Cushing’s disease, also known as hyperadrenocorticism, is rarely seen in cats. It is more common in females than in males, and is usually seen in middle-aged or older cats. Cushing’s disease occurs when there is a tumor on the pituitary gland or on the adrenal glands, which causes the production of excessive Cortisol. The body naturally produces Cortisol in response to stress, such as an infection or pain. But with Cushing’s disease, the body produces excess amounts of Cortisol and continues to produce it even after the stressor is gone.
Be alert to symptoms of Cushing’s disease in your cats. Symptoms to watch for include drinking more water than usual, peeing more than usual, increased appetite, either weight gain or loss, panting, bald patches, and a dull, dry coat. Cats with Cushing’s disease may also develop diabetes.
If your cat has symptoms of Cushing’s disease, she needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible. The vet will do a number of tests in order to make a diagnosis, including some blood tests, a urine test, some x-rays, and an ultrasound of your cat’s belly.
Consider whether or not to try to treat Cushing’s disease with medication. While dogs with Cushing’s disease often respond well to medication, cats usually do not. There is one drug called metyrapone that is sometimes effective. Talk to your vet about whether or not you should try it with your cat.
Understand that surgery is usually the recommended treatment for Cushing’s disease in cats. If the tumor is on the pituitary gland, it causes both adrenal glands to be enlarged, and in this case the recommended treatment is usually the removal of both adrenal glands. If the tumor is on an adrenal gland, only that gland needs to be removed.
Because these are difficult operations to perform, your cat may need to be referred to a university teaching center or to a specialty hospital for treatment.
If both adrenal glands are removed, your cat will need to take daily medication for the rest of her life.
If your cat is diabetic, understand that her insulin needs will probably change after surgery. Many cats are no longer diabetic after surgery for Cushing’s disease.
Understand that even with surgery, the prognosis for cats with Cushing’s disease is poor. Only about half of all cats survive longer than six months after this type of surgery. Therefore many cat owners decide to forego surgery, especially for older cats. They simply provide supportive care for their cats and allow nature to take its course.
Sources:
Vet Info. http://www.vetinfo.com/ccushings.html. Cushing’s Disease in Cats.
