Turning Back Time

In every dog with Cushing’s syndrome there is an opportunity to turn back the clock and improve their health and symptoms. Through effective treatment it is possible to improve your dog’s quality of life and reduce the risk of your dog developing other, potentially life-threatening conditions for which treatment can be intensive and costly.

Cushing’s syndrome has a widespread, negative impact on your dog’s quality of life and if left untreated your dog runs a greater risk of serious conditions such as:

• diabetes mellitus
• high blood pressure
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• infections of the kidneys and urinary tract
• pulmonary thromboembolism (blood clots in the lung)

Although most Cushing’s syndrome cannot be cured, it can be successfully managed using medication allowing your dog’s health to be restored.

Treatment of Cushing’s may be achieved by surgery, pituitary irradiation (radiotherapy), or medication.

Surgery will involve either an operation in the abdomen to remove the affected adrenal gland (adrenalectomy), or less commonly surgery through the roof of the mouth to access the base of the brain – where the pituitary gland itself is then removed (hypophysectomy). Surgery and radiotherapy are procedures available only at a few specialty centers, therefore medical treatment is often the most practical and approachable treatment choice.

Trilostane is the only approved molecule available in Canada for Cushing’s syndrome. Although the daily administration of trilostane does not offer a medical cure for Cushing’s, it allows the disease to be managed successfully, enhancing the dog’s vitality and quality of life.

All options have advantages and disadvantages, and not all options will be available for every dog. The exact treatment regimen for your pet will be determined based on your individual circumstances. We therefore recommend that you discuss with your vet which is the best treatment for your pet.

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Trilostane is well-tolerated by most dogs.

If your dog develops any signs of illness whilst on treatment including lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and going off their food, stop treatment immediately and contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

However, it may be the case that treatment may reveal other underlying conditions which were previously suppressed by the excess of cortisol. Examples of conditions which may worsen after treatment include arthritis and allergic skin disease.

Further treatment for these conditions may be required and we advise that you contact your veterinarian if you have individual concerns about your pet.

For pituitary surgery and medical therapy, most dogs will require lifelong therapy.

For some dogs with certain adrenal tumours, surgery can be curative – however the treatment regimen will be unique to your pet and individual circumstances. Please consult your veterinarian to discuss all the options which may help your pet.

Cushing’s requires either medical or surgical treatment to be successfully managed, and diet change isn’t required for a successful outcome.

However, your veterinarian may also suggest some nutritional support such as a special Endocrine diet, tailored specifically to support dogs with a hormonal disorder.