Why do my small dog's breathing issues return when Prednisone is lowered?

While allergic reactions can reoccur it can be very difficult determine what is triggering them. It is very rare for dogs to develop life threatening anaphylactic reactions, and the biggest concern with an allergic reaction is swelling around the throat which does not happen often. If you think Koda is having difficulty breathing you should see a veterinarian, but prednisone can sometimes cause panting.

Those are definitely the side-effects; increased appetite and thirst, change in behavior, panting more and weight gain. For more information about the side-effects, I recommend you read the article at the link below. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/steroid-treatment-long-term-effects-in-dogs I assume the nose condition you described was diagnosed as an autoimmune disease (i.e. lupus, pemphigus). The mainstay treatment for this condition is prednisone. However, there are other possible treatments, so it's worth scheduling a recheck appointment with your veterinarian. It's quite common for some owners not to like the side-effects of steroids, so they should understand and be able to suggest other options. I hope that helps and Kenzie gets better soon.

A blood test may be able to indicate any infections present but the vast majority of cases do have a low grade infection due to the trauma and injury associated with prolonged coughing and do benefit from a course of antibiotics if unwell. I would also recommend a course of prednisone to settle the condition and allow the inflammation and irritation to reduce and natural antiinflammatories may be considered to try to maintain the condition thereafter. The side effects of steroids are generally dose and time related and short courses are of limited risk of side effects compared to the benefits produced

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. That is a very high dose of steroids for a dog his size. This dose will suppress his immune system in addition to all of the side effects that you are noticing at home. Steroids will cause panting, increased thirst, urination and hunger. Some dogs will experience skin and coat changes, muscle weakness/ loss and gastrointestinal ulcers in rare cases. Doses this high are only used to treat severe life threatening conditions. I recommend contacting his veterinarian today to discuss his treatment plan. Typically the steroids are tapered once the primary disease is under control. There are other immunosuppressive drugs available that may have less side effects. Perhaps he would do better on a different medication. However, never stop steroids yourself as they need to be carefully tapered down. I hope this information helps!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Some of the symptoms you mention can certainly come from either the prednisone, or the mometamax. She may be reacting to the additional steroid in the ear medication. Usually this gets better in a day or so, & fortunately, this will be at the time you begin decreasing the oral dose. Continue the oral pred. as prescribed by your veterinarian, but do not put anything else in her ear until you have a chance to talk to your vet. It is always best to be a little cautious when putting anything into the ears. I hope Nancy is feeling better very soon. Take care.

Yes, this is normal for steroids to cause these changes in behavior. You will also likely notice that he eats more, drinks more and needs to urinate more. This is all normal and he will be back to normal after the medication is finished. Below is a link to more information about the side effects of steroids in dogs. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/steroid-treatment-long-term-effects-in-dogs I hope that helps and all is well with Pugsley.

I'm sorry Ed has meningitis, but I'm glad that he is responding well! Steroids like prednisolone can cause GI effects like vomiting and diarrhea (less common) and can have the risk of causing GI ulcers. Medication for these would only be prescribed if he is showing signs of these side effects, but you can talk to your vet to see if they feel any medication might be helpful for him. Only your vet can decide if additional medication is needed as they can see him in person and I can't. A mild runny nose could be cause by a respiratory infection, and I would speak to your vet about it to see if they have any concerns about it.