Cushing's disease causes excessive cortisol production in dogs, leading to a range of distressing symptoms that significantly affect quality of life if unmanaged.
Dogs with Cushing's disease experience a constellation of distressing symptoms from chronically elevated cortisol: constant hunger and thirst, skin fragility and poor wound healing, muscle weakness, fatigue, and increased susceptibility to infections. The elevated cortisol creates a state analogous to chronic severe stress. Affected dogs often pant excessively even at rest, a sign of significant discomfort. With appropriate treatment, many dogs experience substantial improvement in their comfort and energy levels.