26/09/2026
Have an older dog?
As dogs age, it's easy to assume that changes in drinking, urination, appetite, panting, or body shape are simply part of getting older.
Sometimes, they are.
But sometimes, they're clues.
This was Luna's Case. 🐾
Luna is a 9-year-old Shih Tzu who came to Dapper with increased thirst and urination, thinning of the hair and a rounded abdomen.
These signs led us to sorta suspect Cushing's syndrome, a condition caused by prolonged exposure to excessive cortisol.
Her abdominal ultrasound revealed an enlarged right adrenal gland and a comparatively small left adrenal gland.
But it doesn't stop there.
Because an ultrasound finding is still just a clue—we needed to know if the changes were functional.
We performed endocrine testing (along with the minimum database) to evaluate how Luna's body was regulating cortisol. When we put her clinical signs, imaging findings, and hormone testing together, the results were consistent with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism, one form of Cushing's syndrome in dogs.
Luna's case is a gentle reminder that:
As our pets are getting older, subtle changes can give us hints to ongoing conditions.
If your senior dog starts drinking or urinating more, panting excessively, developing changes in their skin or coat, or developing a rounded abdomen, talk to your veterinarian.
Sometimes, a small change is the first clue.
Thank you to Luna's Parents for trusting us with her case! We hope that with the proper diagnosis and management, she will have a healthier and better quality of life. 🥰
