posted by Tess on Dec 17
Symptoms of Addison’s disease are not so specific in dogs. Moreover, even these vague symptoms vary over a period leading to a situation where dog owners are not even sure of its prevalence. Addison’s disease generally occurs due to autoimmune conditions.
Although it is not a conclusive diagnostic procedure, it is important to look for the level of primary ions of electrolytes like sodium and potassium. The proper amount and distribution of electrolytes in the body is essential for your dog’s health.
Final diagnosis of Addison’s disease, however, is done only after checking the response of the dog’s body to ACTH. ACTH is a hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland to stimulate the adrenal cortex to produce its own hormones.
Addison’s disease is basically a production disorder and is caused by an insufficiency of hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex. This is unlike canine Cushing’s disease, which is caused by excessive production of adrenal hormones. Addison’s disease is managed by giving supplemental hormones.
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posted by Tess on Nov 25
Domestication, an increased focus on dog health and veterinarian medicine has led to a situation where pet dogs live longer. Selective breeding to produce individual dog breeds has also led to certain genetic diseases that were not very common before. The practical consequence of this is that dog owners have to deal will more dog diseases than ever before.
Apart from certain dog specific diseases, dogs suffer from practically all diseases experienced by humans. Like humans, dogs to can develop bacterial, fungal and viral infections, skin, orthopedic and eye diseases and tumors and cancers. To add to it all there are diseases associated with old age too. Cushing’s syndrome is one such disorder that is usually seen in older dogs.
Canine Cushing’s syndrome may be endogenous or exogenous. Endogenous Cushing’s is a condition where either of the two main endocrinal glands, the pituitary or the adrenal gland stimulate or produce excessive cortisol within the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone and elevated levels of the hormone depress immune and inflammatory responses. The primary cause of exogenous Cushing’s is the administration of steroid medication.
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posted by Tess on Nov 21
The term ‘organic’ is contextual and has various meanings. For the purpose of this article organic means as much as it relates to bodily organs.
The two major organs involved in the development of Cushing’s syndrome in dogs are the two glandular organs of the endocrine system - the pituitary and the adrenal glands (to be particular, the adrenal cortex). The pituitary is the parent gland that releases Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) to signal the adrenal cortex to release the stress hormone, cortisol.
Excess of this hormone is the basic cause of Cushing’s syndrome. Excessive levels of cortisol may be caused due to a problem, usually a tumor, with the pituitary or the adrenal gland. When the problem is caused due to a pituitary tumor, it is known as Cushing’s disease.
Regardless of the nature of these tumors, benign or malignant, the result is increase in production of cortisol. Dogs that have previously undergone corticosteroid therapy for allergies or immune diseases are also at a risk of developing symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome.
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posted by Tess on Nov 11
Cushings disease is a serious condition that develops in middle aged and older dogs. Since the basic cause of the condition is excess production of cortisol by the adrenal glands, it is also known as hyperadrenocorticism.
Cortisol is a stress hormone that is produced by the adrenal cortex on signals received through ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone). Cortisol plays an important role in metabolism and higher than required levels in the body can lead to symptoms like hair loss, muscle weakness, dry and brittle skin, pot belly and a significant increase in thirst and urination.
Although holistic treatment has been associated mainly with alternative therapies, medical science has slowly started accepting the philosophy of medical care. Holistic health care is not a method of treatment but an approach to how to go about treating disease. Holistic treatments consider that all aspects of life are closely interconnected. Symptoms are simply the body’s way of showing that it needs attention. Fever, for example, is considered as body’s own effort at fighting infection.
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posted by Tess on Oct 28
Cushing’s disease is common in middle and old aged dogs. It is an endocrine disease that falls under the category of production disorders. Also known as hyperadrenocorticism, it is a condition of excess cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands during periods of stress. Problems with the adrenal glands or with the controlling gland, the pituitary, can lead to production of cortisol even in the absence of stress.
Canine Cushing’s disease is characterized by symptoms that include excessive drinking, increased urination, distended stomach, thin skin and excessive hair loss. Behavioral symptoms may include reluctance to play and indifference.
Although it is known that adrenal or pituitary tumors cause the adrenal glands to produce more than required cortisol, surgical excision is usually avoided considering the age of the dog and the risks involved. Other factors that restrict dog owners to go for aggressive treatment are the high costs of diagnostic tests and treatment and the side effects of immunosuppressive drugs and drugs that destroy adrenal tissue responsible for production of cortisol.
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posted by Tess on May 15
A mammal’s body is very complex. It involves a series of preset and complicated actions, reactions and reciprocal actions. These processes are carried out between the various body systems that work together to keep the body functioning properly.
Overall health can be maintained only by ensuring a fine balance between the enzymes, hormones, and various other chemical compounds that are responsible for metabolic activity. Though the mammalian body has been designed to maintain this fine balance, some external or internal factors can disturb the balance causing ailments, diseases, and other conditions. These factors include trauma, disease, age, diet, or a change in the internal chemical environment.
Cushings disease in dogs is one such disorder that results in the over production of corticosteroids. It can be caused by an ACTH producing tumor in the pituitary gland or a corticosteroid-producing tumor in the adrenalin glands. In some cases, Cushings disease can also be caused by an over dosage of external synthetic corticosteroids.
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posted by Tess on May 7
Though canines and humans are very different in physiology, there are some universal truths that apply to both. And one such universal truth lies in the realm of diet and health.
Centuries ago, humans uprooted dogs from their natural habitat and domesticated them to help them in hunting and guarding. They were removed from the basic source that provided all nutrition that was required in terms of food. Human intervention continues to come in the form of comforts, food and safety. And unfortunately not all of it is actually beneficial for the pet.
There are a fair number of diseases that are unique to domestic dogs. These diseases have not been known to occur in wild dogs and therefore, it can be assumed that these are in some way, caused by human intervention.
Cushings disease (hyperadrenocorticism) is one such condition that ails pet dogs.
Cushings disease in dogs refers to a disease that is caused by excessive amounts of cortisone due to an over active adrenal gland. Major characteristics of this disease are thinning of skin, hair loss, excess of urination and thirst and obesity (bloated abdomen).
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posted by Tess on May 5
The symptoms of Cushing’s disease in dogs are often mistaken for normal signs of canine aging. But in fact, such symptoms may surface due to a hyperactive adrenal gland.
Although this disease cannot be cured completely, timely and adequate treatment can result in a longer and higher quality of life for the suffering dog.
The medical term used for Cushing’s disease is hyperadrenocorticism. Since the symptoms of the disease mimic the symptoms of other common diseases, the condition is often misdiagnosed or ignored.
Symptoms -like an increase in urination with pale, diluted urine, obesity with a pot belly, lethargy and intolerance to exercise, excessive thirst, a thin skin or alopecia (hair loss) - need to be taken seriously and warrant a visit to the veterinarian.
The major cause of hyperadrenocorticism in dogs is an excess of corticosteroids. The production of corticosteroids is controlled by a complex system that involves the pituitary gland.
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posted by Tess on May 2
Hyperadrenocorticism in dogs, commonly known as Cushings disease, is an endocrinal disorder caused by the malfunctioning of either the adrenal glands and/or the pituitary glands. There are natural as well as drug induced causes behind the occurrence of this disease in your pet.
Apart from the harrowing symptoms, there are numerous medical ramifications of Cushings disease in dogs that can potentially affect how long your dog lives
* High blood pressure and heart problems due to a weakening of muscles.
* Pancreas’ problems that are rare but can be fatal.
* Kidney problems that arise due to protein loss due to damage in the filtering system.
* Formation of clots in blood vessels due to malfunctioning kidneys.
* Infections caused due to suppression of autoimmune system by excess cortisol.
* Delayed healing of wounds due to excessive cortisol.
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posted by Tess on Apr 12
Cushing’s disease is a glandular disorder caused by excessive corticosteroids. The process of the production of these corticosteroids is such that:
* The pituitary gland produces a hormone called ACTH
* The ACTH stimulates the adrenalin glands
* The adrenalin gland produces corticosteroids
* A more than required amount of corticosteroid can cause Cushing’s disease, so it is also called hyperadrenocorticism (hyper-adreno-corticism).
The overproduction of corticosteroids which causes Cushing’s disease in dogs can occur due to two types of conditions. In 85% of the cases, the excessive production of ACTH is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland that produces high levels of ACTH. This causes the adrenalin glands to make more than required levels of corticosteroids. Hyperadrenocorticism in a dog can also be caused by a corticosteroid-producing tumor in one or both of the adrenalin glands.
Cushing’s disease in dogs can also be caused by large doses of synthetic corticosteroids. These steroids may be administered for treating another ailment but in turn produce a side effect that results in Cushing’s disease.
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