TALK WITH YOUR VET
How is Cushing’s Syndrome diagnosed in your dog?
Diagnosing Cushing’s in your dog usually starts with a general health screening. Because cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day, diagnosis cannot be confirmed with just one measurement.1
What to expect when you see your veterinarian
When your vet suspects Cushing’s, they will perform blood and urine tests to confirm the diagnosis. Here’s what that process typically looks like.
Step 1
General health screen
Your vet will start by collecting a history of recent behaviors and observations and perform a physical examination. Your vet will then begin with comprehensive blood and urine tests to look for indicators that Cushing’s may be present — and to rule out other conditions with similar signs of disease.3
Step 3
Follow-up and monitoring
Your vet may have to repeat one or both of these tests over time to reach a confident diagnosis.1
The Two Key Tests
How vets confirm Cushing’s syndrome
The Low-Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test
Your dog is injected with a small dose of dexamethasone, which in a healthy dog suppresses cortisol production. Your vet takes blood samples at baseline, then at 4 hours and 8 hours after injection.
In dogs with Cushing’s, cortisol remains elevated because the dexamethasone can’t suppress the excess that’s being produced.1
The ACTH Stimulation Test
This test measures how strongly the adrenal glands respond to stimulation. Your vet takes a baseline reading, injects synthetic ACTH then takes a second sample of blood one hour later.
In dogs with Cushing’s, cortisol production is much higher than expected — confirming overproduction.3,4
Not Sure Where to Start?
Use our Cushing’s Checklist to prepare for your vet visit.
Our Cushing’s Checklist helps you organize your observations and create a summary to share with your veterinarian.