DDAVP Desmopressin Acetate Tablets
DDAVP is the go-to ADH replacement for canine central diabetes insipidus because it provides a highly specific vasopressin analog in an easy-to-dose oral tablet, enabling reliable control of polyuria/polydipsia with minimal systemic steroid or adrenal effects. Compared with adrenal-directed therapies on this list (trilostane, mitotane, DOCP), DDAVP targets the neurohypophyseal axis directly and usually delivers lower monitoring intensity and lower ongoing lab costs, making it a cost-efficient chronic option for ADH-deficient patients.
Controls urination
Prevents dehydration
Controls urination
Prevents dehydration
Review Summary
"Owners report a significant reduction in excessive drinking and urination with DDAVP tablets and improved quality of life; some note the need for dosing adjustments, cost concerns, or occasional variable response."
Pocket-tablet hero
Synthetic vasopressin analogue used to replace ADH in central diabetes insipidus.
Pocket-tablet hero
Synthetic vasopressin analogue used to replace ADH in central diabetes insipidus.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
DDAVP is the go-to ADH replacement for canine central diabetes insipidus because it provides a highly specific vasopressin analog in an easy-to-dose oral tablet, enabling reliable control of polyuria/polydipsia with minimal systemic steroid or adrenal effects. Compared with adrenal-directed therapies on this list (trilostane, mitotane, DOCP), DDAVP targets the neurohypophyseal axis directly and usually delivers lower monitoring intensity and lower ongoing lab costs, making it a cost-efficient chronic option for ADH-deficient patients.
Controls urination
Prevents dehydration
Pocket-tablet hero
Synthetic vasopressin analogue used to replace ADH in central diabetes insipidus.
Oral tablet formulation that is typically dosed multiple times daily with dose titration based on water intake and urine concentration.
Controls urination
Prevents dehydration
Pocket-tablet hero
Synthetic vasopressin analogue used to replace ADH in central diabetes insipidus.
Oral tablet formulation that is typically dosed multiple times daily with dose titration based on water intake and urine concentration.
$40-120 CAD
Vetoryl Trilostane Capsules
Vetoryl is the market-leading trilostane capsule for canine hyperadrenocorticism because it reversibly inhibits steroidogenesis, allowing dose titration and predictable control of clinical signs without the adrenal destruction risk associated with mitotane. In practice Vetoryl often balances efficacy, safety and monitoring costs better than Lysodren for moderate-to-severe Cushing’s, and it is generally preferred over pituitary-directed drugs like selegiline when robust cortisol suppression is required.
Lowers cortisol
Eases panting
Lowers cortisol
Eases panting
Review Summary
"Most users find Vetoryl (trilostane) controls Cushing's signs effectively when doses are properly monitored; however it requires frequent bloodwork and some owners report side effects like lethargy or GI upset."
Vet-prescribed heavyweight
Trilostane is an adrenal steroid synthesis inhibitor commonly used to control cortisol production in Cushing's disease.
Vet-prescribed heavyweight
Trilostane is an adrenal steroid synthesis inhibitor commonly used to control cortisol production in Cushing's disease.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Vetoryl is the market-leading trilostane capsule for canine hyperadrenocorticism because it reversibly inhibits steroidogenesis, allowing dose titration and predictable control of clinical signs without the adrenal destruction risk associated with mitotane. In practice Vetoryl often balances efficacy, safety and monitoring costs better than Lysodren for moderate-to-severe Cushing’s, and it is generally preferred over pituitary-directed drugs like selegiline when robust cortisol suppression is required.
Lowers cortisol
Eases panting
Vet-prescribed heavyweight
Trilostane is an adrenal steroid synthesis inhibitor commonly used to control cortisol production in Cushing's disease.
Usually given once daily (some cases twice); dosing requires individualized titration based on clinical response and ACTH stimulation testing.
Lowers cortisol
Eases panting
Vet-prescribed heavyweight
Trilostane is an adrenal steroid synthesis inhibitor commonly used to control cortisol production in Cushing's disease.
Usually given once daily (some cases twice); dosing requires individualized titration based on clinical response and ACTH stimulation testing.
$150-500 CAD
Lysodren Mitotane Tablets
Lysodren (mitotane) remains a best-in-class cytotoxic adrenal suppressant for dogs with severe Cushing’s because of its potent, sometimes durable adrenal-ablative effect and comparatively low per-unit drug cost. That potency gives it an economic advantage in acquisition cost, but it carries higher short-term monitoring and complication risks than trilostane and may produce higher downstream veterinary and hospitalization expenses when intensive induction protocols are required.
Adrenal cell targeting
Reduces Cushing signs
Adrenal cell targeting
Reduces Cushing signs
Review Summary
"Lysodren (mitotane) is effective for many dogs but has a narrow therapeutic window and a higher risk of GI and neurologic side effects during induction, leading to mixed long-term experiences among owners."
Old-school adrenal buster
Mitotane (Lysodren) produces selective adrenocortical necrosis and is used for medical adrenalectomy in Cushing's disease.
Old-school adrenal buster
Mitotane (Lysodren) produces selective adrenocortical necrosis and is used for medical adrenalectomy in Cushing's disease.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Lysodren (mitotane) remains a best-in-class cytotoxic adrenal suppressant for dogs with severe Cushing’s because of its potent, sometimes durable adrenal-ablative effect and comparatively low per-unit drug cost. That potency gives it an economic advantage in acquisition cost, but it carries higher short-term monitoring and complication risks than trilostane and may produce higher downstream veterinary and hospitalization expenses when intensive induction protocols are required.
Adrenal cell targeting
Reduces Cushing signs
Old-school adrenal buster
Mitotane (Lysodren) produces selective adrenocortical necrosis and is used for medical adrenalectomy in Cushing's disease.
Therapy involves an induction (higher dose) phase followed by a maintenance phase with careful dose adjustment.
Adrenal cell targeting
Reduces Cushing signs
Old-school adrenal buster
Mitotane (Lysodren) produces selective adrenocortical necrosis and is used for medical adrenalectomy in Cushing's disease.
Therapy involves an induction (higher dose) phase followed by a maintenance phase with careful dose adjustment.
$100-300 CAD
Anipryl Selegiline Tablets
Anipryl (selegiline) is a selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor used for pituitary-dependent disease modulation and cognitive dysfunction in dogs; it is valued for its oral convenience, favorable safety profile, and relatively low price for mild-to-moderate pituitary-driven signs. While less potent than trilostane or mitotane for controlling overt hypercortisolism, Anipryl can be an economically sensible first-line or adjunct therapy for early PDH or when neurobehavioral benefits are desired without aggressive adrenal suppression.
Boosts alertness
Sharpened cognition
Boosts alertness
Sharpened cognition
Review Summary
"Anipryl (selegiline) produces noticeable behavioral improvements for many dogs with cognitive dysfunction or as an adjunct in Cushing's, though effects can be subtle and variable; side effects are uncommon but may include insomnia or GI upset."
Memory pep-up
Selegiline (Anipryl) is a selective MAO-B inhibitor used for canine cognitive dysfunction and as an adjunct in some pituitary-driven Cushing's cases.
Memory pep-up
Selegiline (Anipryl) is a selective MAO-B inhibitor used for canine cognitive dysfunction and as an adjunct in some pituitary-driven Cushing's cases.
Self-Improvement & Personal Growth
Anipryl (selegiline) is a selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor used for pituitary-dependent disease modulation and cognitive dysfunction in dogs; it is valued for its oral convenience, favorable safety profile, and relatively low price for mild-to-moderate pituitary-driven signs. While less potent than trilostane or mitotane for controlling overt hypercortisolism, Anipryl can be an economically sensible first-line or adjunct therapy for early PDH or when neurobehavioral benefits are desired without aggressive adrenal suppression.
Boosts alertness
Sharpened cognition
Memory pep-up
Selegiline (Anipryl) is a selective MAO-B inhibitor used for canine cognitive dysfunction and as an adjunct in some pituitary-driven Cushing's cases.
Oral, usually once-daily dosing with effects that may take weeks to manifest for behavior or endocrine modulation.
Boosts alertness
Sharpened cognition
Memory pep-up
Selegiline (Anipryl) is a selective MAO-B inhibitor used for canine cognitive dysfunction and as an adjunct in some pituitary-driven Cushing's cases.
Oral, usually once-daily dosing with effects that may take weeks to manifest for behavior or endocrine modulation.
$40-120 CAD
Percorten-V DOCP Injection
Percorten-V (DOCP) injection is the standard long-acting mineralocorticoid replacement for canine hypoadrenocorticism, delivering predictable monthly electrolyte control and removing the need for daily oral mineralocorticoid dosing. Its technical advantage is a dependable, clinic-administered depot effect that reduces owner pill burden and stabilizes sodium/potassium ratios, which—despite requiring periodic veterinary visits—often lowers long-term monitoring variability and overall management costs compared with daily oral alternatives.
Stabilizes electrolytes
Long-lasting injection
Stabilizes electrolytes
Long-lasting injection
Review Summary
"Percorten-V (DOCP) injections are widely praised for reliably managing Addison's disease with monthly dosing and predictable clinical improvement; owners appreciate the effectiveness though they mention cost and the need for periodic electrolyte monitoring."
Monthly lifesaver
DOCP (Percorten-V) is a long-acting injectable mineralocorticoid used to replace aldosterone in primary hypoadrenocorticism.
Monthly lifesaver
DOCP (Percorten-V) is a long-acting injectable mineralocorticoid used to replace aldosterone in primary hypoadrenocorticism.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Percorten-V (DOCP) injection is the standard long-acting mineralocorticoid replacement for canine hypoadrenocorticism, delivering predictable monthly electrolyte control and removing the need for daily oral mineralocorticoid dosing. Its technical advantage is a dependable, clinic-administered depot effect that reduces owner pill burden and stabilizes sodium/potassium ratios, which—despite requiring periodic veterinary visits—often lowers long-term monitoring variability and overall management costs compared with daily oral alternatives.
Stabilizes electrolytes
Long-lasting injection
Monthly lifesaver
DOCP (Percorten-V) is a long-acting injectable mineralocorticoid used to replace aldosterone in primary hypoadrenocorticism.
Administered by deep IM or SC injection approximately every 25–30 days with concurrent glucocorticoid management as indicated.
Stabilizes electrolytes
Long-lasting injection
Monthly lifesaver
DOCP (Percorten-V) is a long-acting injectable mineralocorticoid used to replace aldosterone in primary hypoadrenocorticism.
Administered by deep IM or SC injection approximately every 25–30 days with concurrent glucocorticoid management as indicated.
$100-350 CAD