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Bite Size Meds

Breaking your pets' medication down into palatable and digestible chunks. 

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Vetoryl

What is Vetoryl?

Vetoryl is a brand name for the drug trilostane.  It is used to treat dogs with Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism).

 

What does Vetoryl do?

Vetoryl works by inhibiting the production of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands.  Cortisol is important for various bodily functions, but excessive amounts can lead to health problems including increased risks of diabetes, high blood pressure, pancreatitis, kidney infections and UTIs (urinary tract infections; also known as water infections), and blood clots in the lungs. 


 

What causes Cushing’s?

Cushing's disease is caused by an overproduction of cortisol.  In Cushing’s, there is either a tumour in the adrenal gland, which results in it making too much cortisol, or more commonly, there is a tumour in the pituitary gland (a little gland in the brain), which drives both of the adrenal glands to make excessive amounts of cortisol.

 

The excess of cortisol causes symptoms such as increased thirst and urination, increased appetite, panting, a pot-bellied appearance, hair loss and infections that affect the skin, kidneys and urinary tract.


 

Why has my animal been prescribed Vetoryl?

Your vet has prescribed Vetoryl to manage your dog’s Cushing's disease.

 

By reducing cortisol production, Vetoryl helps alleviate the symptoms associated with this condition, improving your dog’s quality of life.  Regular monitoring and blood tests are used to ensure the medication is working correctly, and over time the dose may need to be adjusted based on these.


 

How quickly does it help my pet?

The effects of Vetoryl can usually be seen within a few weeks.  Symptoms such as excessive drinking and urination often improve first, followed by improvements in appetite, coat condition, and overall energy levels.  It can often take up to 3-9 months for all of your dog’s symptoms to fully resolve.

 

Are there any side-effects I need to worry about?

Vetoryl usually has minimal side-effects but some animals will get vomiting or diarrhoea, or go off their food, and some animals may also seem sleepier/less active than usual.

Rarely, it can cause dogs to develop hypoadrenocorticism (i.e. swinging too far the other way) and sometimes, kidney disease, allergic skin disease and arthritis become apparent as the levels of cortisol in the body return to normal levels.  It has also been rarely associated with bloating, drooling, wobbliness, muscle tremors, and skin disorders, and very rarely associated with weakness, permanent damage to the adrenal glands and sudden death.

 

Are there any pets that cannot have Vetoryl?

Vetoryl should ONLY be given to your pet if it has been prescribed by your veterinary surgeon.  

There are some groups of animals for whom Vetoryl should either not be given, or it should only be given after discussing it thoroughly with your vet.  These include;

  • Dogs with liver disease or kidney disease

  • Dogs with anaemia

  • Pregnant dogs or those lactating to feed their offspring (i.e. breastfeeding) or any dog intended for breeding

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