DOGS · Condition guide
Cushing's syndrome in dogs: what real veterinary cases show
Cushing's syndrome is a hormonal disease where the dog's body produces too much cortisol — either because a small benign tumour in the pituitary gland is over-stimulating the adrenals (the common form), or because one of the adrenal glands itself has a tumour. Classic owner-noticed signs are increased thirst and urination, a hanging "pot-belly", hair loss along the flanks, and excessive panting.
It's most common in middle-aged to older small-breed dogs, and the workup is well-established. Diagnosis is almost always made on blood tests rather than imaging in the first instance, and treatment — usually trilostane — can dramatically improve quality of life.
What vets typically check for
- Baseline CBC, chemistry, urinalysis (look for dilute urine + elevated ALP).
- Screening test: low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) or ACTH-stimulation test.
- If positive, a high-dose dexamethasone suppression test or endogenous ACTH helps separate pituitary-dependent from adrenal-dependent disease.
- Abdominal ultrasound to look for asymmetric or enlarged adrenal glands.
- Trilostane is the most common medication; monitoring is via repeat ACTH-stim or pre-pill cortisol.
Not a replacement for veterinary care. Use this to walk into the conversation prepared, not to self-diagnose.
Real cases from the veterinary literature
Peer-reviewed reports our semantic search surfaces for Cushing's syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism). Click into any case for the full abstract — or run a personalised search with your pet's exact details.
- Adrenocortical hypoperfusion detected by contrast-enhanced ultrasound in a dog with trilostane-induced hypoadrenocorticism.
The Journal of small animal practice · 2023 · Japan
A 12-year-old neutered male Chihuahua was being treated for a condition called pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism, which means he had too much cortisol in his body. After about three months of treatment with a medication called trilostane, he became very tired and had low sodium and high potassium levels in his blood. This led to a suspicion of a related condition called hypo
- Association between post-ACTH cortisol and trilostane dosage in dogs with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism.
Domestic animal endocrinology · 2024 · Brazil
This study looked at how the level of a hormone called cortisol after a specific test (the ACTH stimulation test) relates to the amount of a medication called trilostane needed to treat dogs with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism (PDH), a condition where the body produces too much cortisol. The researchers found that dogs with higher cortisol levels at diagnosis were much mo
- Persistent isolated hypocortisolism following brief treatment with trilostane.
Australian veterinary journal · 2008 · United Kingdom
A 12-year-old male neutered Miniature Poodle was diagnosed with a condition called pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism, which means his body was producing too much cortisol. After receiving just three doses of a medication called trilostane, he started showing signs of low cortisol levels, a condition known as isolated hypocortisolism, which lasted for over three months ev
- Treating canine Cushing's syndrome: Current options and future prospects.
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997) · 2018 · Netherlands
Cushing's syndrome, or hypercortisolism, is a common hormonal disorder in dogs, often caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland or the adrenal glands. To choose the best treatment, it's important to know which type of tumor is present. Surgery to remove the tumor is an option, but it can be risky and isn't available everywhere, so medication is often used instead. For dogs with
- Case Report: Trilostane therapy in a dog with recurrent adrenocortical carcinoma producing an array of steroid hormones
Frontiers in Veterinary Science · 2025 · United States
A 10-year-old neutered male poodle-cross was brought to the vet because he had been eating less than usual and drinking and urinating a lot for the past two months. He had previously undergone surgery to remove a tumor on his adrenal gland, which was found to be cancerous but had not spread at that time. Upon re-examination, the dog showed signs of a pot-bellied appearance, ski
Frequently asked questions
- How is Cushing's different from a thyroid problem?
- Both can cause hair loss and lethargy, but Cushing's typically adds dramatic thirst/urination, panting, and a pot-belly. Hypothyroidism in dogs usually shows weight gain, cold intolerance, and a slower heart rate. A T4 and a Cushing's screening test together will sort the two out in almost all cases.
- Is Cushing's an emergency?
- Spontaneous Cushing's is a chronic disease — not an emergency at diagnosis. It becomes urgent only if a dog on trilostane shows weakness, vomiting, or collapse (possible iatrogenic Addison's). The other urgent variant is a rare cortisol-secreting adrenal tumour that ruptures, which is rare and presents as acute abdominal pain.
- Will treatment cure it?
- Trilostane controls the cortisol output; it doesn't shrink the underlying tumour. Many dogs do well on therapy for years. Surgical removal of an adrenal tumour can be curative when feasible; pituitary surgery and radiation are options in some referral centres.