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prednisone
Used for Adrenal Insufficiency, Allergic Conjunctivitis, Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, Chronic ITP, Eczema, Edema, Eye Inflammation, Gout, Leukemia, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Osteoarthritis, Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Skin Allergy, Tuberculosis, Ulcerative Colitis
Used for Adrenal Insufficiency, Allergic Conjunctivitis, Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, Chronic ITP, Eczema, Edema, Eye Inflammation, Gout, Leukemia, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Osteoarthritis, Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Skin Allergy, Tuberculosis, Ulcerative Colitis
Prednisone is a corticosteroid medication used to treat various conditions in pets, including autoimmune conditions, allergies, Addison’s disease, and certain cancers. It works by reducing inflammation and calming an overactive immune system. It’s commonly prescribed for dogs, but not usually for cats because cats don’t absorb the medication well. It comes in tablet and liquid forms and is given by mouth. Common side effects include increased appetite, thirst, and urination.
What is Prednisone for pets?
What is Prednisone for pets used for?
- Allergies
- Autoimmune conditions (e.g., lupus, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia)
- Addison’s disease
- Certain cancers (e.g., lymphoma)
How Prednisone for pets works
Prednisone is a corticosteroid. It acts like your pet’s natural hormone called cortisol. The medication works by calming down the immune system when it’s too active, which can treat inflammatory conditions like allergies or autoimmune diseases. The medication also replaces natural steroids if your pet’s body isn’t making enough, like in Addison’s disease.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Deltasone |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Corticosteroid |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Prednisone essentials
Side effects of Prednisone for pets
The following side effects might get better over time as your pet gets used to the medication. Let your veterinarian know immediately if your pet continues to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Extreme thirst
- Increased appetite
- Frequent urination
- Weight gain
- Panting
- Restlessness
Less Common Side Effects
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Behavior changes
Prednisone serious side effects
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet experiences any of the following.
- Stomach or intestinal ulcers: vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, weight loss, black stools
- Infections: fever, shaking, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness
- Cushing’s disease: increased thirst, increased appetite, frequent urination, weight gain, tiredness, hair loss, pot belly
The following Prednisone side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Aggression
agitation
blurred vision
decrease in the amount of urine
dizziness
fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
headache
irritability
mood changes
noisy, rattling breathing
numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
pounding in the ears
shortness of breath
swelling of the fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs
trouble thinking, speaking, or walking
troubled breathing at rest
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach cramping or burning (severe)
abdominal or stomach pain
backache
bloody, black, or tarry stools
cough or hoarseness
darkening of the skin
decrease in height
decreased vision
eye tearing
facial hair growth in females
fainting
fever or chills
flushed, dry skin
fractures
fruit-like breath odor
full or round face, neck, or trunk
heartburn or indigestion (severe and continuous)
increased hunger
increased thirst
increased urination
loss of appetite
loss of sexual desire or ability
lower back or side pain
menstrual irregularities
muscle pain or tenderness
muscle wasting or weakness
pain in the back, ribs, arms, or legs
painful or difficult urination
skin rash
sweating
trouble healing
trouble sleeping
unexplained weight loss
unusual tiredness or weakness
vision changes
vomiting
vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Increased appetite
Incidence not known
Abnormal fat deposits on the face, neck, and trunk
dry scalp
lightening of normal skin color
red face
reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
swelling of the stomach area
thinning of the scalp hair
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$19.06
GoodRx discount
$7.27
Pros and cons of Prednisone for pets
Pros
- Treats many different conditions
- Most pets only need a short course of medication
- Comes in tablet and liquid forms
Cons
- Long-term use can lead to serious side effects
- Might need to slowly lower the dose before stopping
- Doesn’t work as well as prednisolone in cats
Pharmacist tips for Prednisone for pets
- You can give prednisone with food to help lower the chance of an upset stomach.
- Prednisone can cause trouble sleeping. For dogs, giving the medication in the morning might help them sleep better at night. Since cats are more active at night, it might be better to give it to them in the evening instead.
- Keep plenty of fresh water available while your pet is taking prednisone. Increased thirst is a common side effect and your pet might drink and urinate more than usual.
- If your pet takes the liquid form of prednisone, use a measuring spoon or syringe to give the correct dose. Don’t use household spoons since they come in different sizes and might give the wrong amount.
- Prednisone shouldn’t be given to pregnant animals unless the benefits are greater than the risks. Talk to your vet if your pet becomes pregnant or if you plan to breed your pet while they’re taking this medication.
- Your pet might need to taper off prednisone — this means starting with a higher dose and slowly lowering it. Follow your vet’s instructions carefully to help prevent withdrawal and keep your pet safe.
Risks and warnings for Prednisone for pets
Prednisone can cause some serious health issues. This risk might be even higher for certain pets. If this worries you, talk to your veterinarian about other options.
Stomach or intestinal ulcers
- Risk factors: Taking other medications that cause stomach or intestinal ulcers
Prednisone can sometimes cause stomach or intestinal ulcers in pets, especially if taken with other medications that raise your risk for these ulcers. These ulcers can lead to serious problems like vomiting, reduced appetite, diarrhea, or bloody stool. If your pet shows any of these signs, contact your vet right away.
Infections
Prednisone can weaken your pet’s immune system, making it harder for them to fight off infections that normally wouldn’t be a problem. While taking this medication, your pet might be at risk for bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections. Contact your vet right away if your pet shows signs of infection, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, shaking, weakness, or confusion.
Cushing’s disease
- Risk factors: Long-term steroid treatment | High doses of prednisone
If your pet takes prednisone at a high dose or for a long time, they might be at higher risk for Cushing’s disease. Signs to watch for include drinking and eating more than usual, urinating more often, a round “pot-bellied” stomach, low energy, and hair loss. If you see any of these symptoms, call your vet. They might give you instructions on how to slowly lower the dose. Never stop this medication suddenly since it could cause withdrawal symptoms.
Prednisone dosage forms for pets
The average cost for 10 tablets of 20mg of Prednisone is $7.27 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 61.86% off the average retail price of $19.06.
Typical dosage for Prednisone
The dose will depend on your pet’s weight and the condition being treated.
-
Dogs:
- Allergies: The typical dose is 0.5 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg per day given by mouth.
- Autoimmune conditions: The typical dose is around 2 mg/kg per day by mouth.
- Addison’s disease: The typical dose is less than 0.1 mg/kg to 0.25 mg/kg per day by mouth.
-
Cats:
- See the dosage for prednisolone. Cats usually receive prednisolone instead of prednisone, but if your cat is prescribed prednisone, the dose will likely be similar to the prednisolone dose.
Interactions between Prednisone and other drugs for pets
Prednisone might interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your veterinarian know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that your pet is currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Prednisone. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Desmopressin
- Rotavirus Vaccine, Live
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aceclofenac
- Acemetacin
- Aldesleukin
- Alfentanil
- Amiodarone
- Amtolmetin Guacil
- Asparaginase
- Balofloxacin
- Bemiparin
- Benzhydrocodone
- Besifloxacin
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Buprenorphine
- Bupropion
- Celecoxib
- Ceritinib
- Choline Salicylate
- Ciprofloxacin
- Clonixin
- Codeine
- Daclatasvir
- Darunavir
- Desogestrel
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Diclofenac
- Dienogest
- Diflunisal
- Dihydrocodeine
- Dipyrone
- Dronedarone
- Drospirenone
- Droxicam
- Elvitegravir
- Enoxacin
- Estradiol
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Ethynodiol
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etonogestrel
- Etoricoxib
- Felbinac
- Fenoprofen
- Fentanyl
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Fleroxacin
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flumequine
- Flurbiprofen
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Gestodene
- Hemin
- Hydrocodone
- Ibuprofen
- Indomethacin
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Levofloxacin
- Levonorgestrel
- Lomefloxacin
- Lopinavir
- Lornoxicam
- Loxoprofen
- Lumateperone
- Lumiracoxib
- Lutetium Lu 177 Dotatate
- Macimorelin
- Meclofenamate
- Medroxyprogesterone
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Meperidine
- Mestranol
- Methadone
- Morniflumate
- Moxifloxacin
- Nabumetone
- Nadifloxacin
- Nadroparin
- Naproxen
- Nepafenac
- Nifedipine
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Nomegestrol
- Norelgestromin
- Norethindrone
- Norfloxacin
- Norgestimate
- Norgestrel
- Ofloxacin
- Oxaprozin
- Oxycodone
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Parecoxib
- Pazufloxacin
- Pefloxacin
- Pentazocine
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Piperaquine
- Piroxicam
- Pranoprofen
- Proglumetacin
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Prulifloxacin
- Ritonavir
- Rofecoxib
- Rufloxacin
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Sargramostim
- Segesterone
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sparfloxacin
- Sufentanil
- Sulindac
- Tacrolimus
- Telaprevir
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Tosufloxacin
- Tramadol
- Ubrogepant
- Ulipristal
- Valdecoxib
- Velpatasvir
- Voxilaprevir
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alcuronium
- Alfalfa
- Amobarbital
- Aprobarbital
- Aspirin
- Atracurium
- Auranofin
- Butabarbital
- Butalbital
- Clarithromycin
- Fluconazole
- Fosphenytoin
- Gallamine
- Hexafluorenium
- Ketoconazole
- Licorice
- Mephobarbital
- Metocurine
- Montelukast
- Ospemifene
- Pancuronium
- Phenobarbital
- Phenytoin
- Primidone
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
- Saiboku-To
- Secobarbital
- Vecuronium
- Warfarin
How much does Prednisone cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Prednisone (generic)
$7.27
Prednisone contraindications for pets
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a pet should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If your pet has any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to your pet, let your veterinarian know because Prednisone will not be safe for your pet to take.
- Fungal infections spread throughout the body
- Stomach or intestinal ulcers
- Untreated Cushing’s disease
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Prednisone images
