Treating Cushing’s disease with Vetoryl

Hormonal problems affect not just humans, but even canines. Just like the human body, the adrenal glands in dogs also produce cortisol to enable them to deal with stress. In fact, the brain directs the pituitary gland to secrete a hormone which in turn stimulates the adrenals to produce cortisol. The cortisol hormone also affects the muscles, kidneys, heart, metabolism, nervous system and even the immune response.

However, things can go awry at times inside the four-legged creatures. The adrenal glands keep secreting cortisol into the bloodstream without any kind of regulation. The dog’s body gets disturbed as the metabolism is hampered and even the cardiovascular and immune systems get stressed.

The excessive production of cortisol hormone is known as hyperadrenocorticism or Canine Cushing’s Disease. Since it impacts the body in various ways, the symptoms are quite vague and varied. Such as:

• increased thirst and excessive urination
• increased appetite
• gastrointestinal disorders
• obesity with a pot belly and sagging body
• excessive panting
• undue lethargy
• muscle weakness
• insomnia
• darkening of the skin
• thin skin and bruising
• hard white scaly patches on the skin
• symmetric hair loss or balding
• hypertension
• infertility

As Cushing’s Disease is common in older dogs (at times it does occur in dogs younger than 6 years too), the symptoms are generally attributed to age. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult a veterinarian at the earliest. He or she will discuss the health history and symptoms of the canine before conducting a thorough physical examination. Cushing’s Disease can be properly diagnosed through blood and urine tests that measure the level of cortisol in the dog’s body. If it’s elevated, there definitely is a problem with either the pituitary or adrenal glands.

Causes

There can be two causes behind the excessive secretion of cortisol in the body. The most common cause is a tumor in the pituitary gland that makes it over-secrete the adrenocorticotrophic (ACTH) hormone, in turn leading to over-production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Or the adrenal glands itself may have a tumor that directly causes excessive secretion of cortisol. Excessive cortisone treatment to treat inflammation or allergies can also lead to Cushing’s Disease.

Treatment

If left untreated, Cushing’s Disease can lead to diabetes, pancreatitis, seizures or congestive heart failure in the canine. The tumor in the adrenal gland can be benign or even malignant and the latter needs to be surgically removed before it spreads to other parts of the body. However, pituitary gland tumors are benign and can be treated with medication.

The common treatment for both types of Cushing’s Disease is administering trilostane through vetoryl for dogs tablets. It should be administered orally once a day in the morning (along with the food for better absorption). Vetoryl for dogs will slowly block the excessive production and synthesis of cortisol in the dog’s body, thus leading to a longer and more comfortable life for the animal.

The author is a pet lover and animal health enthusiast. He has worked closely with veterinarians and understands animal health issues. He is also an avid reader and a proficient writer. He has written articles and blogs about pet medications.