Measurement of cortisol in dog hair: a noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of hypercortisolism.

Background: The clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism (hypercortisolism) in dogs are known to be caused by chronic overexposure to glucocorticoids. The quantification of cortisol in serum, saliva or urine reflects the cortisol concentration at the time of sample collection, but in suspected hyperadrenocorticism it may be preferable to examine a long-term parameter of cortisol production.

Hypothesis/objectives: There is a need for a noninvasive method to monitor the long-term production of cortisol in dogs.