What is Cushings disease?

• A. The body produces too little cortisone
• B. Excess insulin production
• C. The body produces too much cortisone, which can contribute to reactivity in middle aged-older dogs
• D. An autoimmune disease of the liver

Answer: (C)

Cushings disease in dogs is hyperadrenocorticism, a condition where the body makes too much cortisol, the main stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. This excess cortisol can affect multiple body systems and is often seen in middle-aged to older dogs. Behavioral changes, such as increased reactivity to stimuli, can be part of the picture because cortisol influences the brain’s response to stress. So the option stating that the body produces too much cortisone (cortisol) and that this can contribute to reactivity best describes Cushings disease. The other choices describe completely different conditions: too little cortisol would be Addison’s disease, excess insulin points to diabetes mellitus, and an autoimmune liver disease is unrelated to Cushings.