Desoxycorticosterone Pivalate

Desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) is a long-acting injectable mineralocorticoid used for lifelong replacement therapy in dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism. It has no glucocorticoid activity and effectively controls electrolyte imbalances by promoting renal sodium retention and potassium excretion. A prospective study evaluated a low-dose DOCP protocol in 17 dogs. Newly diagnosed dogs received a starting dose of 1.5 mg/kg SC, with the goal of maintaining serum sodium and potassium within reference intervals at a 28–30 day injection interval. Results showed that this low starting dose was sufficient in most dogs, and the majority required further dose reduction to a median of 1.1 mg/kg after 2–3 months to avoid hypokalemia. DOCP effectively controlled clinical signs and electrolyte disturbances, with no serious adverse effects. The study demonstrates that DOCP is a safe, potent mineralocorticoid that can be administered at substantially lower than labeled doses while maintaining excellent clinical efficacy.

Fig. 1 Serum Na concentrations at the time point of diagnosis (D), on the day of desoxycorticosterone pivalate injection (O) and at selected time points. (Sieber-Ruckstuhl N S.; et al. 2019)