Cushing's Disease in Dogs Life Expectancy Can Depend on Multiple Factors
When you are told that your dog has Cushing’s Disease, it can be a devastating blow, especially when your vet tells you that your dog may not live.
The life expectancy of canines with Cushing’s Disease is generally around 3 years. However, there are natural treatments out there that may help your dog to live a natural and full life.
Life Expectancy Can Depend on the Type and Size of the Tumor
Your pet’s prognosis and life expectancy may depend on multiple factors. If the dog’s tumor is small and benign, its condition and well-being might be manageable; the dog might go on to lead a good quality life and live a long time.
However, larger and malignant tumors, or tumors affecting the dog’s brain, are a whole different story. Dogs with these kinds of tumors usually have a poor medical prognosis and shorter life expectancy. Additionally, if left untreated, it can badly impact a dog’s quality of life and expectancy as well.
Most dogs with Cushing’s disease will eventually require treatment but can live comfortably for several years. The mean life expectancy for a dog with an appropriately treated adrenal tumor is 36 months; for a pituitary tumor, it is 30 months.
Additional Factors
Internal Diseases
Cushing's disease is an internal disorder that affects the endocrine system in dogs, and is caused by a hormonal imbalance. This condition can cause several symptoms, including an increase in thirst and urination, an increase in appetite, hair loss, enlarged abdomen, and a decrease in activity.
Cushing's disease can be treated with medication, but if left untreated, the disease can lead to serious health complications and a decrease in life expectancy. Dogs with Cushing's disease should be closely monitored by their veterinarian to ensure they receive the best treatment and care.
Elderly Dogs
Many elderly dogs are especially vulnerable to Cushing’s Disease, which is a disorder caused by the excessive production of cortisol. This hormone can break down muscle and bone, and can cause a variety of other health issues. As dogs age, their organ systems become less efficient and less able to process hormones properly.
Cushing’s Disease can cause them to become lethargic, gain weight, and have an increased thirst and appetite. Owners of elderly dogs should be on the lookout for signs of Cushing’s Disease and consult with their veterinarian if they suspect their pet may be affected. Early diagnosis and treatment may be able to extend the life expectancy of an elderly dog with Cushing’s Disease.
Symptoms of Cushing’s Disease
Cushing’s is a tumor in the pituitary gland that causes the gland to secrete more of the ACTH or adrenocorticotrophic hormone than it should. It releases high cortisol into the body of the dog which causes a variety of symptoms. In some cases, Cushing’s can be caused by an adrenal tumor and can be caused by administering cortisone for allergies.
Canine Cushings Disease Symptoms include:
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Increased appetite
- Weight gain
- Thinning hair
- Enlarged abdomen
- Muscle weakness
- Lose interest in daily activities
- Lethargy
- Panting
- Bony appearance to head
The best way to catch the early symptoms and signs of Cushing's in dogs is through blood tests. Blood tests are an important part of diagnosing Cushing's disease in dogs. A complete blood count (CBC) and serum biochemistry panel will be used to assess the overall health of the dog, and to look for any underlying conditions that might be causing the Cushing's disease.
In addition, specific tests that measure the levels of cortisol in the blood can help to confirm the diagnosis. Other hormone tests may be used to help identify the cause, such as a thyroxine test and an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. It is important to monitor the dog's cortisol levels throughout the course of treatment with medications to ensure that they are kept within a safe range.
Natural Treatment for Cushing’s Disease in Dogs
While you may have little hope, there is a lot of promise in the treatment of Cushing’s with natural alternatives.
These Natural Cushing's treatment for dogs include:
- Burdock. This herb is known for its cleansing abilities. It can help to clean any unwanted substance from the body.
- Dandelion. This herb helps remove inflammation and helps in adrenal function.
- Hepar Sulph. This will help to heal irritated skin that may be caused by Cushing’s
- Arsenicum. This can help with frequent urination as well as thirst.
- Sulphur. This has many uses including improving some skin conditions in dogs, helping digestion and reducing thirst.
- Mercurius. This can help aid in thirst as well as irritability.
These treatments can be mixed in treats for your pets to make them easier to take. Make sure that you give these to your pet frequently as the more they get these healthy herbs, the better that their health will be. Many people have seen remarkable results with using these herbs.
Supplements are the best way to make sure your pet gets the ingredients it needs. Prana Pets offers the Cushings Killer Combo. This has 3 different supplements to boost the immune system, control the symptoms, and even fight the tumors directly. Each product is the bundle has a specific purpose.
The C-Support will detoxify the body and boost your pets immune system. The Canine Adrenal Support will serve to restore balance in the entire HPA (hypothalamic, pituitary, adrenal) axis, rather than just suppressing symptoms. The other product in the bundle is revolutionary.
Our CBD Oil comes from the cannabis plant and will fight any tumor directly. Most importantly CBD will improve your pets overall comfort while dealing with this disease.If your pet has a tumor that is malignant, you can treat it with Oleander extract. This extract must be purchased from a reputable dealer that knows how to mix it properly with other healing properties as, by itself, Oleander is toxic.
Conclusion
Perhaps one of the most important holistic treatments to aid in improving your dog's life expectancy with Cushing's is changing their diet. Your pet should be on a specifically recommended diet for Cushing's Disease in dogs. It is filled full of grains and additives that can actually make your pet worse. Switching your dog to an all-natural raw food diet, will greatly improve his or her health and reduce the Canine Cushing's Disease Symptoms.
Once you hear The Life Expectancy of Canines with Cushing's Disease is not great, you will want to do all that you can to ensure that your dog has a full life. Trying all-natural treatments have helped many people to give their dogs full lives and go past that three-year life expectancy.
If your dog has been diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, consider giving them some of these all-natural treatment options and switch to a raw food diet for dogs. In just a matter of days, you will see a vast improvement.
