Cushing’s Decision App

With all cases of canine Cushing's syndrome, it is about making a judgement call on whether to commence endocrine diagnostic testing. Some presenting features may enhance your suspicion of the presence of the condition; others may reduce that index of suspicion.

We have created a Decision App that helps you weigh up these features. The app is not designed to offer a definitive diagnosis; it is here to highlight the features that most strongly support or oppose the presence of Cushing's. You can then use the results to inform your thinking when you assess the full clinical picture.

IMPORTANT: To achieve an accurate and meaningful result, full case details (signalment, clinical signs, haematology, biochemistry, urinalysis and endocrine diagnostic test results) should be entered.

Get started

Note: Check the resources section for a glossary of terms used in the app, and for further help and support on Cushing’s and Vetoryl.

To get started, complete the app using example data from this case study. Follow the Decision App instructions, referring to the information below throughout.

Breed: Springer Spaniel

Sex: Male Neutered

Age: 6 years

Weight: 11.1kg

Presenting signs:

Polyuria
Polydipsia
Polyphagia
Owner reports a little more lethargic and panting more than usual

Investigations:

Stress leukogram
ALKP 6 x upper reference limit
ALT 2 x upper reference limit
Total T4 decreased
Urine specific gravity 1.016
Pre-prandial bile acids normal. Post-prandial bile acids mildly increased (22 umol/l)
Positive low dose dexamethasone suppression test