Since I practice alternative medicine, I get questions all the time about the use of Melatonin and Lignans as an Atypical Cushings remedy for Dogs. How does the treatment work? Is it effective? And are there any side effects to the treatment? These are pretty much everyday questions in my practice!
What is Atypical Cushings in a Dog?
Atypical Cushings is just that, not your typical regular type. Regular Cushings is characterized by dogs that drink too much, pee too much, are pot-bellied and often have concurrent skin issues. These dogs are diagnosed by a series of tests including but not limited to the low or high dose dexamethasone suppression test, urine cortisol creatinine ratio and Dex/ACTH stim test. Regular Cushings is treated with typical Western drugs such as Lysodren and the newer drug Vetoryl.
On the other hand, atypical Cushings is suspected when dogs exhibit clinical signs and biochemical lab tests indicative of Cushing’s yet these dogs are negative to the general tests mentioned prior. In general, these dogs have the same signs and symptoms as Cushing’s but the lab tests do not support the clinical diagnosis. So, what do you do next?
Testing for Atypical Cushings
The next step is to test for Atypical Cushings. These tests are performed at my alma mater The University of Tennessee.
Fundamentally instead of testing for cortisol, these tests are looking for changes in the biochemical profile of the sex steroids. Sex steroids are secreted by a portion of the adrenal gland and can sometimes induce directly and/or indirectly the same syndrome associated with typical Cushing’s Disease.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE ENDOCRINOLOGY LAB AND ACCESS THEIR INFORMATION ON CUSHINGS DISEASE
Sometimes in my practice, when dogs have elevated liver enzymes, specifically ALP, I assume that they may have Atypical Cushings and treat them with Melatonin and Lignans.
Atypical Cushings Remedy
The treatment protocol I recommend for Atypical Cushings is Melatonin and Lignans.
Melatonin should be given twice daily, although you will hear different opinions on twice daily vs. daily dosing. I recommend twice daily dosing anywhere from 3-6mg each dose, depending on the dog. Melatonin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland that effectively lowers the deleterious effects of estrogen.
Note: Make sure you read the label and give your dog supplements containing melatonin only. Colorings and additives may be toxic to your dog.
Lignans come from two sources:
- Flaxseed Lignan Hulls. Flaxseed lignan hulls come from the USA and the hulls contain more lignan than flaxseed alone
- HMR Lignans. HMR Lignans come from the pine knots of Norway spruce trees
Lignans are weak estrogens that cause down-regulation of estrogen production from the adrenal gland in Atypical Cushing’s cases. Melatonin works by inhibiting certain enzymes.
In addition to Melatonin and Lignans, I usually also use Eastern Herbals and Food Therapy treatments on the owner and condition of their pet.
More Powerful Tools for Dog Cushing’s Disease Health Challenges
There are many quick and easy changes you can make at home to help you give your dog an edge on easing Cushing’s disease challenges.
- Learn more about Cushing’s Disease.
- Try Home Cooking. Visit our Recipe Page, and scroll down to the recipes for dogs with Cushing’s disease. Often, home-cooking makes a huge difference in helping dogs feel better!
- Try digestive enzymes and probiotics. PET | TAO Harmonize Gi boosts gut health, which in turn helps your dog better process all food nutrients. Improved gut health also boosts immunity and calms allergic response.
- Feed Freeze Dried Liver Treats. According to TCVM, as when Cushing’s disease is present there is almost always Liver Meridian involvement. Liver treats provide Liver Meridian support like as a glandular supplement (Western theory) and via 5-Element Theory (Eastern theory).
- Learn about natural remedies. A combination of melatonin and lignans supplementation helps many dogs suffering from Cushing’s.
- Learn more about TCVM Herbal Remedies. Chinese medicine offers many amazing natural solutions for Cushing’s disease. A good example is:
