Q: My dog is a 10 year old English Bulldog. He was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease. Currently he is taking Lysodren and we are changing his diet. Can you recommend anything we should do to help him get better?
A: Cushing’s Disease is a complex hormonal disorder that affects many body systems. Often these dogs are obese and this complicates their condition. Have your veterinarian tell you how many calories your dog requires each day in order to lose excess weight. Then choose a natural dog food with high quality proteins that will help promote a lean body. Exercise is also important for dogs with Cushing’s Disease, and as they are often overweight or intolerant to warm temperatures, swimming is an excellent form of exercise to promote weight loss and good health.
Dogs with Cushing’s Disease frequently have problems regulating their blood sugar (what we call insulin resistance). It is best to feed them a natural dog food that has limited grains (carbohydrates) in order to keep blood sugar levels lower. Exercise also helps keep their blood sugar levels in check.
If your dog with Cushing’s Disease has high blood pressure (hypertension), you should minimize the amount of salt (sodium) he eats by feeding a high quality natural dog food as well as avoiding high sodium treats (packaged treats, lunch meat, cheese and dairy products, etc).
With proper medication and appropriate diet changes, your dog with Cushing’s Disease can live a healthier and happier life.
Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.
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