Cushing’s Disease in Dogs – Herbal Treatment

If your dog is exhibiting unusual symptoms, like fur loss, he or she might have a condition called cushing’s disease. A dog’s adrenal glands are responsible for the natural production of certain steroid hormones, such as cortisol. High levels of cortisol in your dog’s blood is also known as cushing’s disease in dogs and it can cause them to develop all sorts of side-effects, some of which are life threatening.

There are a few different types of cushing’s. One form is caused by medications. For the most part, though, cushing’s is caused by a pituitary or adrenal gland problem. Basically, your dog’s adrenal glands control the amount of cortisol in the blood, but the pituitary gland produces ACTH, which is a hormone that talks to the adrenal glands. It tells them how much cortisol to produce. So, a problem, such as a tumor, in either gland type, could cause cushing’s disease in dogs.

Diagnosis of cushing’s can be a tricky business. As the owner, you might notice your dog acting tired, seeming excessively thirsty or urinating more often than you think is normal. Those can be signs of cushing’s. The only problem is that they can be signs of other things, too, including plain old age. Since cushing’s often affects older dogs, that makes it hard for the untrained eye to recognize. Luckily, though, a vet can recognize it.

The exact causes of cushing’s disease in dogs are still unknown. Experts believe, though, that the environment can play a big role. After all, dogs were originally feral, or wild, animals. Captivity has exposed them to processed foods, chemicals and other potentially harmful things, causing them to develop many health problems, including cushing’s.

Since cushing’s usually affects older dogs, you might not want to put your dog through a lot of treatment. You might choose to just give them the best quality of life possible. If you do want to pursue treatment for your pet, though, you have lots of options. There are many treatments for cushing’s disease in dogs, both conventional and not conventional.

If your dog’s cushing’s is being caused by a medication, there’s a simple solution. Just wean your dog off of that medication and replace it with a different medication, under the supervision and direction of a vet, of course. That should put the dog’s cushing’s into remission.

If your dog has adrenal or pituitary tumors that is a whole other matter, though. Treatments for cushing’s caused by tumors include surgery or medications that control the production of cortisol. Unfortunately, though, those medications can be heavy on the side-effects.

So, instead, you might want to look at some herbal remedies for cushing’s. There are lots of natural herbs and supplements out there, after all. Many humans are taking a more natural approach to their own health, so don’t be afraid to explore natural health remedies for your pet. Ask your dog’s vet for advice on the subject. They should be able to recommend some natural supplements for cushing’s disease in dogs.