When should I worry about my dog's rapid breathing on prednisone?

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!

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!

While allergic reactions can reoccur it can be very difficult determine what is triggering them. It is very rare for dogs to develop life threatening anaphylactic reactions, and the biggest concern with an allergic reaction is swelling around the throat which does not happen often. If you think Koda is having difficulty breathing you should see a veterinarian, but prednisone can sometimes cause panting.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Some of the symptoms you mention can certainly come from either the prednisone, or the mometamax. She may be reacting to the additional steroid in the ear medication. Usually this gets better in a day or so, & fortunately, this will be at the time you begin decreasing the oral dose. Continue the oral pred. as prescribed by your veterinarian, but do not put anything else in her ear until you have a chance to talk to your vet. It is always best to be a little cautious when putting anything into the ears. I hope Nancy is feeling better very soon. Take care.

Panting is a common side effect of prednisone, so unfortunately it will probably continue as long as he is taking this medication at her current dose. If it's bothersome to him or you, I would recommend calling his regular vet in the morning to discuss your concerns - you may be able to decrease Satchmo's dose or discontinue the medication earlier than planned, but I would not do this without speaking to your vet first because it could be dangerous depending on his underlying medical condition.

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!

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.