Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Low-dose DOCP treatment for dogs with Addison's disease
By Sieber-Ruckstuhl, Nadia S et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2019·Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of a low-dose desoxycorticosterone pivalate treatment protocol for long-term management of dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 17 dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism (a condition where the adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones) were treated with a low-dose injection of desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) to manage their symptoms. Most dogs started on 1.5 mg/kg of DOCP, but after a few months, many needed a lower dose to keep their electrolyte levels stable and maintain a regular injection schedule. The treatment was effective in controlling their symptoms, and younger dogs required slightly higher doses than older ones. Overall, the low-dose protocol helped manage the condition without the need for higher doses recommended by manufacturers.
People also search for: dog adrenal gland disease treatment · low-dose DOCP for dogs · primary hypoadrenocorticism in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lowering the dose of desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) for the treatment of dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism (PH) decreases costs and could lead to increased owner motivation to treat their affected dogs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a low-dose DOCP treatment protocol in dogs with PH. ANIMALS: Prospective study, 17 client-owned dogs with naturally occurring PH (12 newly diagnosed, 5 previously treated with fludrocortisone acetate [FC]). METHODS: Dogs with newly diagnosed PH were started on 1.5 mg/kg DOCP SC; dogs previously treated with FC were started on 1.0-1.8 mg/kg DOCP SC. Reevaluations took place at regular intervals for a minimum of 3 months and included clinical examination and determination of serum sodium and potassium concentrations. The DOCP dosage was adjusted to obtain an injection interval of 28-30 days and to keep serum electrolyte concentrations within the reference interval. RESULTS: Median (range) follow-up was 16.2 months (4.5-32.3 months). The starting dosage was sufficient in all but 2 dogs and had to be significantly decreased after 2-3 months to a median dosage (range) of 1.1 mg/kg (0.7-1.8). Dogs 3 years of age or younger needed significantly higher dosages compared to older dogs. None of them, however, needed the 2.2 mg/kg DOCP dosage, recommended by the manufacturer. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: A starting dosage of 1.5 mg/kg DOCP is effective in controlling clinical signs and serum electrolyte concentrations in the majority of dogs with PH. An additional dose reduction often is needed to maintain an injection interval of 28-30 days. Young and growing animals seem to need higher dosages.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30865322/