Liver Disease In Dogs
Liver Disease In Dogs
Cushings Disease – Causes & Symptoms
by William Greenbaum, aka Love ya Woof!
What is Cushings Disease?
Canine Cushings Disease is a rather nasty and insidious disease known medically as hyperadrenocorticism, which is a condition of the adrenal glands in which they over-produce a hormone known as cortisol.
Adrenal glands are important. They are small and live beside each kidney (which explains why surgery is tricky) and their purpose is to regulate systems and metabolism.
Under normal conditions, the adrenals secrete cortisol in balanced amounts which is important for the regulation of protein, carbohydrate and fat; body weight, mineral balance, and skin health and this helps your dog fight illness and remain healthy.
However when Cushing’s Disease occurs, the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol (corticosteroids) and this has adverse effects. The origins and causes of the disease are not so well understood.
In the majority of cases, Cushings Disease is found in senior animals and small breed dogs and comes about as a result of a benign tumors in the pituitary gland. The tumor cells produce excessive amounts of ACTH, which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excessive amounts of cortisol.
The remaining 15% of the cases of Cushings disease are caused by either a tumor in one (or very rarely both) of the adrenal glands, resulting in overproduction of cortisol, or excessive use of corticosteroid drugs.
What are Cushings Disease Symptoms?
Symptoms of Cushings Disease include:
- Excessive Drinking and Urination
- Appetite gain
- Lethargy
- Excessive panting
- A sagging pot belly
- Diabetes Mellitus (more frequent in cats, but less frequent in Canine Cushings)
- Endocrine (hormone-related) skin diseases (hair loss and slow-healing wounds)
- You notice a general sense of your pet not feeling well
If you think about it the above conditions are consistent with what you would expect to see in older dogs and this explains why its sometimes quite tricky to diagnose Cushings Disease in its early stages.
So whats the end game with Cushings Disease? The answer is that left unchecked, an unfortunate raft of troubles may occur such as:
- diabetes
- urinary tract infections
- pancreatitis
- liver disease
- kidney failure
- skin infections
- ear infections
- congestive heart failure
- hypothyroidism
Can Herbal Remedies Help?
At our company we have always said that classical veterinary medicine used in combination with alternative therapies is a reasonable way to proceed, so always, always work with an animal health care professional.
From a herbal perspective, and the answer to this important question, can herbal remedies fight Cushings Disease? The answer is that a holistic approach to the disease can help, particularly if you think of boosting the immune system — which is under pressure from the disease. Constitutional Blend Fights Canine Cushings Disease
We have a product called Constitutional Blend which is available for $21.95. This herbal tincture has two active ingredients - dandelion and burdock root – among others which are key to flushing the body of toxins and effective in strengthening an overtaxed liver, kidneys, and digestive system.
Both herbs are also rich in minerals such as potassium and magnesium, which are good for the body because much is lost due to excessive urination.
What Other Ways is Cushings Disease Treated?
Conventional treatment of cushings disease in dogs includes drug therapy and surgery. The good news is that drugs do work but the side effects can be rough stuff.
Surgery works as well but that depends where the tumor is located. If the tumor is on the pituitary gland then generally their is no cure because the gland sits right underneath the brain and its generally too risky a location for surgery. If the tumor is located on the adrenal glands, the tumor is then removed.
Conventional drugs used to treat cushings disease include: Lysodren and Ketaconazole. Side effects would be: nausea, diarrhea, appetite loss, lethargy. A new drug entered onto the market about 10 years ago showing some promise. It is called Anipryl. Again, possible side effects include: lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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About the Author
William Greenbaum (aka love ya woof!) hails from Ferndale, WA and Vancouver, B.C. He is a writer, athlete, producer and entrepreneur. He is also the Founder and President of All Pet Naturals – an alternative health company for pets, dedicated to providing pet owners with the finest holistic line of natural and organic herbal and homeopathic remedies on the market today. For more information visit www.allpetnaturals.com/blog/ today!
How serious is canine liver disease?
I am a 23 year old struggling student and I have a 4 year old Shih Tzu. I took him to the vet yesterday because he was very sick. The vet told me he needed to keep my dog over night to preform tests on him. I called the vet this morning and found out my dog has liver disease and mentioned something about hepatitis (obviously a canine form of it). My vet was not very imformative and just told me I had to start my dog on medication and take him in for a biopsy. He told me that it could be terminal. I have been trying to search Google on this subject, but all I get are symptoms and how to diagnos it. I just want to know how serious this is. Have you had a pet with the same problem? What was the out come. Was it costly to treat?
Treatment of Liver Disease
In many cases of liver disease, specific treatment is unavailable. Treatment is mainly supportive and symptomatic, such as administering subcutaneous (SQ) or intravenous (IV) fluids to prevent dehydration, providing adequate nutrition, and giving medications to control vomiting.
Medications
The type of medications given depend on the cause and extent of the liver damage. The liver is one of the main organs that breaks down medications. If the liver is not functioning correctly, medications often need to be given at lower doses since they remain in the body for a longer period of time. This includes those medications the pet may have been taking prior to the liver disease.
Corticosteroids are used in certain cases of liver disease, such as chronic hepatitis, to decrease inflammation and scarring. They also stimulate the appetite and promote an overall feeling of well-being. High doses of corticosteroids can actually cause liver disease; do not give corticosteroids to a pet with liver disease except under the direct supervision of your veterinarian.
Antibiotics are used in cases of infection or if the patient is at risk of a secondary infection.
Penicillamine and zinc acetate are used in the treatment of copper storage disease to reduce the amount of copper in the liver.
Medications may be indicated to help decrease nausea or vomiting caused by the liver disease, or to prevent ulcers in the stomach or small intestine. Examples of these medications include sucralfate and cimetidine.
Ascites is treated with a diuretic such as furosemide (Lasix). Left untreated, ascites will cause difficulty breathing as it puts pressure on the diaphragm.
Dehydration and changes in electrolytes need to be prevented with the use of IV or SQ fluids and electrolyte supplements such as potassium.
Diet and supplements
For many liver diseases, diets may need to be altered to maintain proper nutrition and caloric intake. Specific diets may be recommended depending on the diagnosis. Some animals may have reduced appetites or refuse to eat. In these cases, the pet may need to be force-fed with a syringe or a feeding tube will need to be placed.
Dogs with copper storage disease need to be placed on a special diet low in copper.
A daily vitamin and mineral supplement is often advised for pets with liver disease to help prevent deficiencies. If copper storage disease is diagnosed, this supplement should not contain any copper.
Supplemental vitamin K may be necessary to help control bleeding disorders, since a diseased liver produces and stores less of this vitamin which is necessary for the liver to produce clotting factors.
Vitamin E is given as an anti-oxidant to remove free radicals and prevent further oxidative injury to the liver. A water-soluble form of vitamin E is preferable, since the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins may be decreased in some forms of liver disease.
A newer therapy for the treatment of liver disease is S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe). Normally produced by the liver, SAMe is necessary for many functions of liver cells. It is available as a dietary supplement.
Summary
Some types of liver disease are not curable, but with supportive care, the patient may still be able to live a comfortable, though shortened, life.
Hope i could help!!!
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