How to Feed Your Dog with Cushing's Disease
What is the best diet for a dog with Hyperadrenocorticism?
This article is written by Pet Circle's qualified veterinarian,
Cushing's Disease is the common name for Hyperadrenocorticism - a condition in which the adrenal glands (small glands that sit on top of the kidneys) overproduce cortisol in the dog's body. Excess cortisol causes a number of symptoms and affects almost every body system from the kidneys, to the immune system, the skin, and the liver.
Read about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of cushings in our other article Cushings Disease in Dogs.
The ideal diet for a dog with Cushing's disease needs to be:
- Balanced in line with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommendations for adult maintenance - ie, no homemade, raw, or 'all lifestages' diets.
- Low in fat (<12%) with moderate fibre
- Contain highly digestible protein
- Low in Sodium and Chloride - as this can help maintain normal blood pressure
Unlike other conditions such as Kidney disease or Diabetes, a strict Prescription Diet is not required for Cushing's Disease. Most high quality adult diets - particularly those formulated for weight management - will meet the above criteria and keep your Cushingoid dog nourished and healthy.
It is important, however, to strictly limit treats, table scraps, and snacks - particularly those that are high in fat, salt, or sugar. Every tidbit adds up and can contribute to weight gain, which makes Cushing's Disease unpredictable and more difficult to manage.
Top 4 Diet Recommendations for a Dog with Cushing's Disease
1. Advance Healthy Weight
Available in small, medium, or large breed varieties, this Australian-made dry food is suitable for dogs with Cushing's provided they have no other significant health concerns.
Major callouts: the inclusion of Green Lipped Mussel Powder, which can help keep dull skin nourished, and dried beet pulp for extra fibre.
MACROS (% Dry Matter Basis)1:
Protein: 27.3%
Fat: 9.8% min - 14.2% max
Omega 3 (min): 0.10%
Omega 6 (min): 1.2%
L-Carnitine (min): 55mg/kg
Sodium: not reported
Energy: 345kcal/100g (as fed)
Ingredients: Rice; Chicken Meal; Sorghum; Dried Beet Pulp; Natural Flavour (Chicken); Chicken Fat; Turkey Meal; Sunflower Oil; Vitamins and Minerals; Amino Acids (incl. Arginine, Taurine and Methionine); Salt; Inulin; Antioxidants; Green Lipped Mussel Powder; L-Carnitine
1 Dry matter values calculated using data provided by Advance (8.5% moisture)
2. Hill's Perfect Weight
Available in small, medium, and large breed varieties, this dry food is suitable for dogs with Cushing's provided they have no other significant health concerns.
Major callouts: the inclusion of pea and oat fibre for gut health, coconut oil and flaxseed for healthy skin, and a few extra fruits and veggies for natural vitamins.
MACROS (% Dry Matter Basis)
Protein: 28.7%
Fat: 11.2%
Omega 3: 0.76%
Omega 6: 2.2%
L-Carnitine: 430.4ppm
Sodium: 0.38%
Energy: 323kcal/100g (as fed)
Ingredients: Chicken, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Pea Fiber, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Meal, Dried Tomato Pomace, Oat Fiber, Chicken Liver Flavor, Flaxseed, Dried Beet Pulp, Coconut Oil, Pork Flavor, Lactic Acid, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Carrots, Iodized Salt, Lipoic Acid, vitamins, Choline Chloride, minerals, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, L-Carnitine, Beta-Carotene, Apples, Broccoli, Cranberries, Green Peas.
3. Royal Canin Lightweight Care
Available in small, medium, and large breed varieties, this dry food is suitable for dogs with Cushing's Disease provided they have no other significant health concerns.
Major callouts: the inclusion of fish oil for healthy skin (fish oil is the most bioavailable source of Omegas for cats and dogs compared to vegan alternatives), marine sources of glucosamine for joint health, and psyllium husk for extra fibre.
MACROS (% Dry Matter Basis)1
Protein: 29.8%
Fat: 12.0%
Omega 3: 0.58%
Omega 6: 2.3%
L-Carnitine: 200mg/kg
Sodium: 0.35%
Energy: 314kcal/100g (as fed)
Ingredients: Dehydrated poultry protein, Vegetable fibres, Maize, Wheat, Barley, Maize gluten, Hydrolysed animal proteins, Maize flour, Animal fats, Rice, Beet pulp, Cellulose powder, Vegetable protein isolate, Yeasts and parts thereof, Fish oil, Minerals, Fructo-oligo-saccharides, Psyllium husks and seeds, Soya oil, Hydrolysed yeast (source of manno-oligo-saccharides), Hydrolysed crustaceans (source of glucosamine), Marigold extract (source of lutein), Hydrolysed cartilage (source of chondroitin)
1 Dry matter values calculated using data provided by Royal Canin (9.5% moisture)
4. Pro Plan Weight Loss Sterilised
This Australian-made dry food is suitable for dogs with Cushing's Disease provided they have no other significant health concerns.
Major callouts: the inclusion of fish oil for healthy skin (fish oil is the most bioavailable source of Omegas for cats and dogs compared to vegan alternatives) and beet pulp for extra fibre.
MACROS (% Dry Matter Basis)
Protein: 27%
Fat: 9.0%
Omega 3 (min): 0.2%
Omega 6 (min): 1.5%
L-Carnitine: not reported
Sodium: not reported
Energy: 330kcal/100g
Ingredients: Chicken (dehydrated chicken, chicken); Brewer rice; Whole grain wheat; Oats; Barley; Minerals, Vitamins, Amino acids, Organic acids and Natural flavours; Animal digest; Beet pulp; Dehydrated fish and Fish oil; Animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols; Cellulose and Rice hull; Natural Antioxidants.
Please note: the above recommendations are general advice only. Your vet may recommend a Veterinary-Prescribed Diet for your dog if they feel that weight control (rather than weight management) is required, or if any other health issues are present.
Supplements for Canine Cushing's Disease?
Supplements are generally not required if you are providing your dog with a balanced adult diet from a vet-recommended brand (like one of the diets recommended above!). However, Cushing's Disease causes elevated levels of cortisol which contributes to higher triglycerides and cholesterol - so there are some supplements that may be beneficial for long term support. These include:
1. Antioxidant therapy consisting of a combination of α-tocopherol, β-carotene, vitamin C, methionine and selenium may be beneficial in lowering circulating blood fats.
2. Fish oil can help lower circulating triglycerides and fats, and may also help improve dull fur or inflamed skin from canine Cushing's disease.
3. Calcium? - Cortisol can increase calcium excretion, however it is not necessary to supplement if your dog's diet is AAFCO forumulated for adult maintenance.
Top Supplements for Canine Cushing's Disease
Want to know more?
After more information about taking care of your dog with arthritis? Check out our video and additional articles below:
Arthritis in dogs: what causes it and how do I know if my dog is affected?
Obesity in pets: why it's a problem and what to do about it