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Cushings in Dogs helps educate people on Canine Cushing's Disease (aka Hyperadrenocorticism) and provides guidance to help manage the symptoms.

Cushings in Dogs raises awareness for Canine Cushing's Disease (aka Hyperadrenocorticism) and provides guidance to help manage the symptoms.

28/07/2026

Can the lignan and melatonin protocol be used alongside trilostane?

This is one of the most common questions we see — and the short answer is: yes, in many cases, but your vet needs to be in the loop.

Here's the nuance:

✅ The mechanisms are largely complementary — lignans work on hormone precursors, melatonin supports the POMC pathway, trilostane inhibits cortisol synthesis directly

✅ Some owners and vets use lignans/melatonin to support effective management at lower trilostane doses

⚠️ The combination isn't well-studied in controlled trials — the evidence is largely observational and case-report based

⚠️ Melatonin can affect adrenal function — closer monitoring matters when combining protocols

Bottom line: it's used in practice, but it should be a monitored, vet-informed decision — not a DIY approach.

Are you combining protocols? Tell us in the comments 👇

27/07/2026

Breed Spotlight: Boxers and Cushing's disease.

Boxers are among the medium-to-large breeds most commonly diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism — and their presentation often differs from the small breed norm.

Key points for Boxer owners:

• Boxers have a higher incidence of adrenal-dependent Cushing's (ADH) than most breeds — meaning an adrenal tumour rather than a pituitary one
• ADH changes both the diagnostic approach and treatment options (surgery is more commonly indicated)
• Boxers also have an elevated risk of concurrent cardiac issues (arrhythmias, DCM) — which affects treatment planning and monitoring
• Clinical signs tend to be pronounced: pot belly, hair loss, and polydipsia are common first presentations

If you have a Boxer over 6 years showing any of these signs, it's worth discussing Cushing's screening with your vet.

25/07/2026

Did you know? In most dogs with pituitary-dependent Cushing's (PDH), the pituitary tumour responsible is a microadenoma — often less than 1cm in diameter.

Yet despite its tiny size, it produces enough excess ACTH to continuously overstimulate both adrenal glands, driving a chronic, system-wide hormonal imbalance.

This is why Cushing's is so insidious: there's rarely a large, detectable growth causing the problem. It's a hormonal feedback loop that has gone permanently on.

The good news: most PDH dogs can be managed long-term with the right treatment, even when the tumour itself isn't removed.

24/07/2026

Muscle wasting in Cushing's dogs — it's not arthritis, it's not old age.

Here's what's actually happening 👇

12/07/2026

Did you know? Yorkshire Terriers are significantly over-represented in Cushing's disease diagnoses relative to their population size.

A breed weighing under 7lbs has no business having one of the highest rates of hyperadrenocorticism in veterinary medicine — but here we are.

Research suggests a potential genetic predisposition, though the specific mechanism hasn't been fully characterised. What we do know:

• Onset tends to occur at a younger age than in larger breeds
• PDH is the most common form, as with most small breeds
• Signs can be subtle given their small frame — easy to attribute to 'just getting older'

Yorkie owners: early awareness is everything.

11/07/2026

Did you know? Yorkshire Terriers are significantly over-represented in Cushing's disease diagnoses relative to their population size.

A breed weighing under 7lbs has no business having one of the highest rates of hyperadrenocorticism in veterinary medicine — but here we are.

Research suggests a potential genetic predisposition, though the specific mechanism hasn't been fully characterized. What we do know:

• Onset tends to occur at a younger age than in larger breeds
• PDH is the most common form, as with most small breeds
• Signs can be subtle given their small frame — easy to attribute to 'just getting older'

Yorkie owners: early awareness is everything.

09/07/2026

Melatonin for Cushing's dogs — what the evidence actually shows.

Melatonin is commonly paired with flaxseed lignans in natural Cushing's protocols, but the mechanism is different from what most owners expect.

Melatonin doesn't directly lower cortisol. Instead, it appears to:

🔬 Inhibit the ACTH-stimulated enzyme (17,20-lyase) involved in adrenal steroid production
🔬 Support the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) pathway — the same pathway disrupted in PDH
🔬 Modulate the circadian cortisol rhythm, which is typically dysregulated in Cushing's dogs

Typical protocols use 1–3mg depending on body weight, given at bedtime.

The evidence base is preliminary, not definitive — but the mechanism is plausible and side effects are low, which is why it's widely used alongside (not instead of) conventional treatment.

📌 Always discuss with your vet before starting any supplement protocol.

08/07/2026

Has your vet discussed the lignan and melatonin protocol with you as an option for your dog?

We ask because a lot of owners first hear about it from other owners — not from their vet.

Vote below 👇 and share your experience in the comments.

07/07/2026

The pot belly in Cushing's dogs — what's actually happening underneath.

Abdominal distension is one of the most visible signs of Cushing's disease, but it's the result of three compounding factors — not simple weight gain.

1️⃣ Hepatomegaly — chronic cortisol excess causes the liver to enlarge significantly, physically pushing the abdomen outward

2️⃣ Abdominal muscle weakness — cortisol breaks down muscle protein over time, weakening the abdominal wall

3️⃣ Fat redistribution — excess glucocorticoid activity promotes visceral fat deposition in the abdominal cavity

All three can be present simultaneously. A distended abdomen isn't cosmetic — it reflects significant systemic change.

Share this with someone whose dog is showing these signs 👇

05/07/2026

Did you know? Flaxseed lignans are among the most concentrated dietary sources of SDG (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside) — the specific lignan compound most studied in canine Cushing's protocols.

SDG is metabolised in the gut into enterolactone and enterodiol — compounds that interact with hormone-binding proteins and may modulate cortisol activity.

This is why whole flaxseed hull lignans are commonly recommended over isolated supplements: the conversion process matters.

More on the lignan protocol: CushingsInDogs.com

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