How is Addisons disease treated in Portuguese Water Dogs?
Twenty five years ago only one therapy, Florinef, a pill taken once or twice daily was used to treat Addison’s disease. It is still used successfully although far more owners of Addisonian dogs prefer using the once-a-month long acting injection of DOCP, from Novartis pharmaceuticals marketed as Percorten V. Percorten V: DOCP (desoxycorticosterone) is a long-acting injection, (about a month depending upon the individual) which is recognized as having the same qualitative effects as the natural mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone. It regulates the absorption of sodium and the excretion of potassium so they maintain normal levels and function in the body. In some cases over the years dogs have been reported to be treated with prednisone, which is a short term glucocorticoid support drug. When those dogs have been switched to Percorten V, with or without continuing cortisone owners have reported far greater normalcy “I’ve got my dog back!” The use of cortisone depends completely on the
