MRI and CT imaging play an increasingly important role in diagnosing pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in dogs, guiding treatment and improving outcomes.
Dogs with untreated or poorly controlled Cushing syndrome experience a range of welfare impacts including muscle wasting, skin fragility, increased infection risk, and polydipsia. Pituitary macroadenomas can cause progressive neurological deterioration including compressive signs. Advanced imaging improves welfare by enabling precise diagnosis that guides optimal treatment selection. Dogs with large pituitary tumours managed medically alone often deteriorate neurologically, whereas surgical or radiation treatment of the tumour addresses the root cause. Access to specialist imaging is a key determinant of welfare outcomes in this complex disease.