Cushing's Abbreviations Glossary

With all of its abbreviations, Cushing's disease can be challenging to understand. The glossary below is a quick guide to some of these terms.

ADH

Adrenal-dependent hyperadrenocorticism, a type of Cushing’s disease caused by a cortisol-producing tumor on one or both adrenal glands. Approximately 15% of dogs with Cushing's have ADH.

ACTH

Adrenocorticotropic hormone, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates the production and release of cortisol from the adrenal glands.

ACTH stim

Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation, one of the tests that veterinarians use to screen for Cushing’s disease. It’s also used to monitor a dog’s cortisol levels while on medication for Cushing’s. 

ALP or ALK Phos

Alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme found on the outer borders of liver cells. It increases in response to increased cortisol and is elevated in around 90% of dogs with Cushing’s.

ALT

Alanine aminotransferase, an enzyme primarily found within liver cells. A high ALT level on bloodwork can be a sign that liver cells are breaking down, possibly because of liver injury or inflammation.

BID

Twice a day, an abbreviation commonly used in drug dosing instructions.

BUN

Blood urea nitrogen, a test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen (a waste product removed by the kidneys) in the blood. Cushing’s disease tends to decrease BUN, and chronic kidney disease increases it.

CBC

Complete blood count, a blood test that provides vital information about a dog’s health.

DMSO

Dimethyl sulfoxide, a topical treatment that’s used to treat skin conditions in dogs, including calcinosis cutis.

FDA

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a federal agency that’s responsible for “assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.”

HAC

Hyperadrenocorticism, also known as Cushing’s disease.

HDDST

High-Dose Dexamethasone-Suppression Test, used to determine whether dogs diagnosed with Cushing’s have the pituitary-dependent or adrenal-dependent form of the disease.

kg

kilogram, a unit of measurement often used to calculate a dog’s weight.

LDDST

Low-Dose Dexamethasone-Suppression Test, considered the test of choice for diagnosing naturally occurring Cushing’s disease.

mg

milligram, a unit of measurement often used to measure a dose of medication.

NAI

Non-adrenal illness (diabetes, kidney disease, etc.)

NASC

National Animal Supplement Council, “a nonprofit trade association whose mission is to promote the health and wellbeing of companion animals and horses that are given animal health supplements by their owners, and to protect and enhance the animal health supplement industry.”

PDH

Pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism, a type of Cushing’s disease caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland. Approximately 85% of dogs with Cushing's have PDH.

PU/PD

Polyuria (PU) and Polydipsia (PD), medical terms used to describe excessive urination and excessive drinking.

PVC

Pre-Vetoryl Cortisol, an alternative to the ACTH stimulation test that some veterinarians use to monitor dogs being treated with Vetoryl.

SID

Once a day, an abbreviation commonly used in drug dosing instructions.

UCCR

Urine cortisol/creatinine ratio, one of the tests that veterinarians use to screen for Cushing’s disease.

UPC ratio

Urine protein/creatinine ratio, a test that measures how much protein is being lost through the kidneys. About half of dogs with untreated Cushing’s disease have an elevated UPC ratio.

USP

United States Pharmacopeia, a nonprofit organization that sets “quality, purity, strength, and identity standards for medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements.”

UTCVM

University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, the only facility that currently offers an adrenal steroid profile test to screen for atypical Cushing’s disease.

UTI

Urinary tract infection, an infection occurring anywhere in the urinary system. UTIs are common in dogs with Cushing’s disease.