Can I stop my dog's prednisone after one dose due to side effects?

If he is having side effects then you could skip today. Since it is just a short course of steroids, it shouldn’t be a problem to miss a day. You could also give him 1/2 the dose and see if he has less side effects with a lower dose. Hopefully, the itching has improved. If he needs long term allergy medications then you could talk to your vet about Cytopoint or Apoquel.

Your dog should be weaned off Prednisone slowly. In many ways, prednisone is similar to the corticosteroid hormones cortisol and aldosterone produced by the adrenal glands located along each kidney. Because of this, when taking prednisone, the adrenal glands start decreasing their production of cortisol. It would be too shocking for the adrenal glands to find themselves out of the blue in need of producing cortisol in large amounts again, so by tapering the prednisone gradually, the glands are given some time to resume their normal function. The main risk is what is called an " addisonian crisis" or "iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism" which can be life threatening and can cause the dog to go into shock. This can happen when the prednisone is stopped out of the blue and the adrenal glands are dormant because they weren't given a chance to gradually become active again. When this happens, the dog's potassium and sodium levels get unbalanced. The sodium levels start to fall, while the potassium levels start to rise. High potassium levels can have a detrimental effect on the heart and can lead to circulatory collapse. Affected dogs may appear weak, lethargic, they may vomit, have a low, irregular heart rate and may go into shock and even collapse. Affected dogs need to seek immediate emergency treatment to correct the electrolyte imbalances and possible low glucose levels through supportive care consisting of fluid therapy and careful monitoring. Rapidly-acting corticosteroid medications such as prednisolone sodium succinate or dexamethasone sodium phosphate may be needed. This whole ordeal can be easily prevented by gradually tapering the dog off the steroids. Dogs on prednisone for quite some time, need to be tapered even more gradually. The vet will tell owners how.

Sorry to hear about the side effects the Prednisone has been having on Hachi. It certainly can be a drug that, while it has its place, can be difficult for animals to handle on a daily basis. Before beginning a taper, I would speak to your vet about the side effects of the drugs. Depending on the purpose of the prednisone, it could be very important to keep Hachi on the drug for a little longer. Another factor that will play into the tapering period is how long Hachi has been on the drug. If he has only been on the drug for less than 5-7 days, a very short taper would be required. However, if he has been on it for any longer than one week, the drug should typically be tapered off over several weeks. At 50mg twice daily, I would start by cutting it to 25mg twice daily for 7-10d, then 25mg once daily for 7-10d, then 12.5mg once daily for 7days, then 12.5mg one daily every other day for 7-10d, then discontinue. However, please consult with your primary vet before pursuing this, as he may have options for you including additional drugs that can help prevent some of the side effects you might be seeing. If you want to talk some more in detail about what is going on, let us know and we can set up a consultation for you regarding Hachi's health.

The side effects you have read about happens when prednisone is taken for more than 4 days, a one time injection will not cause these side effects and it is considered safe to administer a one time dose of steroids.

I recommend to work with your veterinarian to find the lowest effective dose of the prednisone and to discuss any other alternatives such as pain medication, surgery to correct the jaw pain if possible or diet modification to help negate the weight gain. Have Mary Shiloh examined by her veterinarian at least every few weeks to keep any eye on her heart and weight. I hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jack. I would start his first dose tonight if it is to be given twice per day initially. Steroids can have some side effects, but typically help quite a bit with GI disease. The drug can cause increased thirst with a subsequent increase in urination. This can lead to accidents in the house. Most dogs will have an increased appetite and pant more than usual. Some can gain weight and have changes to the hair and skin. Liver values can become elevated with longterm use. Rarely, I will see a patient become aggressive with steroids. There can be drug interactions with other medications as well so be sure to check with his doctor before giving any other medications or supplements. I hope this information helps!

Hello, prednisone is a steroid that although beneficial for some things it also has alot of side effects and needs to be used carefully and under the instructions from your veterinarian. The dose Kitkat is getting now is higher than most other doses prednisone is used for. It should be fine to stop the medication now after today but monitor her drinking habits and overall activity. If she seems lethargic, not drinking or drinking too much, not eating, then she needs to be seen by her veterinarian immediately. Back injuries can recur, so in the future, before starting medications consult with your veterinarian first. Additionally. even though Kitkat is feeling a lot better, she needs to continue strict rest for at least 2 weeks to allow her back to heal. That is no running, jumping, or rough playing with other dogs. Hope this helps and best of luck.