US Trends

what are the final stages of cushing's disease in dogs

In the final stages of Cushing’s disease in dogs, most dogs show profound weakness, worsening skin and body changes, and a clear loss of quality of life, often accompanied by serious complications like infections, organ problems, or neurological signs. Recognizing these signs early helps you and your vet focus on comfort care and decide when euthanasia might be the kindest option.

What “final stages” usually look like

As Cushing’s progresses, symptoms your dog may have had for a while often become much more severe. Common late‑stage signs include:

  • Extreme weakness and lethargy; reluctance or inability to stand, walk, or climb stairs.
  • Marked loss of appetite, weight loss, and visible muscle wasting, especially over the head, spine, and hindquarters.
  • Very pronounced thirst and urination, sometimes with accidents in the house and uncontrollable urination.
  • Severe panting or labored breathing, even at rest.
  • Worsening “Cushingoid” body shape: pot‑bellied abdomen, thin skin, hair loss, and poor coat.
  • Recurrent or non‑healing skin infections, open sores, and delayed wound healing.
  • Possible neurological signs (especially with pituitary tumors): disorientation, circling, seizures, or collapse.

Serious complications near the end

In the end stages, many dogs develop secondary diseases or crises driven by long‑term high cortisol levels.

  • Organ complications : diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, pancreatitis, or heart issues can develop or worsen, further weakening the dog.
  • Repeated infections: urinary tract infections, skin infections, and sometimes systemic infections become more frequent and harder to control.
  • Breathing difficulty and extreme fatigue: dogs may struggle to get comfortable, pant heavily, or appear restless and then suddenly exhausted.

These complications often signal that the body is no longer coping with the disease despite treatment.

Quality of life and when to worry

Vets often focus less on specific lab numbers and more on daily quality of life in late Cushing’s.

Signs your dog’s quality of life may be poor include:

  • More bad days than good; little interest in walks, play, or family interaction.
  • Not eating or needing heavy coaxing to eat most days.
  • Inability to get up, frequent falls, or obvious distress when moving.
  • Continuous accidents in the house despite appropriate management.
  • Signs of pain, anxiety, or distress (whining, pacing, panting, hiding) that are hard to control.

Quality‑of‑life scales for dogs (e.g., appetite, mobility, comfort, enjoyment) can help you track this objectively with your vet.

Treatment vs. comfort care in the final stage

In earlier stages, medications like trilostane or mitotane and, in some cases, surgery can help control cortisol and improve life expectancy. In the final stages, the focus often shifts from controlling the disease to keeping the dog as comfortable as possible.

Comfort‑focused measures may include:

  • Adjusting or simplifying Cushing’s medications if side effects are high and benefits are low.
  • Pain relief and anti‑anxiety medications, if appropriate.
  • Managing infections promptly and realistically (sometimes with shorter or palliative courses).
  • Soft bedding, help with mobility, easy access to water and outdoor toileting, and a calm environment.
  • Diet changes to something very palatable and easy to eat, even if not “perfect” nutritionally.

Your vet can help decide if ongoing aggressive treatment is still helping, or if it is causing more discomfort than benefit.

Euthanasia and making the decision

There is no single “right” moment, but there are common red flags that suggest it is time to discuss euthanasia.

Owners and vets commonly consider euthanasia when:

  • The dog is persistently in pain, distressed, or struggling to breathe despite medication.
  • Appetite is largely gone for days, with ongoing weight and muscle loss.
  • Mobility is so poor that the dog cannot get up, toilet, or move without significant help and distress.
  • Recurrent crises (e.g., severe infections, seizures, collapse) are happening with little recovery in between.

Professional guidelines emphasize that euthanasia can be a humane, loving choice when suffering can no longer be controlled and quality of life is clearly poor. Many vets also offer home euthanasia or hospice‑style care to make the process gentler for both dog and family.

TL;DR: The final stages of Cushing’s disease in dogs are characterized by profound weakness, worsening skin and body changes, uncontrolled thirst/urination, poor appetite, and serious complications like infections, organ failure, or neurological signs, with a marked drop in quality of life. If you are seeing several of these signs, contacting your vet promptly to review comfort options and discuss timing of euthanasia is very important.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.