Cushing’s Disease, or hyperadrenocorticism, is one of the most commonly mismanaged endocrine disorders in pets. While it often shows up in middle-aged and senior animals, early patterns can be detected much sooner—and the earlier we recognize and address them, the better the outcomes.

This guide will walk you through what Cushing’s is, how it develops, how to identify early warning signs (even before a diagnosis is made), and the many natural ways to support your pet’s adrenal function—safely and effectively.

What is Cushing’s Disease?

Cushing’s Disease occurs when the body produces too much cortisol, often referred to as the “stress hormone.” Cortisol helps manage inflammation, blood sugar, immune response, and stress—but in excess, it wreaks havoc on multiple body systems.

There are two main types of Cushing’s:

• Pituitary-dependent (the most common): caused by a tumor or overstimulation of the pituitary gland that signals the adrenals to overproduce cortisol.
• Adrenal-dependent: caused by a tumor on one or both adrenal glands themselves.

There’s also iatrogenic Cushing’s, which is induced by long-term steroid use (like prednisone or steroid-based ear and skin medications).

The Subtle Symptoms: Pre-Cushing’s Patterns

Based on ParsleyPet HTMA data, many pets show clear signs of pre-Cushing’s long before a clinical diagnosis is made. The most common early symptoms include:

• Chronic or seasonal allergies or allergy-like symptoms (including food sensitivities)
• Fatty lipomas or sebaceous cysts
• Obesity or unexplained emaciation
• Pancreatitis, tremors, or seizures

What causes these symptoms?

Excess cortisol leads to the dumping of calcium, magnesium, and sodium from tissues, creating widespread dysfunction:

• Low sodium contributes to muscle wasting, weakness, and nerve dysfunction. This also contributes, in part, to the bloated, pedunculated belly that is common in Cushing’s.
• Dumped calcium and magnesium lead to enzyme imbalances—disrupting histamine breakdown and inflammatory regulation. This leads to calcification of the skin which is often mistaken to be scabbing. It is common to see hair loss in tandem with this imbalance.
• Low calcium and poor methylation reduces DAO (diamine oxidase) and HNMT (histamine n-methyltransferase), two key enzymes that break down histamine, resulting in increased allergy-like symptoms.
• Imbalances in calcium and fat metabolism also encourage lipoma formation, pancreatic stress, and neurological instability.

Nutritional Support for Calcium and Sodium Regulation

Calcium metabolism becomes deeply compromised in Cushing’s due to elevated hormone-driven mineral loss. To restore balance, focus on whole-food sources of bioavailable calcium and its cofactors:

• Raw milk (preferably from A2A2, pasture-raised animals): Unlike pasteurized or dried milk, raw milk contains active alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactase, enzymes essential for calcium absorption and utilization.
• Whole eggs, including shell: Provide a balanced source of calcium and phosphorus, plus Vitamin D and lecithin.
• Whole fish (like sardines): Contain naturally balanced calcium, phosphorus, fat-soluble vitamins, and omega-3s.
• Fermented Cod Liver Oil: A rich source of naturally occurring Vitamin D, which is critical for maintaining calcium in tissues and bones.
• Seaweed calcium: If thyroid function is low and iodine intake is within a safe threshold (generally <2.75 mcg/25 lbs of body weight/day), seaweed-based calcium can provide mineral-rich, plant-bound calcium that supports thyroid-adrenal harmony.
• Himalayan Rock Salt: In pets with Cushing’s disease, excess cortisol leads to sodium loss, which can contribute to muscle wasting, fatigue, dehydration, and poor nerve conduction. Supplementing with mineral-rich salt helps replenish lost sodium and supports healthy electrolyte balance. The best options are unrefined sea salt or Himalayan salt, which contain trace minerals like magnesium and potassium that further support adrenal and metabolic health. However, iodine-rich salts (such as iodized salt or seaweeds) should only be used if thyroid function is confirmed to be low or low-normal, as excess iodine can overstimulate the thyroid and disrupt endocrine balance.

Restoring Adrenal Function with Adaptogens

Adaptogenic herbs can support adrenal balance, but in the case of Cushing’s, we’re dealing with overactive adrenals, so not all adaptogens are appropriate.

Do NOT use unrefined licorice root, which boosts cortisol production and may worsen symptoms.

Helpful adaptogens for Cushing’s support include:

• Ashwagandha – found in Solutions BIOME, Solutions Restor, and MycoDog blends
• Schisandra – helps regulate endocrine response and liver function
• Reishi and Cordyceps mushrooms – modulate stress response without overstimulating cortisol
• Holy Basil (Tulsi) – calming and balancing to the nervous and endocrine systems

These herbs help buffer the effects of cortisol, normalize adrenal rhythms, and reduce downstream inflammation.

Vitamin C: A Foundational Nutrient for Hormone Health

The adrenal glands contain the highest concentration of Vitamin C in the body. In times of stress and hormone imbalance, Vitamin C is rapidly depleted—contributing to immune weakness, fatigue, and poor tissue repair.

Avoid synthetic Vitamin C (often derived from Aspergillus mold) and instead focus on whole-food sources such as:

• Red and yellow bell peppers
• Rosehips
• Camu camu and acerola berries
• Smack Superfood Botanicals

These options deliver full-spectrum Vitamin C with bioflavonoids and enzymes that aid absorption.

The Importance of Healthy Fats for Hormone Modulation

Hormones—especially cortisol and other adrenal steroids—are made from cholesterol and fatty acids. A low-fat or carb-heavy diet places unnecessary strain on hormone production and regulation.

For Cushing’s pets, focus on a clean, species-appropriate fat profile:

• Solutions Pet Products offers naturally balanced, low-glycemic, high-fat options that don’t spike insulin or cortisol.
• The Restorative Liver & Endocrine Diet is specifically designed to support hormone modulation, fat metabolism, and detoxification—key elements in Cushing’s care.

Essential Oils for Hormonal Support (Use With Care)

Some essential oils can support adrenal regulation when used properly. For safety and effectiveness, especially around cats, use only veterinary-formulated blends like those from AnimalEO.

Helpful oils include:

• Hormone Blend
• Frankincense
• Myrrh

These can be diffused or diluted for topical use, always with pet-safe protocols in place.

How Cushing’s Develops

Cushing’s is the end result of chronic overstimulation of the adrenal glands, often due to:

• Long-term emotional or physical stress (noise, trauma, immune dysregulation)
• Excessive use of steroids—oral, injectable, or even topical (including ear and skin meds)
• Over-vaccination and repeated exposure to environmental toxins
• Endocrine-disrupting foods or medications

In essence, the body responds to stress by pushing cortisol levels higher and higher—until the system becomes stuck in “overdrive.” The result is systemic dysfunction across the nervous, digestive, metabolic, and immune systems.

What Blood Testing Can (and Can’t) Tell You

Adrenal hormone levels fluctuate rapidly, and blood tests only capture a snapshot at the moment of the draw. This can lead to false negatives or positives, especially in pets with episodic symptoms or stress-reactive cortisol spikes which are common when pets are at the vet.

A more comprehensive picture can be found through HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis), which reveals average hormone uptake over the 3-month period it took for the hair sample to grow. Unlike many HTMA labs, ParsleyPet includes adrenal hormone patterns in its analysis, making it uniquely valuable for identifying chronic trends and pre-disease states or in situations where the disease is not present but the pet is symptomatic in response to imbalanced hormone ratios that manifest as disease symptoms.

Standard diagnostics for Cushing’s via bloodwork usually include low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests (LDDS), ACTH stimulation tests, and baseline cortisol or cortisol: creatinine ratios. These may require multiple visits and careful medication coordination.

Summary: What to Do If Your Pet Has (or Might Have) Cushing’s

If your dog or cat is showing signs of pre-Cushing’s (like lipomas, allergies, weight changes, or cysts) or has already been diagnosed:

• Run a ParsleyPet HTMA test to evaluate adrenal patterns and mineral status over time
• Reduce stress by modifying their environment and limiting unnecessary stimulation
• Avoid further steroid exposure unless absolutely necessary
• Support calcium metabolism with raw milk, eggshell, whole fish, and Vitamin D-rich foods
• Use appropriate adaptogens (avoiding licorice) to calm the HPA axis
• Feed a high-quality fat-based diet designed for hormonal regulation
• Incorporate food-based Vitamin C to protect adrenal reserves
• Consider veterinary-safe essential oils if additional endocrine support is needed

By identifying patterns early and choosing supportive, whole-food therapies, we can help pets with Cushing’s live longer, healthier, and more comfortable lives—with fewer side effects and less reliance on suppressive medications.