Cats are animals that are generally in good he alth, although this does not mean that any signs that could indicate a problem should be ignored, as early diagnosis is essential for any recovery.
Among these possible diseases are the most common to others that are quite rare, but it is also necessary to know in case your cat suffers from them. That is why our site presents you with this article on Cushing's syndrome in cats, symptoms and treatment
What is Cushing's syndrome?
Also called feline hyperadrenocorticism (FAH), it is a serious disease but rare in cats, caused when the hormone cortisol is found excessively accumulated in the blood. This excess can be produced by two causes: a tumor located in the adrenal glands, in which case it is called adrenal Cushing, or a tumor in the pituitary gland, called pituitary Cushing.
In cats it usually appears more frequently when the animal is medicated with corticosteroids or when it suffers from diabetes mellitus However, even so It is a very rare condition, of which few cases have been recorded and whose treatment is still under study. It occurs mainly in adult and elderly cats, with short-haired mestizos being more prone, especially females.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary from one feline to another and can be confused with other diseases, so proper diagnosis is necessary. However, the most common are:
- Frequent and copious urination
- Excessive thirst
- Appetite
- Lethargy
- Abdominal swelling
- General weakness
- Hair loss, especially on the body
- Prone to bruising
- Thin and brittle skin, brittle
- Gaps
Diagnosis
Confirming the disease is a bit complicated and requires several studies that must be carried out gradually:
- First, you will need several blood and urine tests, a few hours apart. Because of this, the cat may need to be hospitalized for a few days for testing.
- Know the feline's medical history is essential to detect possible problems due to medication or tendencies to certain diseases.
- Studies such as X-rays, X-rays to observe the state of the liver, MRIs, suppression tests and ACTH stimulation tests are required to make a definitive diagnosis.
Treatment
In the first place, it must be based on the elimination of the tumors that cause the syndrome. Both adrenal and pituitary tumor removal are delicate operations with a high risk index.
In order to avoid the operating room, it is often preferred to treat tumors with different drugs, such as metyrapone However, this rare The disease does not yet have a definitive treatment, and many felines do not respond satisfactorily to drugs or do not survive surgery.
If the cat uses medicines containing corticosteroids, these should be discontinued, but gradually in order to combat dependence on the substance. There is also a homeopathic treatment, which consists of using a substance that is considered a cure for the effects of cortisol.
Unfortunately, in none of these cases is the cure guaranteed and many times it is not possible to obtain great improvements in the pet's he alth. Despite this, we recommend that you follow the your veterinarian's recommendations to the letter
