Cushing's syndrome (veterinary)

Cushing's syndrome disease
Other names	hyperadrenocorticism, spontaneous hypercortisolism
Dachshund with Cushing's syndrome.
Specialty	Endocrinology
Symptoms	Enlarged stomach, lethargy, diabetes mellitus (cats)
Types	Pituitary dependent, adrenal dependent, iatrogenic
Risk factors	Certain breeds, bitches
Medication	Lysodren, trilostane, L-Deprenyl
Frequency	0.2% to 0.28% of dogs.
Named after	Harvey Cushing

Cushing's syndrome disease, also known as hyperadrenocorticism and spontaneous hypercortisolism, is a condition resulting from an endocrine disorder where too much adrenocorticotropic and cortisol hormones are produced, causing toxicity. It may arise in animals as well as in humans.^[1] Cushing's is an umbrella term for conditions caused by elevated cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels.

Cushing's disease most commonly refers to pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism, the most common condition of Cushing's syndrome, but 'Cushing's' is used to refer to all hyperadrenocorticism conditions.^[2]

Cats are less likely to be diagnosed than dogs.^[2] Cushing's occurs infrequently in hamsters. It may be more common but due to hamsters not being routinely treated it may go undiagnosed.^[3]