Why is my dog so lethargic after starting prednisone for IBD?

We are not in a position to change or reduce dosage prescribed by your treating vet and you should contact your vets office to advise. It is likely they will half the frequency every few weeks until he is more stable but this must only be done under direction from your vet

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.

Lethargy and altered behavior are pretty typical side effects of prednisone. Along with this you may also see things like increased drinking, urinating, and eating. Long term side effects can include liver damage and commencement of certain diseases of the endocrine system. Cephalexin is an antibiotic that has the main side effect of gastrointestinal upset. If you decide that you do not think the prednisone is worth using due to the side effects, do not discontinue it abruptly. It has to be tapered down slowly as to prevent any harm to Kaiser. Hope this helps.

Hello. I am so sorry for your concerns about Mia. I would not stop the Flagyl without talking to your veterinarian. In addition to its antibiotic properties, this medication can have some anti-inflammatory effect especially in the gut. She may also need some anti-nausea medication like Cerenia to keep her comfortable. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Lua. Yes, a general loss of energy is a common side effect of prednisone. This should pass after she goes off the steroid. It's good that she is eating and drinking, and I would continue to monitor her. I hope this helps!

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!

I definitely agree that prednisone tapering should take much longer but if you have already switched him to Rimadyl you cannot give him the prednisone anymore. if you have not switched him yest you should do a much slower tapering over a period of at least 2 weeks, reducing gradually every 5-7 days.