Cussons disease in dogs .

[Louisa111]

We've recently took our dog to be checked over as he's been drinking more and consequently peeing more. Luckily the vet has ruled out diabetes or kidney disease. However he wants to check for cussons disease. We've been told for a 13 year old dog his blood tests were really good and he's extremely lively and looks well etc but he's tested high for a certain hormone.

If confirmed there is no cure just very expensive medication each month which I've researched online and can give awful side effects.. vomiting, diarrhoea, lack of appetite etc. For now we've just decided to let him be, at 13 years old we don't want to make his last few years feeling rubbish although deep down you never really know if your doing the right thing .
Has anyone got any experience of cussons disease in dogs?? Would be great to get a few opinions on this

I think you mean Cushing's?

If an over production of steroids.
Definitely worth treating - if your dog is suffering from cushings and untreated they'll spend their final years panting and potbellied, constantly hot thirsty and uncomfortable

Do you mean Cushings disease? Humans get this also. Can you afford treatment? Is the dog insured and would it be covered?

Surely he’ll feel awful if you don’t treat it?

My last dog had steroid induced cushings and it was horrible for him. He was constantly overheating, lost a lot of his fur, his skin became hyperpigmented, dry and flaky and he was constantly thirsty, to the point one of us had to sleep downstairs with him so he could go out twice in the night.

The vet can help with side effects like nausea and vomiting and diarrhoea can be managed with diet. To be honest, I would definitely have chosen the side effects you list over what my poor boy was going through. Unfortunately, stopping the steroids wasn’t an option for him, as essentially they were keeping him alive and the alternative options didn’t work for him.

In your position I would treat to make him more comfortable in his older years, as the symptoms of Cushings are worse than the side effects of the medication.

I don’t have experience with animals, but I have Cushing’s myself. It’s a bloody awful thing, cortisol contributes to fight or flight settings, constantly on edge and stressed, feeling very unwell at times. Anything you can do to relieve the symptoms would undoubtedly be a blessing. Poor dog :(

He's not showing any of the classic signs other than being more thirsty and it's yet to be diagnosed. Tbh the side effects to the meds made me wary as we could go from a dog who is happy , healthy and showing no signs of illness to one who becomes very ill due to the meds.

Hello, my elderly Shitzu (now sadly departed) had Cushing’s & was put on Veterol tablets at the age of 14/15. They made such a difference to his quality of life and he didn’t have any side effects that I can think of. In fact he lived to nearly 17. The vet had to adjust the dosage a couple of times at the start but apart from that no problems!