Canine hyperadrenocorticism: Review

Abstract

Also known as Cushing's syndrome, hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is an endocrine disease that mainly affects middle-aged to elderly dogs. Most of the time, it manifests itself silently, going unnoticed by the tutors, who are slow to seek professional help from the veterinarian, who ends up giving a late diagnosis. The disease is characterized by excessive production of the hormone cortisol. The etiology of HAC allows us to classify it as iatrogenic, being transmitted by the indiscriminate use of glucorticoids, or spontaneously, and may depend on the pituitary or adrenal gland, the latter two being by tumors, in their last glands. The animal affected by this disease has several clinical and laboratory changes, presenting excessive production of cortisol. This literature review, addressing the main information about HAC in dogs, characterizing the disease etiology, epidemiology, main clinical signs, diagnostic tests, prognosis and treatment choice, aims to contribute to assertive behavior against the HAC, since the frequency of the disease in the clinical routine is mandatory and represents a challenge for us Veterinarians.