Cushings disease in dogs is a terrible disorder that usually affects older canines. Most often it can be mistaken for the dog's natural aging process, due to similar symptoms. The veterinarian profession seems reluctant to expend the effort to establish clarity on exactly what symptoms definitively establish the disease presence. VitaHound believes there has been little motive to develop a single test or group of specific tests to diagnose Cushing’s disease. The resources required for proper diagnoses and treatment may have seemed unwarranted in the past. The modern dog owner's interest in providing for their dog's health and well being throughout their hound's entire life is not equally shared by the veterinarian profession. For this reason dog owners need to be strong advocates for their beloved hound's health care.

Owners need to first educate themselves as to methods available to help determine if the disease is present. A dog's past exams combined with current exams will allow an owner along with their vet to determine if more formal tests should be done. Blood and urine tests often provide a strong suspicion for the presence of Cushing’s disease. Scientific research has established tests for certain levels of hormones in the blood to determine if the conditions for cushing's disease exist. Still this disease that causes so much anguish in older dogs is disregarded as relatively unpreventable by many veterinarians, so use your own observations to determine whether or not to further test for the disease.

Excessive thirst, panting and overheating are the first signs, further progression of the disease leads to weakness in their hind legs, massive shedding, skin infections and lumps under the skin. The list of symptoms is quit extensive and should be studied separate from this article. Because cushings is overlooked a majority of the time in its early stages most dogs are diagnosed when cushings is in its later most sever stages. The recommended treatment for cushing's disease diagnosed in these later stages is a very toxic chemotherapy using the drugs either Lysodren or Ketaconazole. The side effects are lethargy, lack of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting. Obviously the cure seams worse than the disease and many owner's experiences prove this to be true.

A natural treatment for cushing's disease in dogs can prove very effective when the symptoms are treated early. It is possible for natural nutrients to provide the balance a dog's metabolism needs to support the normal function between the adrenal glands and the rest of a dog's endocrine system. The herb astragalus is known as an adaptogen and helps to support balance in the adrenal glands. It helps to maintain healthy adrenal cortical function and is important for supporting blood pressure and blood sugar levels within normal range. All dog owners should educate themselves on naturopathic ways to prevent and treat the abnormal function of their dog's adrenal glands. Some of the most promising treatments are natural remedies that will allow you and your hound to enjoy their senior years.