Re. Mack et al., DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERADRENOCORTICISM IN DOGS, The Compendium on continuing education for the practicing veterinarian, 16(3), 1994, pp. 311
Excessive secretion of cortisol by the adrenal cortex causes spontaneo
us canine hyperadrenocorticism. After history and physical examination
, specific screening test results help to support the diagnosis of hyp
eradrenocorticism. The adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test an
d the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test reliably confirm the dia
gnosis in suspect cases. All diagnostic information should be interpre
ted as a whole, rather than basing diagnosis on an individual abnormal
finding. This article also discusses discrimination tests that are cu
rrently available for differentiating pituitary-dependent hyperadrenoc
orticism from an adrenocortical tumor once a diagnosis of spontaneous
canine hyperadrenocorticism has been made.