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Links Between Cushing Disease and Heart Disease in Dogs

By Tess Thompson

Hyperadrenocorticism in dogs, commonly known as Cushing’s disease, is an endocrinal disorder caused by the malfunctioning of the adrenal glands and/or the pituitary glands. There are natural as well as drug-induced causes behind the occurrence of this disease in your pet.

Apart from the harrowing symptoms, there are numerous medical ramifications of Cushing’s disease in dogs that can potentially affect how long your dog lives:

• High blood pressure and heart problems due to a weakening of muscles.
• Pancreas problems that are rare but can be fatal.
• Kidney problems that arise from protein loss due to damage in the filtering system.
• Formation of clots in blood vessels due to malfunctioning kidneys.
• Infections due to suppression of autoimmune system by excess cortisol.
• Delayed healing of wounds due to excessive cortisol.

The majority of pets with symptoms of Cushing’s disease usually have accompanying high blood pressure and related cardiac conditions. Due to muscle atrophy, the heart muscles thicken and fail to pump sufficient blood. This results in a congestive heart condition. The lungs and abdominal cavities are filled with fluid as enough blood is not available. The resultant hypertension causes the heart to work even harder. This increases the chances of a heart failure significantly.

Cushing’s disease is caused by increased levels of cortisol. The production of cortisol can increase due to the presence of a tumor near the adrenal glands. Sometimes artificially synthesized cortisol is used to cure some other condition. In this case, if the dosage is not effectively controlled, the hormonal level increases. This can cause secondary hyperadrenocorticism to occur. The long term effects of hyperadrenocorticism due to a tumor or due to external cortisol dosages are the same. However, the drug-induced disease can be controlled by stopping the drug if it is not too late. On the other hand, the natural condition of Cushing’s disease requires long term treatment that may not succeed in many cases.

The prognosis of Cushing’s disease in dogs is extremely bleak. The sad part is that it is most likely to be detected late. It affects aged dogs more than the young ones. The various drugs used to treat the disease have side effects that may further complicate the condition. Many times a conscious decision has to be made whether to pursue treatment or simply make your pet as comfortable as possible.

Sources:
http://www.vetmed.auburn.edu