What is Prednisone Used For In Dogs: [Usage Guide]
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Your dogs body naturally produces a steroid called cortisol. Sometimes your dogs cortisol is not enough to help treat inflammation. Prednisone and prednisolone are steroids used to help inflammation in your dogs body. They contain glucocorticoids that are stronger than cortisol and are more effective.
The difference between prednisone and prednisolone is that prednisone is broken down in your dogs lives and becomes prednisolone, but for some dogs with poor liver function they’re prescribed prednisolone directly to avoid liver usage.
What is Prednisone Used for In Dogs?
One of the most popular steroids for dogs is called Prednisone. Prednisone for dogs is a synthetic steroid which has anti-inflammatory properties and is usually prescribed to humans. If your dog has a condition that is causing inflammation then your Vet will prescribe prednisone for your dog. Although it is a widely used steroid for dogs Prednisone for dogs side effects can be irreversible.
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Dogs is one of the conditions that Prednisone is prescribed to dogs. It is also prescribed to other inflammatory conditions such as shock, neoplasia, asthma, inflammatory orthopedic disease, and Addison’s disease.
Most Common Uses of Prednisone for Dogs
Prednisone usage for dogs is to treat:
- Allergies
- Autoimmune Disease
- Cushing Disease
- Addison’s Disease
- Orthopedic Issues
- Joint Pain
- Skin Diseases
- Lupus
- Asthma
- Anaphylactic Shock
- Central Nervous System
- Liver Conditions
- Cancers
What are the Prednisone for Dogs Side Effects
It is possible that you'll notice side effect when using prednisone for dogs. Below is a list of side effects you may notice:
- Dehydration
- Increased Appetite
- Heavy Panting
- Fatigue
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Skin Infections
Long-Term Side Effects: How Long Can a Dog Stay on Prednisone?
Typically, Prednisone for dogs is a short term medicine to help reduce inflammation and symptoms. If your Vet has prescribed Prednisone for a longer period of time than you’ll need to make sure you’re constantly getting your dog checked up. Prednisone for Dogs Side Effects will start to take place after long-term use.
Some dog owners ask “How Long Does Prednisone Stay in Dog’s System?” or “How Long Can a Dog Stay on Prednisone”, but the truth is it’s up to your Vet and your dogs health conditions. It doesn’t typically take long for steroids to start working for a dog, but sometimes you may need to use the steroid for a longer period of time.
Here is a list of Prednisone for Dogs Side Effects:
- Increased risk of infection
- Aggression
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Inhibited Growth in Puppies
- Lethargy
- Muscle Fatigue
- Diabetes
- Cushing’s Disease
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Prednisone For Dogs Dosage: How to Administer Prednisone for Dogs
By far most of specialists in the field of veterinary drug express that the utilization of prednisone and prednisolone ought to be on a momentary premise and at a little portion level to diminish the likelihood of unfavorable responses.
A general principle guideline is to use the recommended prednisone for dogs dosage. Some times this may require to take a higher dosage or to take the steroid more often, but if your dogs conditions starts to go away then you’ll want to stop giving Prednisone to you dog.
It’s possible that a small dosage of prednisone for dogs can have a unsafe response. This is why as a pet owner you must monitor your dogs responses to prednisone for dogs or any other treatment. You may not notice a reaction from your dog when they’re taking prednisone, but the Prednisone for dogs side effects can happen overnight.
The common Prednisone for Dogs Dosage:
0.5 mg / lb. ( for anti-inflammation )
1 mg / lb. ( suppress immune system )
Of course, your Vet will give you the most precise dose for your dogs condition, but this can be a start point or a guide for Prednisone Dosage.
Prednisone for dogs must be given at the same time of the day (or as close to it as possible) and at even intervals
Drug Interaction with Prednisone for Dogs
Prednisone for dogs does have dangerous interactions with these drugs:
- Rimadyl
- Digoxin
- Insulin
- Mitotane
- Phenobarbital
- Diurectics
- Ketoconazole
Natural Alternative to Prednisone for Dogs
The main goal of taking steroid for dogs or Prednisone for dogs is because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Paws Elite’s Organic CBD oil for dogs is used for the same reasons. CBD oil is a organic and natural way of utilizing your dogs body to lower inflammation caused by these illnesses.
Prednisolone VS Prednisone for Dogs
Prednisolone and Prednisone for dogs are prescribed for the same reasons. The only difference between the 2 is that Prednisolone for dogs is prescribed if your dog has pre-existing liver condition or liver dysfunction. Prediosone for dogs naturally will become Prednisolone once it is your dogs liver naturally digests it.