Is it safe to start my dog on Vetoryl right before vacation?

A single dose of this size of Vetoryl will likely pose no serious risk of toxicity. Monitor for lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea or loss of appetite. See your veterinarian if any of these symptoms develop.

Generally yes. Always make sure to discuss any concerns with your veterinarian regarding procedures or medications. Your veterinarian is an excellent resource for information and can help guide you in the decision making process. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I would not expect the signs you are describing to be secondary to the Vetoryl and I would not recommend stopping the medication without talking to your veterinarian first. Unfortunately there are not many safe alternative treatments for Cushing’s disease. I would be concerned that Boots might be showing signs of pain or potentially neurologic disease. It would be a good idea to have your vet examine him and to discuss these concerns.

Great catch on your part! You obviously are doing a great job taking care of Schnoodle! Your vet probably is aware of this potential interaction but decided the benefits of starting her on Vetoryl outweigh the risks. However, I would definitely mention it to the vet when you stop by to pick up the meds. Your vet will likely require routine lab work to monitor Schnoodle's electrolytes (which includes potassium) as well as her renal and kidney function.

Hello and thank you for your post! I am sorry to hear that Aprile is not feeling well. With the Cushing's medication, this can cause the reverse disease called Addison's disease. The Cushing's medication will decrease the steroids in the body. Sometimes this medication can decrease the steroids too much and lead to an addisonian crisis. If your vet has not checked blood work to see what the electrolytes and the rest of the blood work looks like I would certainly want to see what the CBC and chemistry look like. If your vet has examined her and deems that steroids are necessary due to the examination and clinical appearance then a dose of steroids is probably okay to administer with the suspicion that the Cushing's medication has decreased the natural steroids in the body too much. Famotidine is just Pepcid AC, so it is absolutely safe to give. If the pancreatitis is very bad, then I would suggest keeping her in the hospital on supportive care until she's feeling better. I hope this helps and that she gets better! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I'm also available via phone or text consultation.

Vetoryl (trilostane) is the best medication for managing Cushing's disease, but I'm sorry to hear that Lacy has not been tolerating it well. I have anecdotally heard of some vets using a variety of supplements for managing Cushing's disease signs, but these supplements will not ultimately decrease the cortisol production by the adrenal glands and generally seem ineffective. I don't know how long Lacy was receiving Vetoryl, but some dogs can initially become lethargic, vomit, have diarrhea, or a decreased appetite. Fortunately, these signs typically resolve after a few days to a few weeks on the medication. It may be worth discussing a temporary dose adjustment with Lacy's vet to see if she tolerates a lower dose better before gradually increasing to her 30mg dose. Some dogs also benefit from supportive measures (anti nausea medications, bland diets, etc.) in the first few days to weeks of treatment. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These are possible side effects that can be seen with the administration of this medication. I recommend that you contact your veterinarian to see if they agree knowing her medical history and if they would consider lowering the dose or using something else. I do not recommend you stop this medication without talking with them first. Best of luck!