Has your dog been diagnosed with an endocrine (hormone)
disorder, such as Cushing’s syndrome or hypothyroidism? If so, here is a brief
overview of what you can do at home to help manage the side effects of these
diseases. The most commonly noticed
problem associated with these hormone imbalances is skin disease.
Low Thyroid Levels -
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism happens when your dog’s thyroid levels are
too low. Experts still aren’t sure what exactly causes this condition - the
thyroid gland simply stops making hormone in some, while others are caused by
tumors or an autoimmune disease. This can happen from birth (very rare) or as
your dog ages. Low thyroid is most
common for dogs around around 7 years of age. Many people notice that their dog
becomes more lethargic and may get a little fatter. Skin changes are extremely
common and some of these happen before other signs. Hypothyroid dogs don’t typically have itchy
skin, except when their skin is infected.
A few signs that your dog’s skin problem may be linked to low thyroid:
●
Dull, dry hair coat
●
Changes in hair color
●
Dry skin - also known as “seborrhea”
●
Hair loss along your dog’s sides and chest
●
Hair loss on the tail - “rat tail” appearance
●
Skin infections
○
Yeast
○
Bacteria
●
Darkening of skin
●
Bruising
●
Delayed healing of wounds
High Cortisol Levels
- Cushing’s Syndrome
High cortisol levels, technically called
hyperadrenocorticism, happens in both dogs and horses. For simplicity’s sake,
vets call it Cushing’s Syndrome. The way it happens in dogs is somewhat
different than in horses but they can show similar symptoms. Cushing’s happens when the dog’s adrenal
glands make too much of the stress hormone, cortisol. The adrenal glands are “controlled” by
hormone signals from the pituitary gland in the brain. If the pituitary gland is diseased, these
signals get out of whack, and the adrenals produce too much cortisol. Adrenal gland tumors can also cause increases
in cortisol. The most common signs of
Cushing’s are weight gain, excessive water consumption, increased urination,
increased appetite, weight gain or “pot belly” and skin changes. Like dogs with
low thyroid, dogs with Cushing’s also are more prone to being itchy secondary
to skin infection. Some of the skin changes are similar to those seen with low thyroid,
with a few differences:
●
Hair loss - especially along the sides of the trunk
●
Seborrhea
●
Hardening of the skin - calcinosis cutis
●
Darkening of skin
●
Blackhead formation
●
Skin infections
○
Bacteria
○
Yeast
●
Delayed healing of wounds
One of the common factors between skin disease in dogs with
each of these endocrine diseases is seborrhea.
Seborrhea is the abnormal production (over production) of skin cells -
producing excessively “scaly” skin and/or increasing oil secretions on the skin. Seborrhea usually happens secondary to
another problem, such as a skin infection, other dermatologic problem or an
endocrine disorder.
With proper treatment, the skin signs of these disorders can
be greatly diminished. Your veterinarian will prescribe a thyroid hormone
supplement or a medication to bring down cortisol levels. Treatment should help
control symptoms. However, for some that are not so well controlled or have
skin infections - it is good to talk to your veterinarian about additional therapies. Food therapy or including Traditional Chinese
Veterinary Medicine techniques (acupuncture, herbs) can be helpful in bringing
the body back into balance. Supporting
the skin through good, balanced home-prepared meals and supplements can also
make a difference. A veterinary nutritionist can formulatea diet specifically for your pet if he or she has an endocrine
disorder.
Omega essential fatty acid supplementation has been used for
years to help treat a variety of skin conditions. Omega-7 is especially helpful
in promoting and maintaining skin health; as it is an essential building-block
that promotes collagen formation. Omega-7 oil can also help the skin retain
moisture, which can be important in hypothyroid dogs, who often have dry
skin. The best souce of omega-7 is
sourced from sea buckthorn berry and is also rich in other compounds that
promote skin health, including antioxidants, vitamin E, and flavonoids. Talk to
your veterinarian and see if supplementation with omega-3, omega-7 and omega-9
would fit into your dog’s treatment plan. If your dog is already taking an
omega supplement - consider making a switch to a product like Seabuck 7 Omega 7 oil instead of a fish-based
oil. Sea buckthorn-sourced supplements
are earth-friendly, fully sustainable, vegan and promotes wholefood based
nutrition.
