Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

    rewards header
    Become a member today!
    Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
    Already a member? Sign in
    Petco Pay LogoBecome a credit card member today!

    Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
    when you use Petco Pay!

    APPLY NOW
    Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Is my dog's excessive drinking and peeing normal after Addison's steroids?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Bull Terrier | Male | neutered

Hi my dog has really recently been diagnosed with addisons disease. After having a Crisis last week and being stabilised in hospital. We had the test and it was confirmed. He is full of steroids obviously. He had his first treatment on monday injection followed by the daily pill. It is his second day now.. I know it is normal for him to drink alot and go to the toilet with the steroids in his system. But he is drinking so much and goes to toilet once an hour all night all day. Is this expected?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Jessica Desrosiers

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on January 28th, 2020

That is expected with a high dose of steroids, however if it is a concerning amount I would let your vet know. They may want to adjust his steroid dosage, or otherwise monitor his side effects from it to see if additional treatment or changes need to be made.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on March 18th, 2022

    Increased thirst and increased urination is a very common side effect of steroids. Some dogs are more sensitive to the side effects than others. Decreasing the dose may make this go away, but may not treat the condition your vet is concerned with. I would contact your vet about the side effects and get their guidance on switching or stopping the steroid. Steroids are usually tapered off rather than stopping cold-turkey.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 27th, 2017

    Unfortunately this is a symptom of the steroids and you may see this indefinitely if he is on the injection and oral prednisone. It may be possible to taper the prednisone so that all he is receiving is the DOCP injection. I would discuss this with your vet first prior to adjusting the dose yourself though as you do not want to cause him to go into an addisonian crisis by dropping the steroid dose too much. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 17th, 2018

    The excessive urination and sleeping more are normal side effects of prednisone but i would also expect him to eat more, the fact that he is eating less is worrying indeed, it could be because the prednisone is upsetting his stomach, which is another common unwanted side effect. i recommend taking him back to your vet today to reassess the treatment plan.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
My dog drinks a lot and pees often after prednisolone. Is it normal?
Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Danny. I'm sorry he has hives. Excessive drinking and urination are common side effects of prednisone, so this is to be expected. Once he has finished his course of prednisone, the side effects should go away. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog stopped steroids. Why is he still drinking and peeing a lot?
These side effects are very commonly seen in dogs taking glucocorticoids. They are transient and self resolving once treatment is gradually stopped. Usually after 7 days from the end of the course the signs are over and there are no consequences at all.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Training & Behavior
Is my puppy's personality change after a steroid shot normal?
Excessive drinking and urination, as well as behavioral changes (aggression, hyperactivity and agitation can all occur) can all be attributed to steroid administration. Long acting steroids can last 2-4 weeks, depending upon which exact medication was given. As the steroid wears off, you should see these side effects resolve. Fiddle will return to his normal self again, don't worry! :-)
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog is on steroids for a liver tumor. Why is he peeing so much?
I'm so sorry to hear about Thunder. One common side effect of corticosteroids is increased urinating and drinking. I'd recommend calling your veterinarian to discuss Thunder's dose to see if it can be reduced. Reducing the dose may decrease some of the side effects you are seeing and may still be helpful in managing his tumor.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog is drinking and peeing a lot after fever shots. Is it normal?
The anti-fever shot was likely a steroid/anti-inflammatory injection which typically has side effects of increasing thirst and peeing. This may persist for another 1-3 days. If she continues to have to pee in the middle of the night after this time, consulting with your veterinarian is recommended as he/she may recommend bloodwork to further characterize whether or not she has persistent signs of an infection or kidney issues which can cause increased drinking and peeing as well. Good luck!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog with Cushing's on Vetoryl is so thirsty. Is the dose right?
Hi there! Normally, if a dog being treated for Cushing's disease is still drinking and urinating excessively, this is an indication that her Vetoryl dose may need to be adjusted. We calculate a starting dose based on weight, but many dogs need further adjustments from there depending on how they respond to the medication. I would recommend calling your vet to discuss this. He/she will likely recommend bringing Ali back in for an ACTH stim test to check her cortisol levels, which will help guide the decision about whether to change her Vetoryl dose.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Medications
Why is my Addison's dog still shaking on Florenf and Prednisone?
Addisonian dogs can live completely normal lives with appropriate medications and dosing, so no, I would say that she shouldn't always be like this. Your vet might also re-consider the dose of prednisone - they actually need very little, so that's worth double-checking. Also doing another cortisol level might shed some light on things. If her cortisol level is normal at the current dosing, there may be something else going on, such as pain or anxiety, that's causing the tremoring.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Related Searches

Dog FoodDiuretics for DogsElectrolytes for DogsDog Health & WellnessPrescription Dog Insulin & Diabetes MedicationDog Thyroid Medication & Hormone CareDog Medicine and PrescriptionsDog Incontinence & Bladder Control MedicineDog Blood Pressure MedicationDog Vitamins & SupplementsDog Asthma MedicationUTI & Kidney Supplements for DogsDog Anxiety MedicationPrescription Allergy Medicine for DogsDog Seizure MedicationPrescription Shampoo for DogsAntifungal Medication for DogsPrescription Dog AntibioticsDiuretics for CatsPrescription Dog Digestive Medications
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Share

Styled arrow button