What causes Cushing’s disease?
The answer to this question is a bit complex in that there are several possible causes and multiple tests are often needed to pinpoint the exact cause in any given individual. In most dogs (about 80 to 85% of cases), the disease occurs due to a benign secretory tumor of the pituitary gland. In other dogs (about 15% of cases), the disease occurs due to a tumor in one of the adrenal glands (in some cases, these tumors are benign and in some cases they are not). What are common clinical signs? While normal amounts of cortisol are protective to the body, excessive amounts can become quite detrimental as the disease progresses. Each patient is a bit different in the symptoms that they show, but some common clinical signs include increased appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, panting, the breakdown of body muscle (loss of abdominal muscle may result in a “pot belly” appearance in some dogs), enlargement of the liver, hair loss, and increased incidence of infection (especially in
