Hyper meaning over production of, adrenocorticism, which is cortisol or cortisone made by the adrenal gland. So Cushing s disease is the over production of cortisol by the adrenal gland. A doctor by the name of Harvey Cushing first discovered it in humans in 1932. Both dogs and cats can get Cushing s disease, but it occurs more commonly in dogs. It can happen naturally from the growth of a tumor on the pituitary gland or adrenal gland.
Tumors secrete excess cortisol independent of pituitary control.
Cushing's disease can also occur because of the over administration of corticosteroids such as prednisone that would be used to treat pain, itchiness, and an array of other things. Cushing s disease is actually secondary to the inappropriate secretion of adrenocorticotropic by the pituitary. Adrenocorticotropic is a hormone that regulates the level of cortisol in the body. The release of adrenocorticotropic is controlled by the hypothalamus. Many different types of stress stimulate the secretion of Adrenocorticotropic, ACTH, past normal fluctuations such as physical, emotional, and chemical stress such as pain, trauma, cold exposure, and surgery.