The disease is characterized by excessively high levels of steroids in the body.
Steroids are compounds that circulate naturally in our bodies and our pets' bodies.
Two major centers in the body regulate the levels of these steroids. The main center is a gland in the brain called the pituitary. This gland controls most of the hormones in the body. The pituitary releases a substance called ACTH into the blood. This ACTH influences the adrenal glands, which are located just ahead of the kidneys in the body.