The small gland joined to the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. It supplies growth hormone and many other hormones that control the responses of many other glands. In the aged dog with fluid and elextrolyte dysfunctions, the posterior pituitary is often suspect. Older dogs often present with fluid and electrolyte imbalances (posterior pituitary) and Cushing's Disease where where an excess of corticotropin (ACTH) is secreted by the anterior pituitary.x As dogs age, it is fairly common for them to develop pituitary tumors which disrupt normal pituitary secretions which in turn may cause secondary dysfunction across a wide range of endocrine glands.

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