Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is typically the most effective diagnostic testing tool for Cushing’s disease since it allows your vet to assess your dog’s adrenal glands. Other diseases that may cause similar symptoms include tumors in the spleen or liver, bladder stones, gallbladder disease, gastrointestinal disease, chronic inflammatory liver disease. However, adrenal function tests can result in false positives when another disease with similar clinical signs is present.Īn ultrasound may help to rule out other conditions that could be causing your dog’s symptoms. Your veterinarian may also run adrenal function tests, adrenal low dose testing, and high dose dexamethasone suppression tests. The tests may include, but are not limited to, urinalysis, urine culture, complete blood panel, and/or full chemistry panel. Your veterinarian will do a physical exam and run a few tests to determine what may be causing your pet's symptoms as well as to rule out other health problems.

Dogs with Cushing’s disease face an increased risk of developing kidney damage, blood clots, high blood pressure and diabetes How is Cushing’s disease diagnosed? If you spot any of these symptoms in your dog contact your vet immediately. Enlarged abdomen, potbellied appearance.What are the symptoms of Cushing’s disease in dogs?ĭogs with Cushing’s disease will experience at least one of the following symptoms but sometimes more: Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome is caused by excessive cortisol production stemming from the prolonged use of steroids. In some more rare cases the tumor could be located on the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys.

In dog's Cushing’s disease is commonly caused by a benign or malignant tumor in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain. Excess cortisol can put a dog at risk of several serious conditions and illnesses, from kidney damage to diabetes, and can be life-threatening. Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism) is a serious health condition in dogs that occurs when the adrenal glands overproduce cortisol (cortisone) in the animal's body.

Overactive adrenals symptoms