Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Medical treatments and survival in dogs with Cushing's syndrome
By Sophia Shanlly et al.·Published in Animals·2025·Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Effectiveness of Medical Treatment on Survivability in Canine Cushing’s Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome (a hormonal disorder) were treated with different medications to see which helped them live longer. The study found that while both trilostane and mitotane were commonly used, trilostane showed better survival rates, with dogs treated with it living longer than those on mitotane. Specifically, dogs on trilostane had an 11% higher chance of surviving for 36 months compared to those on mitotane. This suggests that trilostane may be the better option for long-term management of Cushing’s syndrome in dogs.
People also search for: dog Cushing's syndrome treatment · trilostane for dogs · mitotane side effects in dogs
Abstract
Cushing’s syndrome is one of the most common endocrine disorders in dogs and is typically managed with long-term medical treatment. Several pharmacological agents are available: trilostane, mitotane, ketoconazole, cabergoline, selegiline, and aminoglutethimide, but their comparative effects on survival remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the impact of these agents on survival outcomes in dogs with naturally occurring diseases. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, and the Cochrane Library was conducted between 1 September 2024 to 3 January 2025. Eligible studies included dogs diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome that reported survival outcomes for at least one of the specified treatments. Five studies (n = 295 dogs) met the inclusion criteria, with trilostane and mitotane providing sufficient data for meta-analysis. Pooled mean difference in survival time across four studies was 85.1 days (95% CI: −255.9 to 85.7, <i>p</i> = 0.21) with substantial heterogeneity (I<sup>2</sup> = 89%), indicating no statistically significant difference between the drugs. In contrast, pooled survival rates at fixed intervals favored trilostane, with an 11% higher survival at 36 months (<i>p</i> = 0.005) and no heterogeneity observed (I<sup>2</sup> = 0%). These findings suggest trilostane may offer long-term survival benefits over mitotane.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15202954