Abstract
Forty dogs reffered to our dermatology clinic with long-term glucocorticoid administration were investigated. Twenty-seven dogs showed side effects such as polyuria and polydipsia, polyphagia, abdominal enlargement, panting, muscular atrophy, alopecia, prominent vasculature, calcinosis cutis, comedo, thin skin, and/or purpura. The most significant clinicopathological abnormality related with side effects were elevations of ALP and ALT. Elevations of ALP and ALT were in 74.1% and 55.6% respectively, in dogs with side effects, against 0.0% and 15.4% respectively in dogs without side effects. In ACTH stimulation test, both dogs with and without side effects showed a high incidence of adrenal suppression, 77.8% in dogs with side effects and 69.2% in dogs without them. Based on these findings, iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome should be evaluated in dogs treated with long-term glucocorticoid administration with both clinical findings, ALP and ALT, rather than with not only ACTH stimulation test.
