Cushing’s disease in dogs – what it is, how it develops, and what treatment options are available
Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) is one of the more common hormonal diseases in dogs, especially in older dogs. The problem occurs when the body produces too much cortisol over the long term, a hormone that is normally necessary for life, but in excessive amounts becomes harmful.
Cortisol is involved in regulating metabolism, immunity, and stress response. When there is too much of it over a prolonged period, it begins to negatively affect almost all organ systems.
Tumors or long-term use of corticosteroids can trigger this disease. Typical symptoms are
- The dog drinks more water and urinates frequently, has increased appetite
- A "round" or sagging belly appears
- The skin becomes thin, hair loss in certain areas (tail alopecia is common), frequent panting (stress)
These symptoms may indicate other problems
These symptoms occur in many other diseases, which is why there are specific tests that can diagnose this disease.
In short, the amount of cortisol in the body is tested and an attempt is made to suppress cortisol production in the blood, blood is drawn twice daily.
Approach
Treatment
The goal of therapy is to reduce cortisol levels and improve the dog’s quality of life. Today there are medications, conventional ones that reduce cortisol levels in the body and in this way the symptoms subside. However, some dogs do not respond well to therapy, the liver is burdened, some are lethargic, have poor appetite, vomiting. Therefore it would be good to see if the medication can be reduced a little, and if a natural way without side effects can be found to reduce cortisol in the body.
Natural approaches and holistic options
As we said, if the disease is confirmed, medications to lower cortisol are the solution.
However, there are also natural methods that have shown good results, and which holistic veterinarians apply as an addition to therapy or in milder cases. These are:
a) Melatonin
The sleep hormone, enhances relaxation and reduces cortisol
b) Ground flaxseed – contains lignin that affects enzymes found in the adrenal glands and thus reduces cortisol production
b) Ground Flaxseed
Contains lignin that affects enzymes found in the adrenal glands and thus reduces cortisol production
c) Ashwagandha
An adaptogen that has shown lower cortisol levels in dogs in studies
How to Help Them
Natural methods that include herbal supplements, dietary changes, or lifestyle modifications can greatly alleviate disease symptoms.
Long-term use of corticosteroids, which is quite common today for certain diseases, can have consequences, so while the animal is on therapy, take the time and effort to find the cause of the disease and a natural way to resolve the symptoms that has no negative effects on the body.
All natural methods require time, results are not visible in 3 days.
