Adverse Effects in Dog After Prednisone

[PlateletGal]

My vet prescribed 20 MG of Prednisone Q12H last week. Immediately my dog appeared to be having an adverse reaction.. as he was panting, nervous and shaking. I spoke with my vet and I tapered down... but he's still panting tonight and it is worrying me. Anything I can do to help him in the meantime ?  As far as his diagnosis, we still aren't sure but have ruled out many other possible health conditions. My vet thinks it is inflammatory bowel disease and our next step is ordering more tests, including a stool culture this time.

Thanks for your help.

[Fourpaws]

Wow! When Titus was on it, he was taking 20mg twice a day but he is 90 pounds! It made him weird, he drank a lot, peed a lot, panted, etc. He was on it forever! He had an ear infection. He was on it for about 3 weeks. 3 days twice a day, 3 days once a day, then every other day. It was tapering, that made him be on it for so long. Even with us humans, you have to taper....prednisone is weird, my dh took it and he said he felt like he felt so weird!!! Mood swings, ups & downs. Please let us know what your vet said. I hope your little guy is okay.

[PlateletGal]

I know... the new vet screwed up. I just didn't want to go there last night because I'm still upset. I had already taken him to a specialist and even questioned her about the dosage... that is why I immediately tapered down. When I got the original prescription, I thought that was an awfully high dosage, but I didn't question her and I regret it. My dog is still upset with me. (no joking either).

He's doing better today... but still has a little bit of shaking. Thank goodness. I didn't sleep well last night because I was so concerned about it.

I'm probably going to be switching vets... but the vet sounded apologetic last night when I spoke with her about this. She now wants him to take 10 MG every other day... that sounds reasonable, but I'm going to give him a break first.

We still don't have a diagnosis, but we've ruled out many conditions.... including all of those (tick fever, valley fever, etc.) where steriods would make him worse. He has chronic diarrhea and has had this condition since he was a puppy... but it has gotten worse. But in all honesty... no other symptoms. Everyone tells me that he looks and acts like a puppy... he still plays with his adopted sister, who is a very big puppy (and will always be... LOL!)

[peekawho]

We had to put our dog in diapers, he peed all over the place, running around dribbling everywhere when he was on Prednisone.

[PlateletGal]

Poor guy... that's terrible ! My other dog, who died from ITP only 2 weeks after getting her second Parvo vaccination, had a stomach ulcer from Prednisone. She ended up bleeding out of course because of the ITP and we spent thousands of dollars trying to save her, but it didn't work. It was heartbreaking. I just dread the day when I lose my boy... he's my buddie and my first dog ever. I've had him since he was a puppy.

[Misfits4Me]

Whew!!!  Yes, I worried about him all night...I'm so glad he's better....I was basing my response on a 16lb. dog that took 5mg. 2@day. Then 5mg. every other day as a maintaince dose. (For what we thought was IBD, also).  *Steroids cause excessive thirst, frequent urination, and excessive hunger. IMO, the panting, nervousness, shaking, means the dose is too high. It's just like "Speed". The heart races and it's dangerous...In a Senior, your more likely to have "heart failure" as the heart cannot tolerate this sudden onset of rapid beating for too long.....I have a heart failure furkid and I know the risk of him taking Pred. The risk outweighs the benefits of the medication...Anyway, I'm glad your both better and keep us posted.......Karla

[PlateletGal]

Hi ! Thank you for your note. I would have responded earlier, but we took my dog back to the vet... actually the ER. He is still panting like crazy and he's been panting so much that the vet couldn't even listen to his heart and/or run really any tests. They said that it is probably still the Prednisone, but to monitor his condition closely and then follow-up for additional testing. Obviously I'm not taking him back to that other vet ever again.

I am so upset with that vet because I think she overdosed him and I'm uspet with myself because I almost questioned the dosage and I didn't.