Blood tests:
Urine tests:
Thyroid tests:
X-rays: |
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There are changes in white blood cells. For example, neutrophils increase, and eosinophils and lymphocytes decrease. Some pets also have increased monocytes and thrombocytes. Blood tests also show increased sugar levels (hyperglycemia), high liver enzymes (elevated ALT and AST), high blood lipids (hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia), high sodium (hypernatremia) and low potassium (hypokalemia).
The urine is usually dilute, and it may contain sugar and bacteria. As the kidneys lose the ability to hold protein (glomerulonephropathy), the urine will also contain proteins.
Although pets with Cushing’s disease have normal thyroid glands, thyroid hormones can be low because cortisol blocks the thyroid hormones from binding and entering cells.
The liver is enlarged, and the bones—especially the vertebrae in the spine—appear porous because they contain less calcium than healthy bones. |
