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Treatment

Treatment options are limited. Medical therapy has not been shown to be very effective, but surgical removal of the affected adrenal gland, or both affected glands, is usually recommended. The surgery will require hospitalization.

Living and Management

Medication is generally necessary for the remainder of the cat’s life to compensate for the removal of the adrenal glands. Your veterinarian will give explicit instructions for administering these medications, and those instructions should be carefully followed. Cats generally do not tolerate the medications very well, so working out the dosage is complicated.

Pay close attention to the amount of water the cat is drinking and how much is being eliminated through urine. In addition, look for vomiting and/or diarrhea along with weakness, disorientation, and lethargy. Laboratory tests will determine insulin requirements and oral medications. Frequent blood tests will be required after surgery, as well as an evaluation several times a year.

Prevention

Nothing can be done to prevent this disease. But if your cat is diabetic, ask your veterinarian to check to see if Cushing’s disease is the cause.