Supraglan–A Cure for Cushing’s Disease in Dogs?
Posted on March 12, 2010 by: WayCoolDogs
There are many similarities between the symptoms of Cushing’s Disease and Addison’s Disease in dogs–both considered fatal in canines. There are many rumors in regard to the miraculous healing of the natural supplement Supraglan, reported to cure both diseases. Are these claims true or not?
About Cushing’s Disease
"Obesity and a pot belly can be a sign of Cushing's disease in dogs," via Wikipedia
According to vet authorities, Cushing’s Disease in dogs may develop from two things: (1) a benign tumor on one of the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland, or (2) an overdose and dependency on Prednisone, a drug normally given for arthritis, allergies, or the treatment of autoimmune disorders in dogs.
Considered a synthetic, inactive corticosteroid, Prednisone is converted by the dog’s liver into an active steroid by the name of prednisolone. Drug reactions can occur with renal disorders, abnormal thirst levels, and excessive hunger. Longer periods of the drug can show ulcers in the digestive tract, pain and inflammation in the pancreas, diabetes, degeneration of muscles, and unpredictable change in the dog’s behaviors.
Also referred to as hyperadrenocorticism, Cushing’s Disease develops with too many adrenal gland hormones being produced. This is a drug that should preferably not be used over a week in duration as it is known to obstruct the normal processes of the adrenal glands – known to do so on a permanent basis. Once the dog’s body is unable to create its own corticosteroids, it will become dependent on the drug as its only source. Over time, this can lead to fatal heart problems and diabetes.
Symptoms of Cushing’s Disease
Image via Wikipedia
- The dog with Cushing’s Disease will begin to develop skin issues.
- Infections will begin to develop at a faster rate.
- Dogs with Cushing’s will show an increase in appetite and thirst.
- Decrease in body hair.
- A frequency of urination will develop.
- Increase in blood pressure.
- The dog will begin to pant excessively.
Claims of Supraglan
Supraglan is a natural supplement currently being used as a natural treatment of Cushing’s Disease and Addison’s Disease. It is defined by its manufacturers as a natural supplement for dog adrenal gland dysfunctions.
Vet-approved, Supraglan manufacturers claim to restore the dog’s skin health, reduces thirst and urination, improves adrenal functioning, stops hair loss, promotes health of the fur, and is supposed to be a natural treatment for Cushing’s Disease in dogs.
Description of Supraglan
Supraglan is made of natural ingredients:
- Borage—Contains natural precursors of adrenal glands hormones; stimulates the endocrine system functions; helps eliminate toxins; restores adrenal cortex.
- Milk Vetch—Tonic; nutritive; stimulates liver function; improves immune system; well accepted in cases of auto-immune diseases.
- Bistort—Astringent, soothing, anti-inflammatory, has a tonic effect on liver and kidneys.
- Eleutherococus Senticosus—Balances hormonal actions (ACTH and cortisone) on adrenal glands; increases resistance to infection, stimulates DNA synthesis and cellular repair enzymes.
- Wild Yam—Anti-inflammatory; contains steroidal saponins (dioscin, dioscorin) used as sources of saponins in the preparation of steroid hormones.
- Licorice—Adrenal stimulant (contains glycyrrhizin, a compound similar to corticosteroids, which stimulates adrenal glands); immunostimulant; anti-inflammatory; potentiates cortisone effects.
- Dandelion—Highly nutritious food; stimulates liver secretion, improves digestion and stimulates appetite; acts as an organic support.
- Glycerin based
Using these natural ingredients to decrease the adrenal system in dogs from a completely hyperactive state, the product slows the overproduction of the corticosteroid hormones which have become overloaded in the dog’s system. Side effects have not been seen yet in the usage of Supraglan.
Supraglan dosage for dogs
Supraglan should be given twice a day, with one drop for every two pounds to 50 pounds of dog weight. After this, add one drop per additional four pounds. The enclosed eye dropper will be marked at 0.5ML and 1ML with the .05ML equal to ten drops of the supplement.
The natural supplement can inserted directly into the mouth or mixed with canned dog food or fresh meat with the eye dropper. Once purchased, Supraglan needs to be refrigerated while lasting six months.
Supraglan reviews
There are many reviews of Supraglan, with mixed reviews. Some of them are available at PetWellBeing.com for those who are interested in both sides. At the present time, information presented is for educational purposes only; statements about products and health conditions have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration at this time due to lack of scientific studies. However, many people with dogs who have Cushing’s Disease claim an improvement in their dogs who are on Supraglan or a similar natural supplement for Cushing’s Disease.
NOTE: Do not use canine adrenal gland medication if the dog is pregnant, lactating, or suffering from cardiovascular conditions!
Related articles
- Surviving Cushing’s Syndrome: A personal account by Nellie Sabin (medtopicwriter.com)
- Excessive Panting: When to Worry (vetdepot.com)
- The Vigil (timesunion.com)
- Dog Cushing Disease (vetdepot.com)
- Tumors of the Adrenal Glands (emberbranch.wordpress.com)
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Related posts:
- Supraglan, Vet-Approved Treatment for Canine Cushings
- Cushings Disease in Dogs
- Cushing’s disease in the dog, phytonutrient treatment
- Cushing’s Syndrome Trade-off May Result in Cure
- Dog Health Problems at a Glance
26 Responses:
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Leave a Reply
dog kennel
- 13th Mar, 10 08:03am
My dog is going to the vet because she is starting to show symptoms – she is very old too. I am aware that this is more common in elderly dogs, however any dog could get Cushings. Does anyone have a dog with this disease and how have you dealt with it. My dog is still acting normal.
Jennifer
- 6th Jun, 10 06:06am
I have a dog who was not elderly (12 yrs)… until she developed this disease. Last summer we took her camping and when people saw her they commented on how young she looked and acted. Sorry to say, but it has taken my dog away from me. First, she had a patch of hair that did not grow back from her summer cut. Then she developed a wound on her leg that would not heal and required 30 days of antibiotics. Her hind legs became very weak, she was panting and began to drink water by the gallon. After several requests, I finally insisted the vet draw blood. That was when he found it. Literally the next day she went blind from the cataracts. Now she has to wear Depends diapers because she poops and pees on the floor, which she never did in the 12 years before. Some days she wags her tail to see me and other days she just lies there, totally oblivious to my presence. It has been heartbreaking. The only improvement I can see from the Supraglan is that her back legs are less weak, she is not panting and is drinking less water, but it is an improvement nonetheless. So, in my mind it is not a cure, but rather something to relieve some of the symptoms. Take care and God bless.
Judy Antipin
- 14th Jul, 10 03:07pm
Why did you not use one of the two proven treatments for Cushings – Lysodren or Vetoryl. I treated my Cushings dog with lysodren from 1996-1998 – totally reversed his symptoms – he was fine for next two years and died of old age.
Nancy Houser (author comment)
- 13th Mar, 10 01:03pm
Beth Lowell
Not clear – is your article saying that prednisone should not be used for over a week?
Nancy Houser (author comment)
- 13th Mar, 10 01:03pm
They are saying that dogs who use it over a week were more susceptible to getting Cushings. The longer the usage, the more likely the dog was to develop Cushings.
Nancy Houser (author comment)
- 13th Mar, 10 01:03pm
Beth Lowell
Looking forward to more on this product. For other alternatives to healthy and wellness maintenance, check out http://www.optimumchoices.com – algae is a superfood that helps people and pets heal naturally.
Kris Miller
- 4th Nov, 11 11:11am
Hi Nancy,
Can you please explain your comment on algae. What if we live on a lake and our dog (7year old bichon) sometimes gets by the weeds and algae. She was just diagnosed with cushings disease. Thank you.
WayCoolDogs
- 4th Nov, 11 02:11pm
Kris…thank you for the comment.
Kelp and algae are excellent sources of minerals, chlorophyll, and protein. But if you live near any body of water that is warm and shallow with blue-green algae, varying factors can cause it to develop “algae blooms.” Easy to spot, it not only turns the water green but produces a really nasty smell—similar to a thick pea soup. Algae is not dangerous, but the blue-green variety is highly toxic to dogs, humans and all animals. Some of this toxic algae also has different colors besides blue-green/green.
Blue-green algae is prokaryotic bacteria—with chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, and phycobilins in membranes but lack true chloroplasts. Meanwhile, the eukaryotic algae has chlorophyll a, chlorophylls b, c, or d, phycoerythrins, fucoxanthins in true membrane bound chloroplasts.
J. Belli
- 29th Jul, 10 08:07am
Brought printout of above info to my vet. She seemed to think it wasn’t feasible to use this treatment for both Cushing’s and Addison’s. Wants to use the Vetoryl. I’m not happy with the side of effects of the Vetoryl for my Pom who has Cushing’s. He’s 12 y/o and I don’t want to make him sicker. He is doing fine right now without any treatment. Worried about making wrong choice.
Nancy Houser (author comment)
- 29th Jul, 10 08:07am
Judi….is there a way you can get another opinion from another vet? Even people who go to doctors do not take just one doctor’s opinion for a major decision. If you are worried, check out another vet.
Your little Pom is in the senior bracket and he doesn’t need any serious side effects to deal with, does he? Especially if he is not having any major issues right now. Remember….quality time for the dog instead of quantity time for you.
debbie
- 10th Sep, 10 05:09pm
just started my dog on supraglan. she was doing well on the vetoryl but it is so darned expensive. so i’m trying supraglan to save money, but if she starts showing symptoms again i will have to go back to the vetoryl.
dog disease
- 11th Oct, 10 10:10am
I have looked at many sites and have not come across a site like yours that tells everyone everything they need to know. I have added you to my bookmarks, can anyone else suggest other related topics that I can search for to find out more information?
Nancy Houser (author comment)
- 11th Oct, 10 11:10am
You may request additional information from us in the Question & Answer on the right side of the homepage, or send us a personal contact letter asking us for a post on a particular subject. People have done both. Right now I have two requests on the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed and the Rabies shots of Wolves….which should go up this week sometime.
Mindy
- 29th Oct, 10 11:10am
This sounds like a very interesting option when symptoms aren’t TOO bad. When my dog was first diagnosed, I used something called Drenamin (bovine adrenal extract) because of the side effects of the Rx options. After a couple years, I read about Trilostane (Vetoryl). At the time it was a new treatment for Cushings and I had to get it imported from the U.K. One time when ordereing it, there was a message that they were changing to the name Vetoryl. I knew that once it was made specifically for animals, the price would go up, so I bought extra. Good move on my part — the price jumped very quickly for the exact same meds.
That was a while ago. Anyhow, after seeing how well the Trilostane helped her symptoms and that she had NO side effects from it, if I had to do it over (and Vetoryl/Trilostane was available at the beginning), I would immediately use it. There were dramatic improvements.
Anyhow, on the natural front, I also gave milk thistle, colostrum, and someting called Vet Zimes Formula V4. That made incredible changes in how she felt. I’m not sure what specific it was about the Vet Zimes, because they are digestive enzymes to help the immune system (don’t really know which enzymes or if there is an OTC equivalent, but they made vast changes in her so I didn’t want to take a chance of changing to something from a health store — after finishing the 1st bottle I didn’t think they were necessary and thought the vet was just trying to have me buy extra stuff. The FIRST day that I didn’t give it to her, she went back to how she felt before. I HIGHLY recommend them. Only issue is that they have to be ordered by a vet.)
Nancy Houser
- 29th Oct, 10 11:10am
Thank you very much, Mindy, for this valuable information. I am glad you shared your dog’s success with us and your variety of treatments. I hope our readers with dogs who have canine Cushing’s disease find it useful also. Again, thank you!
Nancy
Kelly
- 7th Jan, 11 11:01am
Hi,
I have never heard of Supraglan and it being natural is pretty cool too. You do have a lot of valuable info on this site. It would have been nice to have known about this a couple of years ago when my friends dog was going through this. We honestly at first just thought it was the start of old age!
Aniela
- 28th Feb, 11 09:02am
Thank god my dog does not have any of those symptoms.
Thanks for sharing though
Sorin
- 19th May, 11 08:05am
Addison’s and Cushing’s disease are polar opposites in their causes. How can this medicine treat both at the same time? Also, I read that it is dangerous to give dogs with Cushing’s disease (overactive adrenal gland) any steroids which would add to the problems from having too much glucocorticoid hormones, or any other chemical that would otherwise stimulate the adrenal glands. Yes licorice is listed as an adrenal gland stimulator. Can anyone explain how this medicine can treat two opposite diseases, and do so for Cushing’s despite seeming to have incompatible ingredients?
Donna
- 26th Jun, 11 10:06am
I have a pit bull that just was diagnosed with cushings. She is 11 years old. With treatment they go by weight, and i can not afford treatment with medications. I just ordered Supraglan in hopes that it will help ease her symptoms. I know that there is no cure for Cushing’s Disease. I just want her to be comfortable with the time she has left.
WayCoolDogs
- 26th Jun, 11 10:06am
Donna….if you have time, contact Gary Le Mon on his website at Natural Wonder Pets. He does his own natural manufacturing of herbal medicine. I was talking to him the other day and he has another product for Cushings if the Supragan is not effective enough for your girl. Tell him I sent you, Nancy Houser.
Tammy Perry
- 2nd Jan, 12 06:01pm
Hello…my 10 year old Daschund/Corgi has been diagnosed recently with Cushings Disease. After extensive and expensive blood work, his test were positive. The vet recommended that he be put on medications and do further blood work every two weeks until the right dosage had been given to him. Well with the prices of the testing, I really financially can not afford this. I have been looking into some herbal medications for him and found the Superglan and Cushex Drops for the Cushings disease. I wanted to know if you knew which one would be a better treatment for him. We are just trying to make him comfortable…he has lost a lot of strength in his back legs, pants all the time, has the big pot belly and his skin just keeps getting sores and is real dry….so as I said we just want him to be comfortable and enjoy the rest of his life with us. Any help that you have to offer would be greatly appreciated. I also seen that you recommended to another person on here the name of another doctor in case the medication was not effective.
Thank you so much for your help.
WayCoolDogs
- 2nd Jan, 12 09:01pm
If you choose to go natural with your pet, I would contact Gary Le Mon personally on his website at Natural Wonder. He does have a new product he is working on for Cushing’s. I would also ask him about giving your pet his medicine for building the animal’s immune system.
If you need anything else, please let me know. Tell him Nancy Houser sent you from Way Cool Dogs.
Phone orders welcome:
800-614-1401
International: +1-520-207-3330
http://www.natural-wonder-pets.com/cushings-in-dogs.html
Lori Bowen
- 16th Jan, 12 02:01pm
Like you I have been trying and trying to find the right medication to give my dog. Lysodren sounds scary! Trilostane sounds frightening as well but after reading some of the blogs, I think I will give it a try. I did take Chamisa ( my sweet dog) to a holistic vet and did not find the herbs to help. Unfortunately, this entire experience has been expensive and my new hubby is not appreciating all the urine on the bathroom floor each morning or putting diapers on an eighty pound dog. God bless all you sweet people out there who are trying to make the last years of your friend’s life good. I’m in there with you and am continuing to try and find the best option. It’s a tough diagnosis and an expensive one.