Cushing's Disease in Dogs and Diarrhea - Side Effects of Medication

There are a lot of problems associated with cushing's disease in dogs. That includes problems for both the pet and the owner. If your dog has cushing's, he or she may have several symptoms that affect the quality of their life and, in extreme cases, can even kill them. As an owner, it can be frustrating to see your dog in that condition, especially if you don't know what is causing it, which is the case for most owners.

The reason that many owners don't know that their dog has cushing's is that the symptoms can be very similar to a lot of other medical conditions, or just to old age itself. Some of the signs of cushing's disease in dogs that can seem like they are signs of something else include drinking much more water than usual, frequent urination, diarrhea and vomiting.

There is, however, one sign of cushing's disease that many owners and vets do pick up on. As a dog owner, if your dog seems to be losing fur, it could be a sign that he or she has cushing's. That means abnormal amounts of fur loss, not just normal shedding. Of course, many owners don't realize that that could be a sign of cushing's, but they do realize that they should take their furry friend to the vet and the vet can, in turn, diagnose the problem.

The cause of cushing's disease in dogs is high levels of cortisol in the dog's blood. The adrenal and pituitary glands in the dog control cortisol production. So, cushing's is usually caused by tumors in one of those glands. The treatment for those tumors is usually either surgery or drugs, called immunosuppressants. In fact, often, the treatment involves both surgery and medication.

The strange thing about diarrhea, especially, as a symptom of cushing's disease in dogs, is that diarrhea actually indicates low levels of cortisol in the blood, not high. Since cushing's causes high levels of cortisol, that may seem odd. The medication for cushing's, though, can over-regulate cortisol production and cause an imbalance in the opposite direction. So, if your dog has cushing's, your dog's vet may also recommend that you keep cortisol supplements on hand for your pet.

You should also understand that conventional medication for cushing's is going to take a while for your dog's vet to dose properly for your furry friend. There are standard dosages for certain breeds or sizes of dog, but no two dogs are exactly alike. Depending on your dog's weight, age and other health conditions, for example, they may need a different dosage. So, during the adjustment phase, you should be prepared for the dog's cortisol levels to be a bit irregular and for them to have some side-effects like frequent urination and diarrhea, as a result.

Of course, you could also explore natural remedies to treat your dog's cushing's. Many conventional medications carry side-effects with them that natural treatments do not. A lot depends on your own beliefs and your dog's individual case. So, do some research on cushing's disease in dogs and, most importantly, keep communication with your dog's vet flowing freely.