Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Why is my dog's head sunken and muscles weak while taking prednisone?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pit Bull Terrier | Female | spayed | 75 lbs

My dog has Blastomycosis. We have been treating her for a little over 2 weeks now. The vet put her on itraconazole 185mg caps (x30) 1 by mouth daily, and just last week put her on prednisone tablets 20mg 2 times a day for 7 days then 1 time a day for 7 days, then 1 every other day till gone. But it seems since we have passed the 7 day mark and dropped dose down to 1 a day now. Her muscles seem to be more weak..... her head is very sunk in, but she is drinking and eating just fine.....any idea wh

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 5th, 2017

This is most likely the prednisone causing this. Prednisone causes muscle-wasting, which will make her a bit more week and give her a more sunken-head appearance. The muscles that surround the side of the head are quite prominent, so when they shrink, it will make the head look more caved-in.

Prednisone will also change their behavior. They will often seem more dopy and not quite as responsive as they were. You are seeing this just now, because this drug takes a while to accumulate in the body before it starts having its max effect. That is one of the reasons for tapering it down, because once the levels are adequate in the blood, it does not take as much to keep the drug at the optimum level in the body.

Luckily, all of these things are reversible when the prednisone is stopped. I know it can be difficult to see them go through these changes, but they actually tend to feel much better when they are on the prednisone.

If she is otherwise doing OK, then I would not worry too much. If she is not eating, or showing signs of pain, then I would take her back to the vet for an evaluation.

I hope that helps and Karrma gets better soon.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My dog on prednisone: Are muscle weakness, panting, spots normal?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My dog is on prednisone. What are the side effects and alternatives?

Those are definitely the side-effects; increased appetite and thirst, change in behavior, panting more and weight gain. For more information about the side-effects, I recommend you read the article at the link below. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/steroid-treatment-long-term-effects-in-dogs I assume the nose condition you described was diagnosed as an autoimmune disease (i.e. lupus, pemphigus). The mainstay treatment for this condition is prednisone. However, there are other possible treatments, so it's worth scheduling a recheck appointment with your veterinarian. It's quite common for some owners not to like the side-effects of steroids, so they should understand and be able to suggest other options. I hope that helps and Kenzie gets better soon.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog is on prednisone. When might muscle wasting begin to show?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Astro. Some pets will not experience any muscle wasting on prednisone and others will have it right away. It usually depends on the dose that the dog has taken. I have seen muscle wasting in less than one week in a large dog on immunosuppressive doses of steroids. Large dogs tend to experience more side effects from high doses of steroids. It is much less common in a dog on an anti-inflammatory dose such as for itchy skin. I hope this information helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my dog bloated with a pot belly and groaning on prednisone?

Unfortunately, these are common side effects of prednisone - it often causes bloating, weight gain with a pot-bellied appearance, and in many cases seems to be make dogs more irritable. It may also cause increased thirst, urination, and appetite. I'm not sure what medical condition your dog has that the prednisone is treating, but I would recommend talking with your vet about your concerns - in many cases, there are altnerative medications such as Atopica or Apoquel for allergy problems, or azathioprine for immune-mediated illnesses, that can be just as effective and generally cause fewer side effects. It may be possible to reduce your dog's dose of prednisone or even taper off of it altogether if a different medication is used.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my dog so tired after starting prednisone for cancer?

Poor Sasha! I would talk to your vet before giving her her next dose. She may just not be able to tolerate that large of a dose at once. Your vet may be able to adjust the dose for her. If she isn't eating or drinking and c mutinies to be lethargic then I would recommend taking her back to your vet for another evaluation to ensure there isn't anything else causing her to be so lethargic. I am sorry you receive bad news and that she is having to go through this. Please know you are in my thoughts and I hope she starts to feel better really soon.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Are low energy and hard breathing normal prednisolone side effects?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

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

Prednisone can absolutely cause behavior changes and mood alterations. The side effects are usually at their greatest during the first two to four week of therapy as the body grows accustomed to glucocorticoid drugs. The metronidazole is not likely a cause of any side effects you are currently seeing. If you are consulting with a oncologist regarding Pepe's case, do not hesitate to contact them with any questions involving his therapy. These cases can often be complex and require a lot of special attention to drug interactions. Anyway, if you require further consultation please let me know. Hope this makes sense.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share