is only
performed on adrenal gland tumors but even then it’s rare because of the high
risk.
Chemotherapy. Treatment of Cushing’s disease has historically been done by
chemotherapy through drugs such as Lysodren or Ketoconazole. Lysodren
actually destroys the outer cortex of the adrenal glands. This process must be
closely monitored because damage to the cortex can be permanent leading to
Addison’s disease. In either case, Cushing’s or Addisons, the dog will require
treatment for the remainder of their life. The goal with lysodren is to damage the
cortex just enough to slow down the production of glucocorticoid hormones.
Addison’s disease only occurs in about 5% of Lysodren treatment patients. But
more frequently, in about 1/3 of Lysodren patients, the dog will over-react to the
Lysodren by producing extremely low levels of cortisol causing loss of appetite,
vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness or even death. Death only occurs in about
1% of Cushings disease treatments using Lysodren.
New Holistic Treatment for Cushing’s Disease. A recent study by the
college of veterinary medicine, endocrinology lab, at the University of Tennessee
has revealed that melatonin along with Lignans can be very effective in the
treatment of Cushings disease. Lignans are found in the hulls of flaxseed and
the knots of spruce trees. Lignans are an all-natural way to treat Cushings and
are being recommended by more and more vets as knowledge of this study
spreads. There is no chance of getting Addisons disease with the lignans. The
flaxseed lignans are an all-natural grain product safe for Canine Cushings with no
known side effects. In another study Lignans have been shown to actually shrink
tumors reversing Cushings syndrome. Click to see recommended University of
Tennessee treatment options, This remedy for cushing disease in dogs
recommends melatonin and lignans as a first treatment and also in conjuction
with ketaconazole.
Buy flaxseed lignans and melatonin at www.lignans.net
Buy HMR lignans
Ketaconozole can be used for treatment of Cushings in dogs as a safer
method than Lysodren however it is extremely expensive and has no effect at all in
25% of cases.
Trilostane is also used in the treatment of Canine cushings. This a newer drug
that seems to be having success in the treatment of Cushings syndrome.
Atypical Cushing’s disease. The difference between Cushing’s disease
and atypical Cushing’s disease is that atypical cushings disease is caused by an
adrenal gland tumor but there is no overproduction of cortisol. The dog will still
demonstrate normal cushings syndrome symptoms but will not have the excess
cortisol. Treatment is almost always by Flaxseed lignans in the case of Atypical
Cushings.
Diabetes and Canine Cushings. One of the natural functions of cortisol is
to raise blood sugar and the overproduction of cortisol creates a continuous
overproduction of blood sugar levels and thus diabetes and Cushings go hand in
hand. Cronic Canine Cushings can even create permanent Diabetes.
Most of our lignan customers are telling us that they are seeing results and their
symptoms of dog Cushing disease diminished or even disappearing altogether
within an average of 2 months. Many say that they are seeing their Cushings
disease symptoms reduced within as little as 2 weeks. The University of
Tennesse says to allow up to 4 months to see results from melatonin.
Cushing's Disease in Dogs
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