A common disorder in older dogs,
canine cushing's disease, also called hyperadrenocorticism, is
a disease affecting the pituitary gland and the cortisol hormone that it produces.
Cortisol affects a wide variety of functions in the
canine body
including blood sugar, immunity,
the muscles, the nervous system, the cardiovascular system and
more. Cushing's disease
symptoms include, but are not limited to, excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite,
loss of muscle mass, lethargy, changes in coat, excess panting and more.
Another indirect symptom to consider sometimes is the disappearance of previous health problems
like inflammatory arthritis or less trouble with allergies. These things may actually improve due to the effect
of the heavy amounts of cortisone being produced by the dog's body.
Although, the idea
of having other ailment's disappear may sound good at first, it is important to
note that excess cortisol, left unchecked, can still cause greater problems than those it might correct,
including suppression of the immune system leading to
development of infections, hypothyroidism, diabetes, kidney failure and other issues.
The good
news is that with proper treatment,
cushings disease can become somewhat manageable so your canine
can experience some symptom relief and a higher quality of life in general.
There are several different potential causes of cushing's disease as well as more than one kind of cushings.
Once diagnosed with cushing's, there are several treatment options that may be suggested by your
veterinarian, depending upon what kind of cushing's disease your dog has. Possible medications that your veterinarian
might prescribe include
Lysodren,
Anipryl,
Selegiline and
Ketoconazole.
You'll want to be sure and visit each of the individual profiles we've put together for you
on these specific pet meds so you can learn more about
them. They can also be a bit expensive so we've found some discount prices you will want to see as well.
In many cases, lysodren is the drug of choice.
Lysodren, which works by eroding away the layers of the adrenal gland to slow down the overproduction of cortisone,
is often effective, yet it can be expensive and it
carries the potential for serious side effects and requires extensive monitoring during its administration.
Another alternative,
Ketoconazole, is actually
an anti-fungal medicine by design and is known for human use under the brand name Nizoral.
Ketoconazole also works by suppressing cortisol secretion in the adrenal glands and is sometimes prescribed for
dogs that cannot tolerate lysodren very well. However, some dogs have trouble absorbing Ketoconazole and it too can be
expensive and have side effect issues.
Another med prescribed for
canine cushing's disease is anipryl. The med
Anipryl is perhaps
best known as
a psychotropic medicine used to help stabilize the balance of brain chemicals in dog's exhibiting senile
behavior characteristics. Anipryl has been shown to be a little safer than lysodren but may or may
not be as effective. Anipryl has a more affordable generic alternative,
Selegiline, but selegiline does not come in
the variety of dosage sizes that Anipryl does. Anipryl also comes in handy easy to administer 30 packs.
Which medicine your veterinarian chooses
will depend on a few different factors including the underlying cause of your pet's cushing's disease. In addition,
what works best for one dog will not work as well for another, and finding the right medication,
treatment and dosage can often be a matter of painstaking trial and error. For the most effective treatment you will
want to work closely with your veterinarian regarding the medicine chosen, as well as, carefully monitor your pet's
reactions and progress to that specific med.
Buying Prescription Meds Online
Buy Anipryl
