Why is my dog jumpy, sensitive, and agitated after starting steroids?

Steroids like methylprednisolone have a very wide dosage range, so the dosage used is largely a matter of personal judgement and experience for each vet. However, since it sounds like Babygirl is having some unpleasant behavioral side effects from the medication, I would recommend calling your vet to discuss your concerns. He/she may recommend decreasing her dose, or switching to a different medication to control her itching.

In general, steroids need to be slowly decreased over time and are generally not supposed to be stopped abruptly although it is not always detrimental (it depends on the dose/length of time pets are on them). I recommend to call your veterinarian first thing tomorrow morning. They can look at the dose and decide if Diesel should be placed back on a lower dose or if it is ok to not start them again. You should also have your vet mark that he may be sensitive to steroids so they should be lowered for him if used at all. I hope this helps.

If he is having side effects then you could skip today. Since it is just a short course of steroids, it shouldn’t be a problem to miss a day. You could also give him 1/2 the dose and see if he has less side effects with a lower dose. Hopefully, the itching has improved. If he needs long term allergy medications then you could talk to your vet about Cytopoint or Apoquel.

Hello. It sounds like you need to keep Goofy away from steroids as he seems to be very sensitive to the effects. You will need to talk with your veterinarian about other ways to help Goofy, either through allergy testing & a desensitization protocol, or trying alternative medications that are not steroids. These include Cytopoint & Apoquel. Good luck & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

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.

That is a low dose, however, there is no set time frame for you to see side effects. Some dogs are more sensitive and develop side effects quickly, and some dogs are on it longer before this happens. Side effects include excessive thirst and hunger, panting, developing a pot-bellied appearance, and losing overall muscle tone. It is not a medication that is ideal for long-term use. Allergies can be very frustrating to manage. If you have a veterinary dermatologist in your area, you may consider allergy testing and even allergy shots to try and make Lily more comfortable. This isn't available everywhere, but if other medications haven't helped, it might be worth looking into. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.