Dog Cushing’s herbal remedies may benefit your pet.
Canine Cushing’s disease is also known as hyperadrenocorticism.
In dogs with Cushing’s disease, the adrenal glands produce a variety of excess hormones, mostly cortisol.
Older dogs more commonly suffer from Cushing’s disease. Cushing’s symptoms often mimic symptoms of other diseases.
Common Cushing’s Symptoms
- Increased hunger, thirst, and urination
- Increased panting
- Pot-belly appearance
- Obesity
- Excess fat on the neck and shoulders
- Hair loss
- Low energy.
What is Atypical Cushing’s Disease in Dogs?
Atypical Cushing’s disease displays the exact same symptoms as standard Cushing’s disease, except there is no cortisol increase.
Instead, the adrenal glands produce increased levels of intermediate adrenal steroids often called “sex steroids.”
When the dog is tested with standard Cushing’s tests, the results fail to prove the diagnosis. The situation is confusing for both the veterinarian and pet owner.
Hope exists with proper treatment.
Natural Treatment for Canine Cushing’s Disease and Atypical Cushing’s Disease
A combination of Melatonin and Lignans offer an excellent natural treatment for both Cushing’s and Atypical Cushing’s disease in dogs.
In fact, supplementing with melatonin and lignans helps your dog’s system return to normal.
Melatonin
The pineal gland, found in the brain, naturally produces melatonin from the amino acid tryptophan at night. The optic nerve detects reduced light entering the eyes and sends the melatonin secretion signal to the pineal gland.
In Chinese medicine, melatonin is cooling. It nourishes Yin and clears heat to help alleviate the symptoms associated with Cushing’s disease.
In Western medicine, melatonin is often used to treat canine alopecia. Melatonin also helps balance hormones and slow the growth of tumors.
If melatonin makes your dog excessively sleepy, give melatonin only at night.
When purchasing melatonin for your dog, make sure to get plain, unflavored melatonin. Flavored products may contain hidden ingredients toxic to dogs.
Flax Hull Lignans
In Chinese medicine, flax seeds are called Ya Ma Zi. Flax seeds are considered sweet and neutral and enter the lung, liver and large intestine meridians. TCM uses flax seeds to alleviate dry skin, intestinal dryness with constipation, pruritus, and alopecia.
Western doctors use lignans for phytoestrogen activity. Lignans take the place of estradiol canine tissue estrogen receptors. Lignans also lower estradiol by inhibiting aromatase enzymes and lower cortisol by inhibiting 3-beta HSD enzymes.
When purchasing lignans for your dog, look for a standardized product labeled “Flax Hull Lignans.” Standardized products have labels such as “40% standardized SDG extract for a total of 25 mg of SDG lignans.”
Powerful Tools for Dog Cushing’s Disease Health Challenges
There are many quick and easy changes you can make at home to help you give your dog an edge on easing Cushing’s disease challenges.
- Learn more about Cushing’s Disease.
- Try Home Cooking. Visit PET | TAO’s Slow Cooker Recipe Page, and scroll down to the recipes for dogs with Cushing’s disease. Often, home-cooking makes a huge difference in helping dogs feel better.
- Supplement with medicinal mushrooms. PET | TAO Complement Immune is a mushroom blend for easing inflammatory response and immune system stress caused by Cushing’s.
- Try digestive enzymes and probiotics. PET | TAO Harmonize GI boosts gut health, which in turn helps your dog better process food. Improved gut health also boosts immunity and calms allergic response.
- Feed Freeze Dried Liver Treats. According to TCVM, when Cushing’s disease is present there is almost always Liver Meridian involvement. Liver treats provide Liver Meridian support like as a glandular supplement (Western theory) and via 5-Element Theory (Eastern theory).
- Learn more about TCVM Herbal Remedies. Chinese medicine offers many amazing natural solutions for Cushing’s disease. A good example is Rehmannia 14.
