A newly published study co-authored by ABVT diplomate Dr. Laura Stern offers reassuring news for dog owners and veterinarians: dogs that accidentally swallow a single unintended dose of the Cushing's disease medication trilostane are likely to experience only mild, short-lived effects.
The retrospective study, "Clinical Findings, Treatment Recommendations, and Outcome in Dogs Following Ingestion of a Single Unintended Dose of Trilostane: 403 Cases (2008–2023)," appears in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Dr. Stern, of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, authored the paper with Dr. Lindsey Summers of MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Center and Jenny Schuett, also of the ASPCA APCC.
Drawing on 403 cases from the ASPCA's AnTox database, the team found that most exposures happened when a dog ate another dog's prescription or an extra dose of its own. Only about 10% of the dogs developed any clinical signs—most commonly vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea—and signs typically appeared within a few hours and resolved within 24 hours. Fewer than 1% required veterinary treatment. Dogs that developed signs had generally ingested higher doses, but even large single ingestions rarely led to serious illness, and outcomes were no worse for dogs that exceeded the FDA-approved therapeutic range.
The authors conclude that a single, unintended trilostane ingestion is unlikely to require extensive hospitalization or aggressive care, though dogs showing signs should still be evaluated individually. They note that further research into any long-term effects is warranted.
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