K-State Veterinarian Discusses Treating Dogs With Cushing... ( MANHATTAN Kan. Nov. 4 -- A new m...)

K-State Veterinarian Discusses Treating Dogs With Cushing's Disease

Date:11/4/2008

MANHATTAN, Kan., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new medication is available to treat dogs with Cushing's disease, but pet owners should be prepared for the cost of managing the disease, according to a veterinarian at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Kenneth Harkin, associate professor of clinical sciences, said a new drug called Trilostane is undergoing approval by the Food and Drug Administration, but veterinarians may obtain the medication if they decide it is the necessary choice to treat Cushing's disease.

The disease is the result of the dog's body producing too much cortisol, the steroid important for the body's stress response. Harkin said excess cortisol is either caused by a tumor of the adrenal gland or, more commonly, of the pituitary gland. He said if the Cushing's disease is caused by an adrenal gland tumor, veterinarians usually try to remove the tumor. If it's a more common pituitary gland tumor, veterinarians rely on medication.

Harkin said Trilostane, which comes in a twice-daily pill, works by inhibiting an enzyme that turns cholesterol into cortisol. This drug presents an alternative to medications that treat Cushing's by destroying the adrenal gland.

The problem with producing too much cortisol, Harkin said, is that it causes muscle wasting, can increase the susceptibility to infection, may delay healing, and, at a minimum, can cause clinical signs that are annoying. These can include excessive thirst and urination, a ravenous appetite, excessive panting and an appearance that is displeasing, such as a potbelly, hair loss and thin skin. The potbellied appearance from Cushing's disease is different than in an obese dog, however.

"An overweight dog will have full hips and back," he said. "With Cushing's, they have muscle loss on the hips and legs, too."

Although the surplus of cortisol is destructive to the dog's body, the excess steroid is making the animal feel qui
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