Diagnosing Cushing's in a Diabetic Dog - is it one, the other or both?

[k9diabetes]

Dr. Peterson has a wonderful blog - one for vets and one for owners - on veterinary endocrinology.

I'm grateful for his topic today on not rushing to a Cushing's diagnosis in a dog just diagnosed with diabetes who has few if any obvious symptoms of Cushing's disease that aren't also part of diabetes:

http://endocrinevet.blogspot.com/201...edium=facebook

We define insulin resistance as doses greater than 2.2 U/kg/injection to control hyperglycemia (4), so we aren't even close to the doses required to diagnose resistance.

And yes, diabetic dogs can get marked hepatomegaly secondary to fat accumulation in the liver. That can lead to a mild-moderate "pot bellied" appearance.

Because it can be very difficult to make a diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome in dogs with diabetes, observation and monitoring is the best course in many of these patients. If Cushing's disease is present, it will be progressive and other signs will develop to make the diagnosis easier to confirm.

I personally don't like to see any newly diagnosed diabetic dog also tagged with Cushing's unless they visually have numerous obvious symptoms. The response to insulin treatment for the diabetes can help determine whether Cushing's disease is actually present.

[k9diabetes]

Petdiabetes.org's page on Is It Cushing's or Diabetes or Both?

http://www.caninediabetes.org/pdorg/cushings.htm

[k9diabetes]

Some years ago Kate Connick wrote her Crash Course in Cushing's Disease.

http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html

[k9diabetes]

Here is a link to the forum and the resources page at K9Cushings.com, our "sister" forum for dogs with Cushing's disease.

The Forum:
www.k9cushings.com/forum

The Resources section of the forum:
http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=10