Diagnosis of hypercortisolism in dogs: a literature review

Abstract

Hyperadrenocorticism (HAC), also known as hypercortisolism or Cushing’s syndrome, is a common condition in dogs caused by the excessive production of cortisol, which is synthesized by the adrenal glands and performs various functions in the organism. Furthermore, HAC can be classified into three types: pituitary-dependent, which accounts for 80 to 85% of cases; adrenal-dependet, responsible for 15 to 20% of cases; and intragenic hyperadrenocorticism. This endocrinopathy is characterized by a slow and insidious progression and, in addition, it’s noticed that the most frequent clinical signs include polydipsia, polyuria, hypertension and hypertensive retinopathy, polyphagia, abdominal distension, muscle alterations, lethargy, cutaneous alterations, persistent anestrus, testicular atrophy and neurological manifestations. Its diagnosis can be established through hormonal testing, associated with laboratorial and imaging exams. Therefore, knowledge about hyperadrenocorticism is essential to improve the dog’s quality of life and to prevent complications, such as hypertension, and recurrent infections.