Dogs Hormone and Endocrine Articles

The dog hormone and endocrine system is made up of a collection of glands located throughout the body. These glands (endocrine glands) produce hormones and distribute them directly into the various organs and systems throughout the body where they are transmitted into the bloodstream. When your pet’s hormone and endocrine system malfunctions, a wide range of serious conditions can develop. In order to keep your dog’s endocrine system functioning properly a number of natural remedies are useful. Many hormone imbalances can be simply treated with medication. Learn more about your dog's hormones and his endocrine system, diseases of and causes, prevention and treatment below.

• What is Cushings Syndrome vs Cushings Disease?

  While they have similar symptoms, Cushing's Disease and Cushings Syndrome differ slightly. Both are a hormone disorder where too much hydrocortisone is found in a dog's bloodstream.

• Treating Hypothyroidism in Dogs with Soloxine

  Hypothyroidism is a disease that affects a large percentage of dogs, but it can be treated with Soloxine.

• Treating Canine Cushing’s Disease with Vetoryl for Dogs

  Vetoryl has been widely used in the United Kingdom for quite some time, but only gained approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use...

• Treating Addison’s Disease in Dogs With Flurinaf

  Addison's disease in dogs, or hypoadrenocorticism, is a serious condition that occurs when your dog's adrenal gland no longer produces the hormones your dog needs to live a healthful life.

• The 4 Forms of Hypothyroidism in Dogs

  While there are two main types of canine hypothyroidism, dogs are also subject to two rarer forms. Primary and secondary hypothyroidism account for most cases of dog thyroid disease. Neoplastic and congenital forms are far less common and often breed-specific.

• Symptoms of Thyroid Disease in Dogs

  Thyroid disease in dogs is often difficult to recognize because symptoms are so subtle. Owners might notice a change in energy level, weight gain or skin problems and associate those problems with something more mild.

• Symptoms of Pyometra in Dogs

  Pyometra is a serious infection that occurs in the uterus. It can be a very serious condition and therefore it is important that you know all of the symptoms of the infection. This will allow you to quickly recognize the problem and seek treatment without delay.

• Symptoms of Pituitary Dwarfism in Dogs

  There are several pituitary hormone deficiencies that can occur in dogs, but the most visibly noticeable example is pituitary dwarfism. This condition causes a dog to be significantly smaller than any littermates or other puppies of normal size.

• Symptoms - Increased Drinking and Urinating

  There are more than 20 disorders that can lead to increased drinking and urinating. It can be frustrating to sort through them all but the only thing that you can do is to start somewhere, as you have done, and eliminate the disorders until you find the one that is causing the problem. The list of disorders I can think of that cause increased drinking include:

• Surgical Treatment for Canine Cushings Disease

  Canine Cushing's disease is a common but treatable condition, affecting primarily middle aged dogs and older. Cushing's disease causes an imbalance of blood cortisol, the hormone that is responsible for regulating a number of body processes.

• Seizures from Hypothyroidism in Dogs

  Hypothyroidism in dogs can cause many problems, but one of the most common—and troubling—are seizures. Studies have found that 77% of dogs with seizures have thyroid problems.

• Recognizing Kidney Problems in Your Dog

  Chronic kidney problems in dogs usually appears gradually with subtle clues. But severe kidney failure can happen rapidly.

• Pituitary Tumors /Pituitary Dwarfism in Dogs

  In Pituitary dwarfism / hyposomatotrophism a deficiency in pituitary stimulation of growth hormone production leads to dwarfism. With the advent of accurate diagnostic imaging using CT or MRI scans, it has become possible to locate and remove pituitary gland tumors surgically at some institutions.

• Pituitary Gland Cushing’s Disease

  Question: Dr. Richards, I have a 5 year old Boston terrier (Simmi) who was diagnosed today with probable Cushing's disease based on a low dose dex supp test.

• Pituitary Dwarfism or Hyposomatotrophism

  In Pituitary dwarfism / hyposomatotrophism a deficiency in pituitary stimulation of growth hormone production leads to dwarfism. This occurs most commonly in German shepherds but has been reported in several other breeds.

• Pituitary Dependent vs Adrenal-Based Hyperadrenocorticism in Dogs

  Hyperadrenocorticism, also known as Canine Cushing's Disease, is an often overlooked condition in dogs.

• Pheochromocytomas and other Adrenal tumors

  Adrenal gland carcinomas and adenomas tend to produce hyperadrenocorticism, or Cushing's disease. This condition causes changes in the blood glucose levels, the electrolyte levels, the blood pressure and it increases the tendency for blood to clot, leading to an increase in pulmonary embolisms.

• Parathyroid cancer, tumors and Hyperparathyroidism in Dogs

  If this is hyperparathyroidism, the most likely cause is a benign tumor of the parathyroid gland, followed by malignant tumors of the gland and then hyperplasia (increase in gland size not from cancer). As far as I know, the only treatment for these conditions is surgical removal of the parathyroid gland tumor or hyperplastic region.

• Natural Treatments for Dog Thyroid Problems

  There is an alternative to conventional medicine in the case of dog thyroid problems: natural treatments. Possible remedies include kelp, ginseng and astragalus.

• Natural Remedies for Hypothyroidism in Dogs

  Hypothyroidism in dogs is a common ailment that can affect your pet's health and temperament. The most common treatment is medication, but there are natural remedies that can help restore your dog's thyroid function.

• My Dog Has Kidney Problems: Making Diet and Nutrition Adjustments

  When it comes to the health issues of your dog, kidney problems are less common than most. But if your dog is afflicted with a renal disorder, a low protein, low phosphorus diet can help her.

• Managing Cushings in Dogs with Mitotane (Lysodren)

  Hyperadrenocorticism, otherwise known as Cushing's in dogs, is a somewhat common condition affecting the production of the hormone cortisol in an animal's body. In the case of Cushing's disease, the dog's system produces an excess of cortisol.

• Managing Cushing’s Syndrome in Dogs with Anipryl

  Anipryl is a relatively new treatment for Canine Cushing's syndrome, as well as senility in dogs.

• Managing Canine Hypothyroidism with Levethyroxine

  Levothyroxine is one of the hormones that is produced by your pet's thyroid glands. These glands are located in your dog's neck and help to regulate a variety of bodily functions.

• Life Expectancy for Dogs with Canine Cushings Disease

  Discover the average life expectancy for dogs with canine Cushing's disease. While there is no exact life span, it is important to note that the form of Cushing's disease dictates the eventual outcome.

• Juvenile Cellulitis or Puppy Strangles

  Q: Puppy of 8 weeks...has a problem. The Grandmother there has been eye/ear infections which have been treated w/antibiotic successfully!! However problems of swelling have....the lymph system now appears to be swollen...

• Hypothyroidism Diet Recommendations for Dogs

  A hypothyroidism diet can be especially helpful in alleviating symptoms suffered by dogs with hypothyroidism. This condition is caused when the thyroid fails to produce adequate hormones, leading to problems with weight control, high cholesterol, lethargy and skin and coat problems.

• Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism

  Hypothyroidism is the most commonly diagnosed hormonal disorder in dogs. It is also probably the hormonal disease diagnosed in error most frequently. The best method of diagnosing this condition is the use of a test known as the "free T4 by equilibrium dialysis" or "FT4ed".

• Hypothyroid Medication for Dogs

  Hypothyroidism is a serious condition that may affect canines and is caused by insufficient levels of the thyroid hormone in the dog's body.

• Hypoglycemia - low blood sugar in dogs

  It is possible for disorientation, weakness and even seizures to occur with hypoglycemia. Small breeds are more likely to become hypoglycemic from illnesses than larger breeds but most older dogs do not have much problems with this whether they are large or small.

• Hyperparathyroidism in Dogs

  Hyperparathyroidism in dogs occurs when your dog's parathyroid gland produces too much parathyroid hormone. Your dog's parathyroid glands are separate from your dog's thyroid glands; they are located in your dog's throat, next to your dog's thyroid gland, or sometimes inside the thyroid gland.

• Hormonal Skin Disorders of Dogs

  I went to see another doctor since my dog never got healthier.  He agreed that it was very likely that he had hormonal disturbances after he was neutred, since all the symptoms were present.
  

• Hormonal Disorders of Dogs

  Information on canine diabetes, Addison's Disease and other hormonal disorders.

• Holistic Treatment for Canine Cushings Disease

  There are numerous treatments for canine Cushings disease, including various holistic approaches. There are times where conventional medicine is just not helping to alleviate any of the symptoms, or it could be that the dog is reacting negatively to the medications.

• Dog Cushings Treatment with Trilostane

  Trilostane is a relatively new treatment of dog Cushings disease. It was researched in the UK and, as of 2009, was approved for use in the US.

• Dog Cushings Disease Treatment with Canine Supraglan

  Dog Cushings disease is an often misdiagnosed or missed condition in older dogs. While many treatments are available to treat Cushing's, Supraglan is becoming an increasingly popular choice amongst owners, and is vet-approved.

• Dog Cushings Disease Prognosis

  While dog Cushings Disease is a serious, sometimes fatal and often misdiagnosed disorder, catching and treating it can greatly improve your dog's quality of life.

• Diet for Managing Cushings Disease in Dogs

  Cushings disease in dogs, also known as hyperadrenocorticism, is a serious medical condition that needs to be properly monitored. Cushings disease causes the dog to have an overactive adrenal gland, resulting in excessive amounts of cortisol, also known as cortisone, being produced.

• Diagnosing Dog Thyroid Problems

  The dog thyroid is a small gland in the throat that produces thyroid hormones. These hormones help regulate your dog's metabolism.

• Diagnosing Cushings Disease in Dogs

  Cushings disease in dogs is caused by the production of glucocorticoids in excess. The glucocorticoids are hormones produced by the adrenal gland.

• Diagnosing Canine Thyroid Disease

  Thyroid disease is the most common endocrine disease in dogs and can be very difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms can be attributed to many illnesses and may even be contradictory to one another.

• Diagnosing Canine Thyroid Carcinoma

  Malignant canine thyroid tumors are fairly common in dogs. There are a number of factors that determine which dogs are susceptible, and prognosis will vary from case to case.

• Diagnosing Canine Hypothyroidism

  Canine hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disorder that stems from thyroid gland dysfunction. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, and is responsible for proper metabolism.

• Diagnosing Addisons Disease in Dogs

  Addisons Disease in dogs occurs when your dog's pituitary gland stops making adrenocorticotropic hormone. These hormones are responsible for stimulating the adrenal gland to manufacture glucocorticoid steroid, a steroid that helps the body make blood glucose from protein and fat.

• Diabetes mellitus

  Diabetes mellitus can lead to a secondary myocarditis (malfunction of the heart muscles). This can eventually cause heart failure. The signs that this is happening include a decrease in activity or weakness

• Diabetes Insipidus

  Canine Medical Encyclopedia

• Diabetes - sudden onset or ketoacidotic diabetes

  There are times when diabetes occurs secondary to another problem, particularly immune mediated disorders and other hormonal illnesses. Genetic factors, obesity, some medications such as progesterones and chronic pancreatitis have also been associated with diabetes.

• Detecting Cushing Disease in Dogs Through Blood Tests

  Cushing's disease in dogs or "hyperadrenocorticism" is a condition that results from the chronic overproduction of glucocorticoid in the body. The disease typically shows up in dog's ages 10 years and older.

• Cushing’s with Renal Disease

  Approximately 5% of dogs treated with mitotane (Lysodren Rx) develop side effects consistent with hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease). This requires supplementation with either glucocorticoids or mineralocorticoid medications to prevent adverse effects, including kidney failure.

• Cushing’s and Skin Disease in Dogs

  The first is Lysodren (mitotane). In the United States it is most commonly used on a continuous basis to control Cushing's disease. By checking cortisol levels in the blood stream on a regular basis it is possible to give enough Lysodren to control Cushing's disease but not enough to totally wipe out the adrenal gland.

• Congenital Hypothyroidism in Dogs

  Hypothyroidism in dogs usually occurs in adult dogs, mostly dogs middle aged or older. Congenital hypothyroidism is more rare and occurs in puppies. Usually congenital hypothyroidism occurs because a puppy's thyroid gland has failed to develop properly.

• Causes of Hypothyroidism in Dogs

  Hypothyroidism in dogs is a condition where the thyroid gland produces less thyroxine than required for regulating various metabolic functions in your dog’s body. Thyroxine affects almost every body function, and without the appropriate levels of thyroxine, the various systems in the body become sluggish and don’t operate efficiently.

• Canine Thyroid Testing

  Canine thyroid disease is the most common endocrine disease and can appear in dogs of any age. Since the thyroid controls your dog's metabolism, including growth and development as well as breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates, thyroid disease can cause many health problems.

• Canine Thyroid Disease

  Canine thyroid disease is a fairly common condition affecting your pet's endocrine system. Cases range from moderate to fatal, and the disease itself has numerous causes and symptoms, making for a difficult diagnosis procedure.

• Canine Pituitary Dwarfism Syndrome

  Pituitary dwarfism syndrome in dogs occurs when young dogs suffer from deficiencies in the amount of growth hormone, or GH, secreted by the pituitary gland.

• Canine Hypothyroidism Explained

  Canine hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder in which your dog's thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones.

• Canine Hypothryroidism Treamtent Options

  There are two main types of canine hypothyroidism, primary and secondary. There are two additional types, euplastic and congenital, but these are far less common in dogs and tend to afflict only specific breeds.

• Canine Cushings FAQ

  Canine Cushings is a condition that is caused by an excessive production of corticosteroids or cortisol. The adrenal gland produces these hormones.

• Canine Cushings Disease: A Primer for Dog Owners

  Dogs with canine Cushings disease may gain weight, begin urinating in the house, and lose fur. However, canine Cushings disease is treatable, and treatment can greatly increase your dog's quality and length of life.

• Canine Cushings Disease Treatment

  Canine Cushing's disease is often difficult to detect because it develops so slowly, but it's a serious disease that requires treatment. Fortunately, in most cases, symptoms can be reduced with treatment.

• Canine Cushings Disease Prognosis

  Canine Cushing's disease, also known as hyperadrenocorticism, occurs when the pet's body produces abnormally high amounts of glucocorticoid hormones. Although these hormones are necessary for the proper functioning of the body, overproduction leads to Cushing's disease.

• Canine Cushings Disease Diagnosis

  Canine Cushings Disease, or hyperadrenocorticism, occurs when the adrenal glands produce excessive amounts of glutocorticoid in the body or the pituitary gland excretes too much ACTH. Canine Cushing’s Disease can cause a whole host of problems for dogs and can usually be resolved with the help of surgery or medication.

• Canine Addison’s Disease Types: Primary, Secondary and Atypical

  A dog with Addison's disease is generally no older than five years of age. Original symptoms include lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea.

• Canine Addison’s Disease

  Addison's disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism, is a deficiency of the production of steroid hormones, which are produced by the adrenal glands. Female canines under the age of 5 are more prone to developing Addison's disease.

• Breeds Most Susceptible to Dog Hypothyroidism

  Dog hypothyroidism is the lack of sufficient thyroid hormones. The thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland, which is located in the dog's throat.

• Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Dogs

  Autoimmune thyroid disease is the inherited form of hypothyroidism, suspected in more than 90 percent of cases in dogs. There is no way to determine the difference, but the strong genetic component indicates that more tests should be done on dogs who might be bred.

• Adrenal Glands

  There are several possibilities when adrenal gland enlargement is identified. The most likely problem is hypertrophy of the adrenal gland due to stimulation from the pituitary gland, which is one of the two major causes of hyperadrenocorticism (HAC, Cushing's disease).

• Addison’s Disease in Dogs - Diagnosing, and Treating Hypothroidism

  Addison's disease is also known as hypoadrenocorticism. It is an insufficient production of adrenal hormones by the adrenal gland. Since these hormones are essential for life, this is an extremely serious disease and it must be treated as such.

• Addison’s Disease in Dogs

  Addison's disease in dogs is also known as hypoadrenocorticism. It is a disease that occurs when the adrenal gland stops producing sufficient amounts of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone.

• 10 Breeds More Prone to Canine Hypothyroidism

  There are two main types of canine hypothyroidism, primary and secondary. There also some rarer forms of this condition.

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