My dog is on prednisone & cephalexin. Is his panting & stool normal?

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.

Hi, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry Titan is not himself. You didn't say why Titan is on medications, it may be that his sleepiness is due to his primary problem. Sedation is not typically a side effect of either cephalexin or prednisone. Be sure that he hasn't gotten into any other medications or toxins. If he is able to be awakened and has a normal response to calling his name, eating, drinking and normal urination and defecation he may just be tired out. If he is not responsive or sluggish to respond, then I recommend an emergency vet tonight to rule out an serious problems. I hope Titan is back to normal soon.

Prednisone can cause panting, but it shouldn't change the character of their breathing. (The panting should be the same sound/speed as his normal pant is). If it doesn't seem like he's just panting, get him in to see your vet. If he has other symptoms as well (coughing, labored breathing, vomiting, lethargy, etc) please seek emergency care. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! In my professional opinion, this is a much higher dose than what I would use. I normally do not exceed 60mg daily regardless of the size of the dog just because of the potential side effects such as gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding as well as the undesirable side effects you describe. I recommend you bring up your concerns to the prescribing veterinarian who knows the case well, to taper his dose down slowly. It is important to not discontinue or lower too much this medication acutely as problems can arise with this approach. For now, look for any evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding such as black, tarry stools. If observed, let your veterinarian know right away. Good luck with your boy!

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.

It would be unusual to see diarrhea as a side effect of prednisone, so I would suspect fat something else may be causing it. If your dog is acting normal otherwise, you can try withholding food for the next 12-24 hours and then feeding plain boiled chicken and white rice for the next few days. If this doesn't help, or if she develops any other symptoms such as vomiting, acting lethargic, or not wanting to eat, then I would recommend having her examined by a vet as she may have a more serious problem.