Cushing's disease is common in older dogs. Understanding this complex condition helps owners maintain quality of life through appropriate management.
Cushing's disease causes multifaceted welfare impacts through chronic excess cortisol affecting virtually every organ system. The polydipsia and polyuria are distressing and disruptive. Muscle weakness from cortisol-induced muscle wasting reduces mobility. Skin fragility causes easy bruising and recurrent infections. The pot-bellied appearance reflects internal fat redistribution and loss of abdominal muscle tone. Untreated disease progresses to diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and increased infection susceptibility. Effective treatment significantly reduces these welfare impacts and can restore good quality of life, though careful management to avoid hypoadrenocorticism from overtreatment is essential.