Canine Cushing’s Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism)

In this episode, Dr. Lottie talks about one of the most common endocrine disorders in small animal practice — Cushing’s disease

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Timeline:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:31 Case
• 01:24 Aetiology & Pathogenesis
• 05:08 Clinical Signs
• 06:29 Diagnosis
• 13:21 Treatment
• 16:38 Recommendations
• 17:26 Key Points
• 18:54 Outro

Recommended Reading

• ACVIM Consensus Statement (2013)
• Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2020): Small Animal Internal Medicine
• Feldman, E.C. and Nelson, R.W. (2014): Canine and Feline Endocrinology
• Veterinary Partner (VIN Foundation, open access)
• AAHA (2023): Selected Endocrinopathies Guidelines

References

• Behrend, E.N., Kooistra, H.S., Nelson, R., Reusch, C.E. and Scott-Moncrieff, J.C., 2013. Diagnosis of spontaneous canine hyperadrenocorticism: 2012 ACVIM consensus statement (small animal). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 27(6), pp.1292–1304. doi:10.1111/jvim.12192.
• Behrend, E.N., 2015. Canine hyperadrenocorticism. Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice, 30(1), pp.41–47. doi:10.1053/j.ctsap.2014.10.005.
• Feldman, E.C. and Nelson, R.W., 2014. Canine and Feline Endocrinology. 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.
• Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G., 2020. Small Animal Internal Medicine. 6th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier.
• Ettinger, S.J. and Feldman, E.C., 2017. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 8th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders.
• Veterinary Partner, VIN Foundation. 2025. Cushing’s Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism) in Dogs. [online] Available at: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/ [Accessed 5 Sept. 2025].
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), 2023. AAHA Selected Endocrinopathies of Dogs and Cats Guidelines – Canine Hypercortisolism (Cushing’s Syndrome). Lakewood, CO: AAHA. Available at: https://www.aaha.org/resources/2023-aaha-selected-endocrinopathies-of-dogs-and-cats-guidelines/canine-hypercortisolism-cushings-syndrome/ [Accessed 5 Sept. 2025].

Current Vet is an educational podcast intended for veterinary students, veterinary professionals, and individuals with an interest in veterinary medicine.

All content provided in this podcast and its associated materials is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as, and must not be considered a substitute for, professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Any clinical cases discussed in this podcast are fictional, and are designed to reflect typical or likely clinical scenarios for educational purposes. They do not represent specific real-life cases, clients, or animals.

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and alignment with current evidence at the time of publication, veterinary medicine is a rapidly evolving field, and recommendations may change over time