Adrenal glands are part of your dog's endocrine system. They are located next to the kidneys, and they produce many types of hormones that are essential to normal body function. The hormones we will be focusing on here are produced by the outer part of the adrenals, the cortex. These are called corticosteroids. Sounds familiar? Yes, that's right, that is what corticosteroid medications are—a synthetic form of one of the adrenal gland hormones.
Aldosterone
Aldosterone is a hormone that regulates your dog's electrolyte levels. It helps control both sodium and potassium in order to maintain blood pressure and fluid balance.
Cortisol
Cortisol is released in order to help your dog respond to stress. Cortisol can affect blood pressure and blood sugar levels, fat metabolism, muscle and kidney function and immune response.
Addison's versus Cushing's
Even though you couldn't tell by their names, these two diseases represent deficient and excess conditions of the adrenal gland hormones. Addison's disease is also referred to as hypoadrenocorticism and Cushing's disease is can go by the name hyperadrenocorticism.
Because hormones produced by the endocrine system have regulatory function in the body, any imbalances in their Production or release can cause serious health problems.
Addison's Disease
Addison’s disease, or hypoadrenocorticism, is a relatively uncommon but serious deficiency condition during which your dog's adrenal glands produce insufficient amounts of the aldosterone and cortisol hormones.
Addison's disease can be caused by autoimmune destruction of the adrenal glands, or as a result of underproduction of the adrenal stimulation hormone. Some medications can also disrupt the adrenal balance.
The good news is, that like in the case of hypothyroidism, hypoadrenocorticism can be successfully managed with hormone supplementation.
Diagnosis of Addison's disease isn't easy, because the symptoms are common in many other conditions.
Some of the signs are
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
- diarrhea
- weakness
- dehydration
- depression
- low energy levels
- tremors
- collapse
http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/health/addison.htm
http://www.addisondogs.com/
Cushing's Disease
Cushing’s disease, or hyperadrenocorticism, is an excess condition. Cushing’s is one of the most common hormone imbalance conditions in dogs. It is quite common in older dogs, and the symptoms are often dismissed as signs of aging.
If your dog has Cushing’s Disease, it means that he has excessive levels of cortisol in the body.
It can be caused by some medications, but most commonly it is caused by over-stimulation of the adrenal glands due to a tumor on the pituitary gland or a tumor on the adrenal gland itself.
Because cortisol reduces immune response, dogs with Cushing's disease will often suffer from frequent or recurrent infections.
Some of the signs of Cushings disease are
- excessive drinking
- increased urination
- potty accidents
- excessive appetite
- lethargy
- hair loss
- panting
- muscle weakness
- weight gain or pot-belly appearance
Pituitary-based Cushing’s disease is usually managed with oral medications, although more aggressive treatment is sometimes needed. If an adrenal tumor is to blame, surgery to remove the gland may be the best option.
Being forewarned is being forearmed. Be aware of health conditions your dog might face and be sensitive to potential signs of disease. Often, the sooner the problem gets addressed, the better chance your dog will have at living a long and happy life.
Veterinary Partner: Symptoms of Cushing's Syndrome
Veterinary Partner: What Exactly is Cushing's Disease
Veterinary Partner: Laboratory Hints Suggesting Cushing's Disease
Jana
In this series:
Hypothermia vs Hyperthermia
Hypothyroid vs Hyperthyroid
Addison's vs Cushing's
Hypoglycemia vs Hyperglycemia
Did I miss something? Have a question or something do add? Leave a comment.
Our Bishon, Finley was diagnosed with Cushing's. He was treated with Medrol and became Addisonian (no adrenal function at all). Now the Vet wants to test for Cushings. What symptoms would I see if Cushing's is a possibility
ReplyDeleteHi! What is referred to as Cushings disease are excessive levels of cortisol hormone in the body.
ReplyDeleteFinley is being treated for the Addison's right? Which means cortisol supplementation.
If I understand correctly what you're saying, it seems to me that Finley is either simply over-medicated for his acquired Addison's, or his adrenals re-gained some function, which together with the supplemented cortisol also results in cortisol levels being too high.
If my above assumptions are correct, adjustment in medication should solve the problem.
I am assuming that the chemo was successful.
Some of the symptoms are described above. Excessive drinking, increased urination/potty accidents, excessive appetite, hair loss, panting, weight gain or pot-belly appearance ...
Symptoms with these conditions can be quite vague and misleading.
Testing makes sense if your vet suspects that the cortisol levels are too high. If Finley test positive, your vet will probably first make adjustments in the medication, and he might want to test whether there is something else going on with the adrenal glands.
Testing hormone levels in any of these conditions make sense, since the levels are being externally manipulated, and it is important to make sure that the correct levels are maintained. Sometimes medication needs to be adjusted.
Either way, I think testing is a good idea to see what is really going on.
I hope this helps.
Jana
PS: for example our Jasmine is on thyroid hormone, and her levels need to be tested regularly to make sure the levels are where they need to be.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with your views that cussing is the outcome of hormone imbalances. But can it a cause of hair loss diseases in women? You have really tried your best to explain the medical jargons in best possible ways. I really appreciate your efforts.
ReplyDeleteDear Julia. I really wouldn't know, my blog is about dogs. But since it does cause hair loss in dogs, it is quite possible that it might do the same in people.
ReplyDeleteOur 8 year old dog was diagnosed with Cushing in April as a result of a pituitary tumor. She went through a week of Lysodren treatment and then went into Addison shock two times. She has been on prednisone every since. She recently starting showing signs of Cushings again, so the vet recommended stopping the pred so we could get an accurate ACTH stim test. She lost her appetite since going off the pred, which indicated to me that she was still Addison, so I put her back on the pred but her appetite is not normal. She has symptoms of both diseases, any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteOh wow, poor girl. I think testing is the only way to determine where her levels really are. Because there is a fine balance between too much or too little cortisol, it can be quite a balancing act.
ReplyDeleteThere also seems to be a new surgery to remove the tumor I was recently reading about
http://whatwouldadogdo.blogspot.com/2010/10/cedars-sinai-medical-center-offers-help.html
Perhaps something to look into
Either way, testing and determining what exactly is going on is the main step.