Vetoryl: Can it cause leg weakness or depression? Treatment options?

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!

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Oh no! Poor Charlie! I have not heard of strokes being a side effect of Vetoryl (trilostane). It is very well tolerated and has significantly decreased the side effects for treating cushings compared to the older drug choice. Untreated cushings can cause clots though. I wonder if the stroke is unrelated and maybe he is experiencing a Vestibular event. Look at his eyes and see if they are moving abnormally. Dogs with Vestibular disease have abnormal eye movements, a head tilt, fall to one side, walk drunk, pant and drool because they are very dizzy. Vestibular disease is rarely fatal and can be managed. They tend to get better. I would encourage you to take Charlie to an emergency hospital to be evaluated. I wish you the best!

Lethargy can be a side effect in the first few days of Trilostane therapy, but typically resolves after a week or so of treatment. In some cases, giving the medication every other day for the first week or two can be beneficial to decrease the incidence of side effects, but you should call Josie's vet to discuss any possible dose changes. Otherwise, there isn't anything else that can be given to put a bit more pep in her step. Give her vet a call to discuss the medication and hopefully she will be more energetic soon!

Hi Trudi, I wish I had a simple answer for you, but the answer depends on the cause of the weakness. If the muscle weakness is due to Cushing's disease, then the treatment should improve the muscle weakness if the disease is improving. You didn't mention what type of medicine the holistic vet is using, but I would consider adding acupuncture and/or Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine which often works well for both Cushing's disease and generalized weakness. I don't know if there is anyone near you that practices acupuncture, but you may be able to find someone here. http://www.tcvm.com/Resources/InternationalPractitioners.aspx Another thing to consider would be to find a rehabilitation therapist to create an exercise plan to strengthen Ashley's legs. You may be able to find someone near you here. http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/find_a_therapist.html Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hello. For the most part, Vetoryl is used to control the symptoms of Cushing's by controlling the production of glucocorticoids. Overproduction of glucocorticoids is responsible for the symptoms of excessive drinking & urination but does nothing for the actual tumor growing on his pituitary gland. If Izzy's symptoms are manageable & tolerable then medication is not necessary. This would be your choice. But if his symptoms do get worse, at least consider once a day dosing. Most dogs do very well on twice daily dosing, but once a day can help in many pets. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If Holly is not improving clinically, she might need to be tested again (ACTH stimulation test) to make sure the dose of Vetoryl is the correct one for her. Usually the blood test has to be done 10-14 days after the treatment has started, 4 to 6 hrs after Vetoryl administration. Please post again on the forum if you would like to discuss it further. I hope my answer was helpful.