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What is dog’s Cushing’s disease? Dogs Cushing’s disease is a common problem that affects elder pets, and is caused by overactive adrenal glands. This condition can easily be confused with premature signs of aging in dogs. Cushing’s disease symptoms include:

* weight gain * hair loss * urinating in the house * increased consumption of water * increased urination * increase in appetite

Thankfully, this disease is treatable and once treated your dog can live a much longer and healthier life. This condition can be treated at home using homeopathic remedies.

In dogs, Cushing’s disease can look like the debilitating effects of aging, so some pet owners may mistakenly consider euthanasia in order to let their pets go peacefully. It is very important to understand when your dog is truly just aging or if they are suffering from Cushing’s disease. Your vet can help you determine what your pet is facing.

In dogs, Cushing’s disease is usually found in pets that are around ten years old. Cushing’s disease is more likely to strike in miniature dogs and in spayed/neutered dogs. Since it can strike just about any dog and there are very few known predispositions for the disease it is sometimes hard to diagnose. Even the physical signs of the disease can be similar to a variety of other health problems.

Because the symptoms are so much like aging it is important to note the symptoms that are more than common signs of aging. These can be extreme drinking(water) as 80-85% of Cushing’s dogs will drink 2-10 times their normal amount. Another possible sign is a change in the color of your dog’s coat, 85-100% of Cushing’s dogs have a change in the skin or coat. 90-95% of dogs will also take on a pot-bellied appearance. By recognizing these signs you can treat the disease and make your dog live longer and more comfortably. Once you suspect the problem, a simple blood test could prove that your dog is suffering from Cushing’s.

If Cushing’s disease is left to progress without treatment it can lead to even more serious problems such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, failure of the liver and kidneys, and other problems like infections in numerous places on the body. These problems combined with Cushing’s disease can prove fatal to your pet. So if you pet is exhibiting any of the symptoms for dog’s Cushing’s disease and they are over 6 years of age, it is best to take them to a vet right away for a diagnosis.

Are you worrying that your cat has a urinary or kidney problem? After you finish this article you’ll understand what tests are run for cats in kidney failure. The key to lengthening your cat’s life is to contact your vet as soon as possible to have a a series of diagnostic tests run. Your veterinarian will perform blood and urine tests to check for key symptoms for a cat experiencing chronic kidney failure.

Its important to understand some of the vocabulary used to convey the state of the condition for cats in kidney failure. Acute kidney (or renal) failure in your cat is characterized by complete organ failure where the kidneys stop working altogether. Usually, acute renal failure occurs quite suddenly and can affect both young and old cats.This type of kidney disease is almost always fatal but if treated immediately and aggressively, the kidneys may regain normal functions and your cat may live a normal lifespan.

Another term, chronic kidney failure, is the more common disease. This type of kidney disease is usually experienced by an aging cat when their major organs have diminished function. Sadly, by the time you notice the symptoms for cats in kidney failure, about 70% of your cat’s kidney functions are already in trouble. Chronic kidney failure is a progressive disease and will eventually result in the death of your cat. Early diagnosis and aggressive management can keep your cat comfortable for months, if not years.

Since cats with a kidney problem typically have small, shriveled kidneys, your vet will palpitate the area and may take x-rays or an ultrasound. The most dependable diagnosis comes from the blood and urine tests taken from your cat.

Blood Tests

A blood test evaluates the BUN level of your cat’s blood. No, BUN isn’t a level of yeast but stands for the Blood Urea Nitrogen level. The BUN is a chemical that the liver makes from ammonia. After production, BUN is excreted into the kidneys, which increases in some diseases especially for cats in kidney failure. The test also is a marker for dehydration in your cat or even bladder stones.

Blood tests also show the level of creatinine in your cat’s blood. Creatinine is the breakdown product of muscle and normally is excreted by the kidneys. If your cat’s creatinine level is abnormally high it helps confirm that your cat’s elevated BUN level was caused by kidney failure.

Urine Tests

Your veterinarian will check for signs of infection by evaluating your cat’s urine. He will also evaluate the concentration of proteins. When a healthy cat is dehydrated the proteins show at a concentrated level. For cats in kidney failure, this protein concentration is not there which is key to determining if your cat’s kidneys are functioning properly or not.