Hyperadrenocorticism

Also known as Cushing's Disease, it is the overproduction of adrenal hormone like corticosteroids. This can occur naturally caused by either a tumor in the adrenal gland or over stimulation of the adrenal gland, or medically by the over administration of corticosteroid drugs like prednisone. In the case of the latter, treatment is simply to stop treating with a coricosteroid. With the former, treatment is the removal of the tumor or in the case of over stimulation, administering the drug Lysodren to selectively kill off parts of the adrenal gland. The life expectancy of a dog diagnosed with Hyperadrenocorticism is 2 years with or without treatment, but their quality of life is much greater with treatment.