When your dog is sick and suffering from inflammation, you want to do everything you can to make them feel better and get better. When your veterinarian prescribes a medication for your dog, you want to know as much as you can about it, what it is, what it does, and what the side effects might be.
A common prescription drug given to dogs for relief from inflammation is prednisone. It has long been used in both veterinary and human medicine, so it is a fairly well-known drug.
What Is Prednisone & What Is It Used For?
Prednisone is a synthetic steroid used to treat dogs for many types of medical conditions and ailments caused by inflammation. You may have heard of prednisone, as it is also used in human medicine to treat bad allergies, colitis, and other conditions. With its rapid onset, effectiveness, and availability, as well as its proven track record, prednisone is a part of many veterinarians’ toolbox for treating dogs.
Prednisone is a corticosteroid that mimics cortisol, a naturally occurring hormone produced in your dog’s adrenal cortex. Cortisol is often connected to stress, but it also plays a role in many important processes, including the maintenance of regulatory functions that keep your dog’s body in balance, limiting inflammation, and metabolizing protein and fat. It is a prodrug, which means your dog’s body has to metabolize prednisone into prednisolone, its active form.
Because prednisone mimics cortisol, it is important to slowly taper the dosage given to your dog rather than abruptly stopping it. Your veterinarian will give you instructions for tapering when he writes out your prescription.
A Note about Prednisone and Prednisolone
As mentioned, your dog’s liver converts prednisone to prednisolone. Although prednisone can be used as liver support for dogs with some conditions, dogs with severe liver issues cannot effectively make this conversion, so many veterinarians will prescribe prednisolone instead of prednisone. Although these are two different medications, they are considered pharmaceutical equivalents. They have the same effect in treating the condition your veterinarian has prescribed them for.
But what is prednisone used for in dogs? Prednisone is prescribed for a range of health issues and conditions in dogs. Some are FDA-approved, and others are “extra” or “off” label, which means that using them is not overtly approved but can be done so with veterinary supervision.
Listed below are common conditions that prednisone is used to treat:
Addison’s Disease: Veterinarians commonly prescribe prednisone to treat Addison’s disease, a condition where the dog’s adrenal glands do not produce their own corticosteroid hormones. Prednisone combined with other medications can help restore the dog’s corticosteroid levels.
Inflammation: Just like in people, prednisone can quickly reduce inflammation, so your veterinarian may use it for quick relief from allergic reactions, some skin infections, and ear infections. It may also be prescribed to treat pinched nerves or herniated disks since reducing the inflammation these conditions cause will also relieve the pain associated with them. It can also be used to treat arthritis and as an inhaled steroid to treat sudden asthma attacks.
Immunosuppressant: Prednisone may be prescribed for dogs with autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and lupus. An autoimmune disease is a condition where the immune system attacks some part of the dog’s own body. Prednisone suppresses the dog’s immune system, which reduces the severity of the disease or helps when there is a flare-up.
Chemotherapy: Some types of cancer, lymphoma (lymphosarcoma), for example, can be temporarily managed with prednisone. It does not treat or cure the cancer, but it can shrink lymph nodes and other tumors, giving the patient a few weeks of reprieve from their disease.
How Is Prednisone Administered to Dogs?
Whenever using an off-label or extra-label drug for your dog, it is crucial that you follow your veterinarian’s instructions to the letter. The medication is generally given by mouth, either in tablet or liquid form, with food to reduce occurrences of upset stomach. If your veterinarian has prescribed doses more than once a day, it is essential to give each dose in regular intervals. If you forget a dose, give it to your dog as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for their next regular dose. In that instance, give the regular dose only, never administer two doses at once.
For some skin conditions like hives and dermatitis caused by allergies, your veterinarian may prescribe a topical steroid cream. More severe issues, such as anaphylactic shock or an Addisonian crisis, your dog may need a steroid injection, generally given by your veterinarian or at an emergency veterinary hospital. The drug works quickly, and your dog should show symptoms within one or two hours. It is short-acting and generally stops working within 24 hours. The effects last longer in dogs with liver or kidney disease.
With long-term use, especially, your veterinarian will probably monitor your dog to make sure that the medication is working as expected. The type of monitoring will depend on factors such as the condition being treated, duration of treatment, dosage size, and the dog’s general health. Common monitoring practices tests include:
- ACTH stimulation tests
- Bloodwork and urinalysis
- Blood sugar levels
- Appetite and weight changes
- Signs of swelling
- Potential adverse reactions
Short-Term Side Effects of Prednisone for Dogs
Side effects with short-term use of prednisone are generally minimal and include:
- Increased thirst and urination
- Increased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Slowed wound healing due to immune system suppression
- Behavioral changes, such as aggression
- Lethargy
- Allergic reaction, possibly serious
Long-term use will increase the risks of side effects and can lead to other, more serious conditions.
Long-Term Side Effects of Prednisone for Dogs
Side effects with long-term treatment with prednisone in dogs include:
- Addison’s disease
- Cushing’s disease
- Diabetes
- Digestive tract ulcers
- Increase susceptibility to infections
- Hair loss or dry hair
- Weight gain
- Muscle weakness
- Abdominal distention
- Heart problems or heart attack
- Urinary tract infections
Symptoms of digestive tract ulceration include bloody or black stools, bloody vomit, high fever, and loss of appetite.
Dogs with fungal infections, systemic viral infections, ulcers, and tuberculosis (uncommon) should not be given prednisone. In addition, it should be used cautiously in dogs that have diabetes, heart disease, cataracts, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure. They should also be used with caution in puppies since the drug can inhibit their growth. They are not recommended for dogs that are pregnant or nursing.
Although this drug is often used to treat allergies, it should not be given to dogs that will be undergoing allergy testing within the next thirty days, as it can mask their response. It should be used carefully in dogs with liver issues and not at all in dogs with liver dysfunction since they are unable to convert it to prednisolone.
Do not stop giving your dog prednisone abruptly, especially if they have been receiving high doses or have been taking the drug for a long time. This can result in serious health consequences. If you are using prednisone short-term, your veterinarian will have given you instructions about how to taper off. If you have been using the drug long term, consult your veterinarian for instructions on how to safely taper your dog off so that you avoid any complications.
Potential Interactions with Other Medications
Prednisone might react with medications such as:
- Other steroid drugs
- NSAIDs
- Amphotericin B
- Anticholinesterases
- Barbiturates
- Cholestyramine
- Cyclophosphamide
- Cyclosporine
- Diuretics
- Digoxin
- Ephedrine
- Estrogens
- Fluoroquinolones
- Insulin
- Ketoconazole
- Macrolide antibiotics
- Mitotane
- Mycophenolate
- Phenobarbital
- Rifampin
- Warfarin
When taken with other drugs prone to causing ulcers, such as NSAIDs, the risk of stomach ulcers may increase. In addition to allergy tests, prednisone might interact with lab tests for potassium, cholesterol, urine glucose, and thyroid levels.
If your dog is taking a large dosage of prednisone, vaccines may result in infection or be less effective. Vaccinations should be scheduled for a later date if possible.
What Happens If I Accidentally Give Too Much Prednisone?
An overdose of prednisone can cause itching, loss of hearing, weakness, depression, seizures, anxiety, heart problems, and increased blood pressure. If you suspect that your dog was accidentally given an extra dose, contact your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian immediately. If you can, when you take your dog in for treatment, bring the prescription bottle with you.
Prednisone is a well-known drug generally considered safe if used with veterinary supervision. It can give your dog relief from pain and improve their quality of life. Monitor your dog for any side effects mentioned above, and contact your veterinarian if you have any questions and concerns about using prednisone for your dog.
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