3/ Selegline - Otherwise known as l-deprenyl, levodeprenyl, deprenyl, anipril, anipryl or eldepryl - This is licensed for use in dogs for cognitive disorder. It doesn't actually affect the adrenal gland (where the cortisol is produced), but rather suppresses the pituitary gland directly. It does this by allowing more dopamine to build up which then inhibits a hormone called ACTH (which leads to the overproduction of cortisone). However, its clinical affects are hard to monitor, because responses to the main test for Cushing's Disease are unaffected. Hence the monitoring comes in on more subjective criteria such as the dog seems brighter, drinks less, urinates less etc. The studies seem inconclusive as to how effective the treatment is, and how much is due to pituitary pathology, and how much to the increase of amphetamine concentrations. The figures for effectiveness range from 20% in one study to 83% in another. One vet who used to answer detailed questions on the internet put the effectiveness at about 70-80% on one part of his site:

"Personally, I like Anipryl. Our success rate roughly matches that found in
the literature --- about 70 to 80% of the time there is enough improvement
in clinical signs that the owner is happy and we are happy. It takes a
month or two to know if it is going to work, which I think of as a big
disadvantage, because it sets the whole treatment back that long if it
doesn't work. In cases in which we really need to see a quick effect we
will continue to use mitotane, for that reason. In cases in which we can
afford to wait and see what happens, we prefer Anipryl, because we have had
some really bad reactions to Lysodren. They are not common, but they are
common enough we were relieved when another option became available for
treatment of HAC." 8th March 2000

Whilst another site here puts it at nearer the 20% mark. At least one study also suggested that it might increase life span in animals, although this is highly speculative.

There are no easy options with people, pets or anything that you love and ultimately feel responsible for; and it is that total responsibility that weighs heavily. At the moment Jack has problems going up the stairs and jumping into the car, he tires more easily, goes to the toilet more frequently and seems a little more distant then he did a year ago. I could put it down to only the onset of old age. But now I know that its not just his age. He has Cushing's and if left untreated he will only get worse.

Scroll down a little in this article to read some updates to this story where I discussed the drug treatment I ended up using. And then come back and Click Here for a further update to this story on the 16th January 2004 (There is also a further update link in that one for the 14th Oct 2005)

Copyright - Stuart Brown