My dog's urine smells sweet on prednisone. Should I be concerned?

Drinking and urinating more is a common side effect of prednisone. I recommend talking to your vet; they may adjust Arizona’s dose of prednisone if the urinating is really excessive. And they may want to check a urine sample just to make sure there isn’t a UTI; doxycycline is an antibiotic but urinary infections are still possible. Hope this helps!

I recommend to have Rocky examined by his veterinarian. Prednisone can cause suppression of the immune system and could allow a urinary tract infection to set in. It is best to get this checked out quickly. Also, there are other methods to help cats with arthritis. Some pets do require steroids but you may try supplements and other pain medications first since steroids tend to carry more side effects. There is a supplement called Adequan that many cats do very well on. There is a medication called Gabapentin that works well for arthritis. Starting an omega-3 fatty acid supplement for pets can also be beneficial. Most pets benefit from a combination of treatment. I hope this helps.

I'm so sorry to hear that Sadie is not doing well. Cats very rarely develop the side effects of increases in thirst and urination that dogs and people do while they are taking Prednisone, so I would be suspicious of another problem going on. I would recommend having your veterinarian check urine and blood samples on Sadie to evaluate for another problem before considering stopping Prednisone. Hopefully your veterinarian is able to find a solution to the problem! Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding AJ. Increased urination is a common side effect of prednisone. It can take a couple of weeks for the side effects of this medication to wear off. I recommend discussing this with his veterinarian as well as why he is still biting his tail. He may have another component such as a compulsive disorder or pain that is making him bite his tail since it did not fully resolve with the course of steroids. I hope this information helps!

You are correct that these are very common side effects of prednisolone. The good news is, they are normally not dangerous to the dog - just a bit annoying to deal with. Without knowing why Snitch was prescribed this medication, I can't tell you whether or not it would be safe to skip a dose - so I would not recommend making any changes to his prescribed medication schedule until you speak to his regular veterinarian. I would suggest calling his veterinarian to discuss your concerns and ask about possibly modifying his dose when you are able to - until then, it would be best to continue the medication as prescribed.

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach! Sometimes more concentrated urine can have a stronger odor. I would make sure he is drinking plenty of water and not dehydrating himself. If he has been drinking adequate amounts of water and if the smell continues, I would get him examined by his veterinarian and have his urine tested as he may be dealing with a urinary tract infection. If diagnosed with a UTI, he will need to go on a course of oral antibiotics for treatment. I hope this helps! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via text or phone consultation.