If your pet suffers from hypoadrenocorticism, also known as Addison's Disease, you'll need to replace some of the missing hormones in his system with a medicine like Percorten V. Hypoadrenocorticism is an uncommon condition but one that can nonetheless prove to be very damaging to your pet's health, leading to weakness, hormonal imbalance and even coma or death. Fortunately, Percorten V is a useful way of addressing the hormonal imbalance which causes the symptoms of Addison's Disease.
Percorten V Overview
Dogs suffering from Addison's Disease have impaired adrenal systems that aren't able to produce enough cortisol or aldosterone, two hormones that help to regulate a variety of body functions for your pet. Percorten V makes use of a synthetic hormone replacement called Desoxycorticosterone, or DOCP for short. DOCP can help to replace the aldosterone in your pet's system by providing the same function as this naturally produced hormone. However, if your pet suffers from an imbalance of cortisol instead of (or in addition to) aldosterone, you'll need to use other medications to address this issue.
Using Percorten V for Your Pet
Percorten V is designed and approved for use in animals only. You'll need to take your pet to the vet and have a full set of diagnoses before you can receive a prescription to purchase Percorten V. These diagnostic tests will determine whether your pet is suffering from Addison's Disease and how severely limited your dog's aldosterone production is. This will have an impact on the dosage of the medicine.
Percorten V is typically given in an injectable form. This medicine is designed to be dosed approximately once per month by injection, and most veterinarians will prefer to perform this injection themselves. The exact amount of the medicine delivered will depend upon your pet's size and weight, as well as his normal hormone levels and the functionality of his adrenal glands. It's important that you and your vet continue to monitor your pet closely in order to determine whether he will need any more or any less of the medicine.
Risks and Side Effects of Percorten V
Percorten V is dangerous when used in dogs that are suffering from heart failure, kidney failure, or various other types of organ damage. It can also interact negatively with certain other types of drugs in your pet's system, including Insulin. If your pet is diabetic or taking any other medications, be sure to inform your vet of this before you begin to treat him with Percorten V.
The most common side effects of Percorten V include the following:
- Weakness
- Fluid retention problems
- Increased urination and thirst
- Inflammation and soreness at the site of the injection
If you suspect that your pet is suffering from any side effect or adverse reaction to Percorten V, take him to a vet for immediate inspection. While a severe allergic reaction is rare, it can occur in some dogs. In these cases, emergency treatment may be necessary.