Is it safe to give my dog prednisone after a cortisone shot today?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The real answer is- it depends on why they were prescribed and for how long. If this is for an auto-immune disease, your pet’s life may depend on the steroids. Same for severe asthma or allergic reaction. If however, it is for itching or minor swelling/inflammation, or allergies, a shorter course or even a single injection may be safe. In general steroids do not tend to cause serious side effects unless they are used at high doses or for long courses of treatment. Long story short, it may be perfectly fine to skip the oral medication but definitely ask your doctor first.

It’s safe to use the prednisone with the dexamethasone shot, they are in the same class of steroids. I would wait more like 5-7 days between the last prednisone and the Rimadyl. Longer if Toby is prone to stomach upset or diarrhea. When used closely together, these two classes of medications can cause bleeding stomach ulcers.

There are different types of cortisone injections. Some are longer lasting than others. Generally the excess drinking, eating and urination wear off in a few days to a week. If the side effects last longer then you may want to have a recheck and bloodwork to see if there is an undermedical issue causing the side effects. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jack. I would start his first dose tonight if it is to be given twice per day initially. Steroids can have some side effects, but typically help quite a bit with GI disease. The drug can cause increased thirst with a subsequent increase in urination. This can lead to accidents in the house. Most dogs will have an increased appetite and pant more than usual. Some can gain weight and have changes to the hair and skin. Liver values can become elevated with longterm use. Rarely, I will see a patient become aggressive with steroids. There can be drug interactions with other medications as well so be sure to check with his doctor before giving any other medications or supplements. I hope this information helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Steroid use, dosing and the taper needs to be decided upon by a Vet that has examined the pet. We can not prescribe drugs or tell you how to use a drug because we legally are not allowed to. I am sorry. I recommend calling your Vet and asking them since they have a legal relationship with you. Have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry Bruno had hives and other skin irritation. Prednisone can have an effect on the body if given long-term or at high doses; typically, a short course of a steroid can have some short-lived side effects (increase in hunger/urination, eating/drinking more), but tends to be otherwise well-tolerated. While any medication can have an adverse effect (and if you are seeing any concerning signs I would reach out to your regular veterinarian immediately), low doses of appropriately dispensed steroids should be processed fine unless there is another underlying medical condition. Again, if you are concerned or if Bruno is showing signs of being ill, I would have him evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.