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My dog has Cushing's symptoms after prednisone. Is it related?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Female | spayed | 8 years and 5 months old | 70 lbs

My dog first attended the vet 3.5 years ago as she started to get sores all over her body and suffer hairloss. She was treated with antibiotics and has since been on prednisone. Her health has deteriorated drastically over the years, she has a pot bellied appearance, is lethargic, no interest in any activity or going for walks, became obsessed by food, has arthritis and suffers with skin, ear and urine infection. It has recently been suggested that she has cushings disease

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on December 19th, 2016

It does sound like Cushing's disease indeed, which was probably caused by the long use of steroids. The steroids needs to be tapered off over 1-2 months and then you should switch her to a medication called Apoquel for the skin allergy, this medication does not have the side effects that the steroids have.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Witt, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 6th, 2018
It might take a few days to leave her system. Prednisone should not be stopped cold turkey. They should be weaned off this medication. The body normally produces low doses of steroids and it stops producing this when they are taking medications with steroids in them. To get their body to make it again, they should be weaned off the oral medication. Hopefully since it was only two days this won't be a problem. Just watch her closely. Hopefully your veterinarian can prescribe an antihistamine or a medication like Apoquel. Apoquel works like prednisone but usually with no side effects.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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