Although, technically, all forms of hyperadrenocorticism are known as versions of cushing's syndrome, most people have commonly taken to calling them all cushing's disease.
Medically speaking, though, cushing's disease in dogs is just one form of cushing's syndrome, the form that involves pituitary gland tumors.
The titles have become interchangeable, though.
Aside from the pituitary gland, though, cushing's can also be caused by problems with the adrenal glands.
Either problem has to do with the distribution of cortisol and cortisone in your dog's body.
cushing's causes over-production of those hormones, which can lead to a host of health problems for your k-9 friend.
There's also a third form of cushing's disease in dogs that you should be aware of, the form that is drug-induced.
Believe it or not, drugs that are used to cure another condition that your dog has can actually cause your dog to develop cushing's disease.
So, it's important to ask your vet about the risks, if your dog needs medications.
Recognizing and Treating cushing's: One of the most common and disturbing symptoms of cushing's for an owner to see is fur loss.
If your dog is losing much more hair than seems normal, it could be cushing's that is the cause.
That's not the only symptom, though.
If your dog seems tired all the time, drinks much more water than seems normal or urinates far too frequently, those could also be cushing's symptoms.
Iatrogenic cushing's disease in dogs, which is caused by drugs and medications, is fairly easy to treat.
All your dog's vet has to do is carefully wean your dog off of the offending medication and replace it with a different treatment.
Other forms of cushing's are a bit harder to treat, though.
They could involve putting your dog on medications that could have harsh side-effects or, possibly, even putting your dog through surgery to remove gland tumors.
Due to the expense and trouble involved in traditional treatments for cushing's disease in dogs, a lot of people opt to take a more natural approach to treatment.
There are lots of herbs and supplements that are said to be very beneficial.
There is a bit of controversy surrounding homeopathic remedies, though.
Most of it comes from the fact that many natural treatments are derived from diluting the substance that causes the problem.
It's believed, in natural circles, that a small amount can cure the offending thing, in this case, cushing's.
However, there are many skeptics out there.
The problem isn't so much with the dilution.
It's actually the amount of dilution.
Many people don't believe that remedies diluted beyond twenty or so times are effective.
Yet, there are studies that show success with up to ninety times dilution.
The bottom line is that, when it comes to cushing's disease in dogs, there are a lot of debates about the best treatments.
Also, a lot depends on the root cause.
So, consult your dog's vet for the answers you need.