SPONTANEOUS HYPERADRENOCORTICISM IN THE DOG

Abstract

SUMMARY Twenty-one dogs with spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism presented a clinical picture characterized by an insidious onset of abdominal enlargement, muscular weakness, obesity and alopecia. Slight diabetes mellitus was present in some. In the bitches usually there was absence of oestrus for a long time. In addition to polydipsia and polyphagia, features indicative of heat intolerance were observed frequently. The signs and symptoms found are compared to those of human Cushing's syndrome. Determinations of the excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids in 24-hr. urines were of great diagnostic significance. There was a considerable overlap of levels of plasma 11β-hydroxycorticosteroids in normal dogs and those with hyperadrenocorticism. Results of dexamethasone suppression tests are given. In the sera of four exophthalmic animals and in one pituitary obtained by necropsy, elevated levels of exophthalmos-producing substance were found. Pathological findings have become available in a number of cases. Preliminary results with hypophysectomy in four dogs are encouraging.