What is prednisone used for in dogs?
Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid used to treat inflammation and immune system conditions in both dogs and humans. It is an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agent that mimics cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone. Some dogs need steroid hormones as a replacement, such as pets with Addison’s disease. “Some dogs do not produce a normal amount of steroids needed for the body to function and will need to take this medication to help,” says Sara Ochoa DVM, a veterinarian at seniortailwaggers.com.
Some medical conditions dogs may be prescribed prednisone for include:
While prednisone is used for a variety of health conditions and purposes, “Its main function is to reduce inflammation,” says Megan Conrad, BVMS, a veterinarian with Hello Ralphie.
Dosage for prednisone varies based on a variety of factors, including weight and the condition being treated. Dr. Ochoa says the dose usually ranges from 0.5 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg once or twice daily. “Your vet will try to keep the dose as low as possible to treat the condition but to also reduce side effects as much as possible,” adds Dr. Conrad. You may have a dose ramp up and down as you treat your pet’s health condition and then wean them off the drug.
If you think your pet is not at the right dose of prednisone, do not adjust it on your own. “Prednisone should also never be given in larger doses, at a different frequency, or stopped without veterinarian approval as any of these changes can have severe side effects,” says Jamie Whittenburg, DVM, a veterinarian at seniortailwaggers.com. “This medication can have severe, even life-threatening side effects if used incorrectly.” Check and double-check that you’re administering it properly and keep the prescription out of reach of your pet and children to avoid accidental overdose.
Always give your pet’s full health and medication history to your vet. “Prednisone should never be given along with other medications unless directed by a veterinarian, as there are many serious drug interactions,” says Dr. Whittenburg. Depending on the length of time your pet has been taking prednisone and the strength of the dose, you may need to wean off the medication instead of stopping it suddenly. Sudden withdrawal from a high dose can be fatal. Make sure to ask about this when at your office visit.
What is prednisone for dogs?
Prednisone is classified as a synthetic glucocorticoid. Essentially, it is a drug manufactured in a lab that will act like a naturally occurring hormone called cortisol.
Prednisone is converted into its active form, prednisolone, by the liver. It is also possible to synthesize prednisolone in a laboratory. In some cases. it may be prescribed instead of prednisone (and, incidentally, is the more commonly prescribed drug for cats.)
We will circle back to prednisone, but first we need to talk a bit about cortisol since it is the blueprint for prednisone. The adrenal glands (a pair of small glands that sit above the kidneys) make cortisol and release it into the body to perform its life-sustaining roles. Yes, you heard that right—life-sustaining. We need cortisol to survive, pure and simple. So it isn’t all bad.
Ok, so what exactly is so life-sustaining about cortisol? If cortisol had a resumé, it would say:
How Long Can a Dog Stay On Prednisone?
Most vets will only prescribe prednisone for a limited time. This is because short-term use of prednisone has fewer side effects than long-term use. The longer your dog is given prednisone, the higher the chances of developing adverse side effects.
Long-term prescriptions last about three to four months. In critical conditions, the treatment period may increase. Various factors play an essential role in deciding how long your dog stays on prednisone. Some long-term uses of prednisone will be prescribed for life.
For example, if your dog has a serious health condition, long-term prednisone usage is unavoidable. However, your vet will weigh the benefits against the risks before prescribing the medication for a longer period.Â
Can a Dog on Steroids Ever Drink Too Much? – Dog Health Vet Advice
There are a few health conditions for which the long-term use of a steroid may be indicated, such as certain autoimmune conditions and Addison’s disease. When used long-term, the dosage should be maintained at the lowest effective level. Steroids are perhaps one of the most ubiquitous medications in the veterinary world. They can be used for a host of problems ranging from inflammation and allergies to autoimmune disease. While they are incredibly useful and diverse medications, steroids are not without significant side effects. It is important to know why they are used and how they can best be used. It is also critical to realize the possible negative effects and interactions that can occur. Steroids are not benign. Corticosteroids, as they are more correctly called, includes a varied group of medications. Some of the most commonly used in veterinary medicine are prednisone, Temaril-P, Neopredef (topical), dexamethasone, dexamethasone sodium phosphate (“Dex-SP”), methylprednisolone (Depo Medrol), and triamcinolone (Vetalog). They come in many preparations including oral, injectable, ophthalmic (for use in the eye), otic (ear), and topical sprays and powders. Steroids exert their activity in the body in many different ways. They affect every system, which is why it is important to make sure your veterinarian is aware of any medications that you give your dog, including over-the-counter supplements or pain relievers.
One of the most general uses of steroids is in fighting “the itch” (pruritus) caused by allergies. Allergies are common in dogs, especially breeds like Boxers, Labradors, Maltese, West Highland White Terriers, Bulldogs, and pit bulls. These allergies can be food- and flea-related, or caused by seasonal allergens – a condition called atopy. The mechanism by which steroids control itching is complicated, but it includes decreasing the number of allergen-fighting cells (mast cells) in circulation and suppressing release of histamine. Histamine is one of the substances that leads to the formation of itchy hives and wheals. For allergies, only short-term doses of steroids are recommended. Itching should be controlled while the inciting cause is identified and secondary infections treated, and then the steroids should be tapered off slowly. Newer drugs such as Apoquel (oral) and Cytopoint (injection) are slowly supplanting the regular use of steroids for itching.
The most commonly used oral steroids for allergies are prednisone and Temaril-P. Some veterinarians use longer-acting injections such as Vetalog, as well. Long-acting steroid injections can cause more pronounced side effects than their oral counterparts. Their use is becoming less common as other methods of itch control and more allergy management options become available. Topical steroids for both the skin and ears have extensive uses and may prove to be a better option than oral medications, as they cause fewer side effects. Topical use can decrease inflammation and itching. This is important within the ear canal, as less inflammation allows ear medications to penetrate deeper. It also damps down itching, so dogs are not continuously self-traumatizing.
In conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), steroid-responsive meningitis, and intervertebral disc disease, inflammatory cells dominate, causing redness, swelling, and pain. Steroids decrease inflammation by lowering white blood cell release from the bone marrow, among several other pathways. This effect is helpful for addressing IBD and steroid-responsive meningitis. Doctors find steroids useful for treating intervertebral disc disease in humans, and anecdotally, some veterinarians report success with steroids for the same condition in their canine patients, but the scientific literature isn’t really clear either way. The anti-inflammatory dose of steroids is generally fairly low, but side effects are still noted. Prednisone is used most often for this problem.
Autoimmune (AI) disease, a general term describing a variety of ways that the body attacks itself, is common in dogs. The triggers for AI disease are poorly understood. Some antibiotics like cephalosporins have been implicated, as well as vaccines. Cancer also can induce autoimmune processes. In most cases, an underlying cause is never identified. The list of autoimmune diseases are too numerous for this article, but they can affect all of the organ systems in the body, including the skin, brain, blood cells, joints, and other internal organs. Some of the more commonly seen disorders in veterinary medicine are immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP), brain and spinal cord diseases such as meningitis, and skin diseases like pemphigus foliaceous and lupoid onychodystrophy. ITP is an example of a well-known and frequently seen autoimmune disease, in which the body turns its defenses on its own platelets. Platelets are important in the first step of clotting. As the body attacks and destroys them, the platelet numbers drop rapidly. Bruises become visible on the skin and gums.
Steroids treat this and other immune diseases by suppressing the body’s immune system, its natural defense against infection and illness. In these cases, steroids are started at very high levels (as much as 2 to 4 mg/kg body per day). As the symptoms improve, the steroids are slowly tapered to the lowest dose possible. This is to keep the autoimmune disease in check while avoiding the worst side effects of steroids. Most dogs with an autoimmune disease will remain on steroids or other immunosuppressive medication for life.
Another common condition in dogs is Addison’s disease. The body of a dog with Addison’s does not produce enough steroids and/or mineralocorticoids (responsible for water and electrolyte balance within the body). Cortisol and mineralocorticoids are essential for life, and when a dog’s body is not producing them, serious illness results. The general symptoms of Addison’s are waxing and waning GI signs: weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and picky appetite. Addison’s is often called the “great pretender” because it can look like many other diseases and can be difficult to diagnose. In these cases, steroids are indicated to replace those that the body is not making, as well as supplementation with a medication called Percorten or Florinef to replace the other corticoids. A few rare dogs with Addison’s can be maintained on Percorten alone; however, in times of stress or illness, they would require prednisone as well. Some dogs are affected by atypical Addison’s disease, in which only the cortisol levels are low. These patients can be even more difficult to diagnose, as the characteristic electrolyte changes on bloodwork are absent. Once diagnosed, these dogs must remain on a steroid for the rest of their lives. In this case, the steroids are usually administered on a twice daily to daily basis. The most commonly used steroid for this is prednisone, an inexpensive tablet.
Several cancers respond to steroids by shrinking. Lymphoma is a frequent cancer of dogs. The earliest symptoms are usually general malaise and enlarged peripheral lymph nodes (found underneath the jaw, in front of the shoulder blade, in the groin area, and behind the knee). Lymphoma is highly sensitive to chemotherapy and carries a good prognosis if treated aggressively. Many owners opt for palliative care however, for a variety of reasons, including cost and concern for quality of life. Prednisone is an excellent palliative agent for lymphoma and can often keep it in remission for weeks to months. However, it is important to know that prednisone will interfere with chemotherapy. If your dog has been diagnosed with lymphoma, and you are considering chemotherapy, prednisone should not be started until speaking with an oncologist. Many other cancers are often treated with oral steroids, as well. These are usually used adjunct to chemotherapy and/or radiation. Doses are higher than with anti-inflammation and anti-pruritus, usually in the range of 2 mg/kg of body weight per day or higher.