My dog stopped steroids. Why is he still drinking and peeing a lot?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Danny. I'm sorry he has hives. Excessive drinking and urination are common side effects of prednisone, so this is to be expected. Once he has finished his course of prednisone, the side effects should go away. I hope this helps!

Excessive drinking and urination, as well as behavioral changes (aggression, hyperactivity and agitation can all occur) can all be attributed to steroid administration. Long acting steroids can last 2-4 weeks, depending upon which exact medication was given. As the steroid wears off, you should see these side effects resolve. Fiddle will return to his normal self again, don't worry! :-)

Thank you for your question regarding Kaner. I would recommend finishing off the course of steroids as directed for two reasons. First off, you want to complete the treatment regimen for which they were prescribed so the underlying disease does not recur. Secondly, it is necessary to taper steroids. When a dog takes them orally, their body doesn't need to make them. The gradual taper off signals the body to start making them again. If you stop steroids abruptly, the dog can become sick. The side effects are definitely frustrating, but will decrease as the dose is reduced and finally stopped. As far as diabetes, it is unlikely given the length of time Kaner has been on the steroids. I see this side effect much more frequently in cats. I hope this information helps and that Kaner is back to normal soon!

That is expected with a high dose of steroids, however if it is a concerning amount I would let your vet know. They may want to adjust his steroid dosage, or otherwise monitor his side effects from it to see if additional treatment or changes need to be made.

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.

I'm so sorry to hear about Thunder. One common side effect of corticosteroids is increased urinating and drinking. I'd recommend calling your veterinarian to discuss Thunder's dose to see if it can be reduced. Reducing the dose may decrease some of the side effects you are seeing and may still be helpful in managing his tumor.

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.