Pekingese, like other dog breeds, are proven to be wonderful companions to their owners. It even comes to a point where these pet dogs are treated as family. It is because of this that pet owners always watch out for any dog illness symptoms such as Cushings disease and do their best to protect their pets from them.
Just like any owner, Peke owners consider pet health a big deal. Like humans, pets are prone to several diseases which may bring dire consequences to them if not diagnosed and treated early. While there are diseases that are confined to one breed only, there are also others which affect a number of breeds, which you should watch for in your Pekes. One example of an ailment that can affect multiple breeds is the Cushings disease or the Cushing Syndrome. It usually affects breeds of dogs such as poodles, boxers, and Boston terriers, but it can also affect Pekes.
This particular disease is also called hyperadrenocorticism. It is a medical condition where the adrenal glands produce too much of the hormone called cortisol. This ailment not only affects dogs but also humans, although it is not contagious.
The known causes of Cushings disease are tumors in the adrenal gland or in the pituitary gland. It can also be caused by giving medication with glucocorticoids in high amounts, which are used to treat allergies and inflammation. Genetics can also play a great role in the occurrence of this disease.
Common symptoms of Cushings disease include the lack of energy in your Pekingese and lethargy, accompanied by frequent panting, increased appetite, and increased thirst. This will result in weight gain and development of a pot belly. Pekes with this condition will also suffer from alopecia or hair loss, dark pigmentation on the skin, and infertility. In the later stage, your Peke may have weakened muscles. For males, they may have darkened testicles, while females may miss a period of heat.
If left untreated, Pekingese can lose their overall body health, with their immune system weakened. They can also suffer with hypertension, liver failure and congestive heart failure, which may lead to death.
When you observe these symptoms, it would be advisable to ask a vet for the right course of action. Usually vets would recommend medication like mitotane. Melatonin is also recommended for hair loss, together with Lignans Flaxseed specialized for Cushings disease which can reduce cortisol as one of its positive effects. In worst cases, surgery may need to be performed to remove the glands, but some say that this is not advisable for dogs.
It would also be advisable to purchase dog insurance for your Pekes before you experience any dog health problems with your pet.
Regarding the food that Pekingese suffering from Cushings disease ought to consume, the right diet should be composed of dog food with natural ingredients. In this case, homemade dog food is far more advisable than commercial dog food. If the use of commercial foods is unavoidable, they must contain the right amount of nutrients for good dog health. Whether you will use home cooked meals or the commercial ones, it must always be low in fiber and carbohydrate content, low in fat, low in purine, but high in protein.
For the protein source, you should use organic red meat, chicken or fish with as little fat as possible. Use less fibrous ingredients for your pets’ meals. Reduce the amount of rice, oats, or sweet potatoes and instead use more vegetables and fruits like carrots, green beans, peas, and apples.
There is also a type of diet called BARF diet or Biologically Approved Raw Food diet where raw food is fed to the dogs. With this diet, your pets can have the best of the ingredients with their unadulterated nutrients. However, this diet has drawn criticism because of the risks of bacterial infection, so you need to take care when preparing it.
