What is Cushingʼs syndrome in dogs?

Cushing’s syndrome is one of the most common hormone conditions that affects middle-aged and senior dogs. Dogs with Cushing’s produce excessive amounts of cortisol, the hormone that helps the body respond to stress and regulates many normal body functions. But when the body makes too much of it for a long time, it can start to affect their health, appearance, and energy levels.

The good news is that Cushing’s can be managed, and many dogs diagnosed with the condition go on to live happy, comfortable lives with treatment.

Reference: O’Neill DG, et al. Epidemiology of hyperadrenocorticism among 210,824 dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in the UK from 2009 to 2014. J Small Anim Pract. 2016;1-9.

Cushing’s develops because of a small growth (tumour) that affects hormone production. These growths are benign (noncancerous) in 80-85% of affected dogs. Treatment is available which combats the excessive cortisol production and for most dogs the prognosis is very good.

Cushing’s itself is not usually considered a painful condition. However, the hormone imbalance can make dogs feel tired, uncomfortable, or restless.

Hearing the word tumour can sound worrisome, but in most dogs with Cushing’s, the tumour itself is not an issue but rather the production of excess cortisol in the body that leads to a variety of symptoms that can affect their quality of life.