Canine hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) is common in older dogs and causes significant welfare harm when unrecognized. Effective treatment dramatically improves quality of life.
Cushing's disease causes progressive multi-system welfare deterioration that is often normalized as aging by owners unfamiliar with the condition. The characteristic signs — expanded abdomen, excessive thirst and urination, hair loss, and muscle wasting — develop gradually over months, making the welfare impact easy to miss. Affected dogs have chronically elevated cortisol producing immune suppression, skin fragility, hypertension, and blood clot risk alongside the obvious physical changes. The welfare cost of untreated Cushing's is substantial. Effective treatment with trilostane or mitotane reduces cortisol excess and produces dramatic improvement in energy, skin condition, hair coat, and activity — the quality-of-life benefit of diagnosis and treatment is clearly visible to owners who have watched their dog deteriorate.