The best joint supplement for a dog with Cushing's disease

The best joint supplement for a dog with Cushing's disease is one that supports cartilage and joint comfort in a simple daily chew, that your vet has checked against your dog's treatment plan, and that sits alongside the two things that matter most for mobility in Cushing's: getting cortisol under control and rebuilding lost muscle. A supplement cannot treat Cushing's, but it can be a useful part of keeping an affected dog comfortable and active.

Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism) means the body makes too much cortisol. The MSD Veterinary Manual describes it in middle-aged to older dogs, typically 7 to 12 years old, which is exactly the age when arthritis is also becoming common. Cortisol affects muscle, ligaments and body shape, so Cushing's can make a dog look and move much stiffer than their joints alone would explain.

Choosing Joint Support for a Dog with Cushing's

Dogs with Cushing's usually need lifelong medication and regular blood tests, so any extra product should be straightforward to give and easy for your vet to review.

We make MedPaw, so to keep the comparison fair the table below uses each manufacturer's own published ingredient list. It is a handy thing to take to your dog's next monitoring appointment.

When your dog is already on a daily tablet with regular rechecks, one broad joint product beats juggling several. MedPaw is the only supplement in the table that combines all six key joint actives, so you get glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel, hyaluronic acid and Boswellia in one soft chew, and your vet has a single label to check.

The soft chew is easy to give with a meal, and as Cushing's dogs are often very food motivated, most take it as a treat without any fuss.

See MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max, and show the label to your vet before you start. It comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

How Cushing's Affects Muscles and Joints

The MSD Veterinary Manual reports that around 85% of dogs with naturally occurring Cushing's have the pituitary-dependent form and 15% have a cortisol-producing adrenal tumour. Whichever the cause, the excess cortisol has knock-on effects on the musculoskeletal system.

Muscle Weakness and Wasting

Cortisol is catabolic, meaning it breaks tissue down. Veterinary proceedings published in dvm360 explain that muscle weakness in Cushing's occurs as a result of the catabolic effects of cortisol, and list muscle wasting among the most common findings. Owners often notice thinning over the back, hips and thighs, difficulty jumping into the car, or a dog that tires more easily on walks. Because muscle is what stabilises the joints, this weakness can make existing arthritis feel worse. Our guide to muscle atrophy in dogs shows how to spot it.

Ligament Weakness and Cruciate Risk

Cortisol also affects connective tissue. The MSD Veterinary Manual lists cranial cruciate ligament rupture among the signs of Cushing's, and the dvm360 proceedings note that dogs can occasionally develop cruciate rupture or patellar luxation, which may be down to cortisol's effects on connective tissue. A sudden hind leg lameness in a dog with Cushing's should always be checked. Our guide to cruciate ligament injuries in dogs explains the signs and options.

The Pot Belly and Body Weight

The classic pot-bellied look is not simply weight gain. According to the dvm360 proceedings, it is likely due to a combination of muscle weakness, fat moving into the abdomen and an enlarged liver. Dogs with Cushing's are often ravenous, so extra pounds can also creep on. Both the sagging belly and any added fat change how weight is carried over the hips and spine. Keeping your dog lean takes load off sore joints, and our guide to canine obesity and joint health explains why, but agree any weight plan with your vet, as some of the belly shape should improve once cortisol is controlled.

Calcinosis cutis, where hard, gritty calcium deposits form in the skin, is described as uncommon. It is worth mentioning only because the plaques can be sore, so if your dog has them, check that harnesses and beds are not rubbing.

Treatment and Monitoring with Your Vet

Animal Trust explains that trilostane (Vetoryl) is the most common treatment and works by reducing cortisol production in the adrenal glands, and that treatment is often lifelong with regular monitoring. Your vet will set the dose and adjust it based on how your dog is doing at home and on blood test results.

The Vetoryl product information says it should be given with food and sets out a monitoring schedule. A guide to monitoring published by VetCT stresses that the most important aspect is the clinical response at home, and suggests owners use the CushQoL-Pet quality of life questionnaire developed with the RVC. Noting your dog's thirst, appetite, energy and mobility each week gives your vet far more to work with.

Some dogs develop Cushing's-like signs from long-term steroid medicines rather than their own glands. That is managed differently, by your vet adjusting the steroid, so never stop or change any prescribed medicine without their advice.

Exercise and Rebuilding Muscle

Once cortisol is under control, many dogs gradually regain energy and some muscle. Steady, regular exercise helps that process and also keeps arthritic joints moving. The key is to build up slowly, because weakened muscles and ligaments are more vulnerable to strain.

• Short, regular walks. Several short walks on level ground each day are better than one long one, especially early in treatment.
• Keep cool. The MSD Veterinary Manual lists heat intolerance and panting among the signs of Cushing's, so walk in the cooler parts of the day and carry water.
• Avoid twisting and leaping. Ball chasing, jumping off furniture and sharp turns put strain on the cruciate ligaments.
• Add gentle strength work. Slow walking up gentle slopes, controlled sit-to-stand exercises and walking over low poles all build muscle without impact. Ask your vet whether a canine physiotherapist could help.
• Consider swimming or hydrotherapy. Water supports body weight while muscles work. Our guide to hydrotherapy for dogs explains what to expect.
• Use grip and ramps. Rugs on slippery floors and a ramp for the car help a weaker dog avoid slips and falls.

Where Joint Support Fits

For a dog with Cushing's, a joint supplement plays a supporting role. Controlling cortisol, keeping weight in check and rebuilding muscle come first. A joint supplement then adds daily nutritional support for cartilage and joint comfort, which is especially useful for older dogs whose arthritis is now more obvious as their muscles have weakened.

MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max is a soft chew complementary feed with glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel, hyaluronic acid and Boswellia serrata, plus omega-3 from green-lipped mussel and flax seed, and vitamins C and E and zinc. Once your vet agrees, give it with a meal: 1 chew a day up to 4kg, 2 for 5 to 17kg, and 2 to 3 for 18kg and over, doubled for the first three weeks. Count the chews within your dog's daily food allowance, since appetite control matters in Cushing's, and allow 2 to 3 months for optimal results. If your dog also needs pain relief, our article on joint supplements alongside medication explains how they fit together.

When to See Your Vet

• Before starting any supplement or making changes to diet or exercise
• If your dog is suddenly lame on a back leg, which could be a cruciate injury
• If muscle loss, weakness or stiffness keeps getting worse despite treatment
• If thirst, appetite or panting increase again, which may mean the dose needs reviewing
• Promptly if your dog on trilostane shows weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhoea, which the product information lists as possible signs of low cortisol
• Urgently for collapse