Have you noticed your pup emptying their water bowl faster than usual, even after extra refills? Or maybe your house-trained dog has had an accident or is waking you up for more nighttime potty breaks?
What about mealtime—does your furry friend seem extra eager to gobble up their food?
If any of this sound familiar, your dog may be experiencing elevated cortisol levels, which could be a sign of an underlying health issue. Keeping an eye on these changes can help you catch potential concerns early!
Recognizing elevated cortisol levels in dogs
Some common signs you may have noticed when your pet has high cortisol due to stress. These include:
- Drinking and peeing more than usual (frequent potty breaks, accidents in the house)
- Always hungry (eating more than normal)
- Low energy (tired, sluggish, less playful)
- Hair loss and skin issues (thin skin, more prone to infections)
- Bloated or round belly
- Heavy breathing or panting
- High blood pressure
- Weakened immune system (easier to get sick or higher risk of infections)
- Upset stomach (vomiting, diarrhea)
- Mood changes (acting anxious, irritable, or more aggressive)
Long-term stress can lead to serious health problems like heart and kidney issues, digestive troubles, and even changes in behavior. Keeping an eye on your pup’s habits and regular vet visits can help keep them happy and healthy!
Cortisol Testing in Dogs
In dogs, researchers have successfully extracted and analyzed cortisol from blood plasma, feces, urine, hair, and saliva, offering multiple avenues for assessment depending on the purpose and context of the testing.
Although blood cortisol measurement is considered highly reliable for evaluating stress and other endocrine problems, it’s important to note that the procedure’s invasiveness can itself elevate cortisol levels temporarily, potentially influencing results. In contrast, a saliva-based cortisol test is non-invasive and provides means of assessing high cortisol levels. Hair cortisol analysis, also provides a non-invasive means of assessing long-term cortisol accumulation which is particularly advantageous for tracking chronic stress in working dogs, service animals, and others requiring ongoing behavioral monitoring.
Why do you need to test Cortisol at home?
At-Home Cortisol Test: A Simple Way to Check Your Stress Levels
Ever wondered how your body responds to stress? An at-home cortisol test can give you valuable insights into your cortisol levels—your body’s main stress hormone. While these tests aren’t meant for self-diagnosis, they can provide useful information to discuss with your doctor.
- Get a snapshot of your pet’s cortisol levels and how they might be linked to your pet’s symptoms.
- Understand how your pet’s body reacts to stress before consulting a healthcare professional.
- Gain insights into your daily cortisol fluctuations and overall well-being.
By measuring cortisol in samples such as blood, saliva, urine, feces, and hair, veterinarians can evaluate both acute and chronic stress responses. These insights are especially valuable for monitoring the well-being of working dogs, service animals, and pets with suspected hormonal imbalances or anxiety-related behaviors.
Taking control of your pet’s mental health starts with understanding their behaviours—could a cortisol test be your next step?
References:
- https://www.pethonesty.com/blogs/stories/cushings-disease-in-dogs-understanding-diagnosing-and-treatment
- https://www.sandiaanimalclinic.com/2020/12/01/the-importance-of-cortisol-in-dogs-and-cats/
- https://www.hannegrice.com/walk-the-dog/stress-in-dogs-what-we-cant-see/
- https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/23/3536#:~:text=Salivary%20cortisol%20is%20increasingly%20used,tool%20for%20studying%20stress%20physiology.