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Stealer's muscles weakened. He was sluggish and began having accidents in the house. His belly sagged and his hair was falling out. His owners thought Stealer was just getting older. By the time they asked their veterinarian, Stealer had developed diabetes and severe kidney problems, in addition to his Cushing's disease.
The condition is commonly caused by tumor (s) in the pituitary gland. It is difficult to diagnose, at best, typically presenting with symptoms just like Stealer's. And just as Stealer's owners did, many people assumed their dogs are simply showing the signs of age.
Cushing's does not cause bleeding, pain, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures – or any other symptom that would raise alarm or call for a quick trip to the vet. But left untreated, the disease can most certainly be fatal. It will continue to worsen, causing other disorders, such as diabetes, kidney failure, congestive heart failure, and infections of the ears, eyes, bladder and skin
Bull Terriers, Silky Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers, Dachshunds, Poodles (of any variety) and Boston Terriers are considered high-risk. The disease is most commonly caused by tumors in the adrenal or pituitary glands. There is no cure, but treatment options usually include drugs and / or surgical removal of the tumor.
Female dogs are more susceptible to adrenal gland tumors, while Cushing's appears more often in dogs that are older than five.
A veterinarian can determine whether your dog has Cushing's with a simple blood test. Given the variety of additional conditions that Cushing's can cause, it is important to seek veterinarian attention right away.
The drugs used to treat Cushing's include Ketoconazole, Anipryl and Lysodren. The latter regulates the amount of cortisol the body produces. Anipryl restores the balance of chemicals in the brain, often successfully, in an attempt to reduce symptoms of Cushing's disease. Ketoconazole suppresses cortisol secretions in the adrenal glands, but is only effective in about 75 percent to 80 percent of all cases.
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Source by Janet Markowitz
