My old cat has gingivitis & lost a tooth. Can I give prednisolone?

Unfortunately, we are legally prohibited from telling you to medicate your cat in the absence of a physical exam. It may be that the Pred may help, but there is the possibility that the symptoms are not related to a prior diagnosis/condition. Having Lincoln rechecked by your veterinarian would be the safest course of action. At the very least, contact your veterinarian and discuss the symptoms.

I'm sorry to hear that Bugger has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. Unfortunately, it is illegal for me (or any other vet on PetCoach) to make any specific dosage or medication recommendations for Bugger since I have not examined him in person. It's really important that you get Bugger established with a new vet for ongoing care, particularly since he has an ongoing chronic issue. He will need monitoring not only to track the progression of his SCC, but also to monitor his heart, liver and kidney function, and to be sure that he doesn't develop diabetes as a result of chronic steroid treatment. This article has more information about prednisone (prednisolone is equivalent, but in a form that is more bioavailable for cats): https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/prednisone/. I hope that everything goes well for Bugger!

I am very sorry to hear about your kitty! We do sometimes resort to steroids in cases where quality of life is suffering but try to avoid when possible. I would ask your vet about starting a glucosamine chondroutin joint supplement and starting Adequan injections. These can help many of these cases be more comfortable with no ill effects.

Hello. This is a reasonable thing to do, but please discuss this with your veterinarian first. Your vet has all the particulars on your cat's condition, so for me just to say its OK to start cutting back on a medication without having any information on why the medication was started in the first place would not be right & may be harmful to your pet. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I do not recommend giving any pets any human medications without specific instructions from your vet. Steroids have to be given carefully in order to obtain the correct therapeutic effect and they must be weaned off it when finishing a course. This is a discussion best handled by your veterinarian.

Hello. Make sure both doctors know that you are giving both medications. I would continue the Doxycycline & the prednisolone until you have spoken to at least one of the vets. It sounds like Doemoe needs either skull x-rays or an MRI to properly diagnose her nasal problem. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Oh no, poor Lt! No, I would not use this prednisone since it expired a year ago. It's not safe to use and won't be effective. He should see another vet for this since your vet is out of town, and I would see if you can borrow money from family and friends to afford a vet. I can also give you some resources that may help you afford one. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.
 God's Creatures Ministry helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help.
 The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information.
 Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay. IMOM is dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged. Check out these resources and I hope one of them helps you afford a vet for Lt!