Skin Darkening and Ear Hair Loss After Adrenal Surgery
by DEENA
(SEGUIN, TEXAS)
Reader Question
MY 12 YEAR OLD MALE DACHSHUND HAD AN ADRENALECTOMY ABOUT A MONTH AND HALF AGO. HE IS ALSO A DIABETIC. HE HAD A FUNCTIONING BENIGN ADRENAL ADENOMA ON HIS LEFT SIDE. WE DISCOVERED THE TUMOR BECAUSE OF PNEUMONIA LIKE SYMPTOMS. HE HAD LABORED BREATHING AND RESPIRATIONS WERE ABOUT 40-45 BREATHS PER MINUTE. WE DISCOVERED THROUGH ULTRASOUND THAT HE HAD AN ADRENAL TUMOR AND HIS BLOOD PRESSURE WAS 265-295. HE WAS ADMITTED TO INTENSIVE CARE UNIT TO TRY TO STABILIZE HIM PRIOR TO SURGERY. HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED BUT WAS READMITTED WHEN WE DISCOVERED HE ALSO HAD A PROSTATIC ABSCESS. HE WAS THEN TAKEN INTO SURGERY THE NEXT DAY. THE SURGERY WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. HIS ADRENAL TUMOR WAS INCAPSULATED AND WAS REMOVED IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND HIS PROSTATE WAS DRAINED AND OMENTALIZED. THE RECOVERY HAS BEEN A VERY LONG PROCESS, AND HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS IVE EVER BEEN THROUGH. MY DOG HASNT HAD ANY PAIN, BUT HIS APPETITE WAS VERY SMALL AT FIRST WHICH MADE IT HARD TO GIVE HIS INSULIN, AND NOW THAT HIS APPETITE HAS DEFINITELY GROWN HIS BLOOD GLUCOSE HAS BEEN HARD TO CONTROL. HE SEEMS TO BE A LOT BETTER, BUT NOW HIS SKIN IS TURNING BLACK AND HIS SOME OF HIS FUR ON HIS EARS IS FALLING OUT. DUE TO THE OVERPRODUCTION OF HORMONES THAT THE ADRENAL TUMOR WAS PRODUCING THE OTHER ADRENAL
GLAND SHRUNK UP TO ALMOST NOTHING TO COMPENSATE. HE WAS GIVEN PERCORTEN INJECTION AND PREDNISOLONE UPON DISMISSAL OF HOSPITAL, BUT HAS COMPLETED THIS COURSE APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO. IVE CONTACTED OUR VET AND HE DOESNT SEEM TO CONCERNED YET HE SAID. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT NEXT WEEK IN WHICH HE PLANS ON RUNNING LABWORK TO EVALUATE ADRENAL FUNCTION. OVER ALL THIS HAS MADE ME A WRECK WITH WORRY. I HAVE TROUBLE SITTING AND WAITING WHILE MY MIND WONDERS. I THINK THIS COULD BE A RESULT OF HIS OTHER ADRENAL GLAND NOT FUNCTIONING ENOUGH AT THIS POINT. DO YOU HAVE ANY OPINIONS? I
Answer from Our Team
After a cortisol-producing adrenal tumor is removed, the other adrenal gland can take weeks to months to recover, so some dogs need hormone support for a while. Skin darkening and coat changes are common as the skin recovers from long-term high cortisol and usually aren't dangerous on their own.
The adrenal function test your vet has planned is the right next step. Meanwhile, call sooner if he becomes weak, stops eating, vomits or has diarrhea, which can mean his cortisol is too low. As cortisol falls, his insulin needs often drop, so watch for signs of low blood sugar such as weakness, wobbliness or trembling, and keep monitoring his glucose closely with your vet.
See Cushing's disease in dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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