The stressed dog and Cushings work up

RE: The stressed dog and Cushings work up

Ellinor Wede — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 09:13:47 GMT

I haven’t used the test myself but I heard about it in another lecture. The advantage is that it can be done at home so less stressful than doing tests in the clinic. A UCCR less than 1,0 x 10^-6 would indicate negative feedback (probably healthy dog) while a higher UCCR would indicate hyperadrenocortisism. By adding the oral dexamethason suppression part you raise the specificity of the test compared to just doing a regular UCCR.

RE: The stressed dog and Cushings work up

Ian Ramsey — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 22:09:43 GMT

Dear Ellinor,

That is an interesting question.

I never personally use this test but that is simply a matter of tradition (and some concerns about measuring UCCR in different labs). Does this test add to the diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism - or does it just distinguish between pituitary and adrenal disease? How does the administration of dexamethasone work in the stressed dog?

Ian

RE: The stressed dog and Cushings work up

Ellinor Wede — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 19:29:33 GMT

Could you do an oral dexamethason suppression test in this dog? Where you collect morning urine 2 days in a row for basal cortisol and then on the second day after morning urine you give oral dexamethasone 0,1 mg/kg TID and collect a morning urine sample on the third day for UCCR.

RE: The stressed dog and Cushings work up

Ian Ramsey — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 19:11:09 GMT

Anyone else have any thoughts on this - specifically have any studies been done on the effect of sedation on ACTH stimulation tests? (I have never looked this one up)

Why does acute stress (an adrenergic effect) cause cortisol to increase when cortisol is a chronic stress hormone?

Ian

Best wishes

Ian