Thoracic radiographs are taken to detect bronchial mineralization or pulmonary metastasis which could be a direct corollary of adrenocortical carcinoma. Treatment- Veterinarians conduct complete blood count and biochemistry. The disease also metastasizes in 50% of dogs and spreads to liver, kidneys, ovaries, mesenteric lymph nodes, peritoneal cavity and thyroid gland. Intravascular invasion can cause death due to intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal hemorrhage (bleeding in the anatomical space in the abdominal cavity behind the peritoneum). The adrenocortical carcinomas severely affect the phrenicoabdominal vein, renal vein or renal vena cava.

They have been identified as polyuria/polydipsia (urge to urinate more frequently/increased levels of thirst), reduced energy levels, pendulous abdominal profile and hair coat (slow re growth of shaved hair) changes. But in case of carcinomas they grow rapidly. Adenomas are normally 1- 6mm in diameter. In more than 80% of the cases it has been found that adrenal tumors are adenocarcinoma. Fifteen to twenty percent of dogs with Cushing’s syndrome have adrenal-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (ADH). Only 10-20% of dogs have macroadenoma that is 10mm or larger in diameter. In the remaining cases, they appear as a nodule. In 40-50% of them the tumors are microscopic (microadenoma). Poodles Dachshunds, Terriers and German Shepherds are most commonly affected by this disease.Ĭases of pituitary carcinoma are mostly unheard of in dogs. More than 75% of dogs with PDH weigh less than 20 kg. There is an excessive secretion of the adrenocortotropic hormone (ACTH) that causes adrenal hyperplasia (enzymatic errors of metabolism) and excessive secretion of glucocorticoids (a class of steroid hormones). It mostly occurs in middle aged and older dogs. It is also called corticotroph adenoma and occasionally arises from pars distalis (it comprises the majority of the anterior pituitary and is where the bulk of pituitary hormone is produced) and pars intermedia (the intermediate part that sits between the pars distalis and the posterior pituitary).Īround 80-85% of dogs have pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). It results from a functional pituitary tumor.

Description– Hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing’s syndrome is the most commonly found disease of an endocrine gland in dogs.

Symptoms of adrenal gland in dogs