Corticosteroids, Prednisone for Dogs, Cats – Uses, Side Effects, Dangers
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My Boxer x Pit Bull Robbie and my cat Tibby |
- A Brief Explanation of Corticosteroids
- Typical Methods of Dispensing Steroids including Corticosteroids, Prednisone
- Typical Situations Where Prednisone May Be Prescribed by Your Veterinarian
- Side Effects of Prednisone
- Conditions That Increase the Health Risk of Prednisone to Your Dog or Cat
- Natural Alternatives to Prednisone, Steroids for Dogs, Cats
- Common Corticosteroid Glucocorticoids – a partial list
- Conventional Steroidal Medicines – a partial list
- Cortisol is the main glucocorticoid that occurs naturally in dogs
- Glucocorticoid
- Is a major player in the body’s ability to increase and maintain natural conversion of glucose from sources such as amino acids (protein building blocks) and lipids (fats)
- Enables the transfer of amino acids from tissues
- Supports the conservation of glucose
- Stimulates breakdown of fat, which releases fatty-acids for energy
- Is a powerful anti-inflammatory
- Is an important immunosuppressant
- These last two functions are not separable
- This dual function - 1) anti-inflammatory, and 2) immunosuppressant, is what creates the critical fail-point when synthetic drugs such as Prednisone are given to dogs and cats
- While the anti-inflammatory function is a health asset, the immonsuppressant function is a very serious health threat
- When corticosteroids such as Prednisone are introduced to the body for use as an anti-inflammatory they also act to suppress the immune system, resulting in a weakening of the body’s natural defense system
- Are a vital component of the body’s hormone balancing system
- Function in the kidney, where their purpose is to enable the exchange of sodium and potassium;
- Support the body’s ability to maintain a balanced level of hydration
Steroids including Corticosteroids
- Oral medication – drops or inhaled
- Injected medication
- Topical Application – ointment (creams, gels) or drops
- For skin
- For Eye (opthalmic)
- For Ear (otic)
- Typical uses: nasal, sinus, bronchial and lung conditions
- Typical uses: skin and eye conditions
- Cancer, inflammatory conditions and diseases such as:
- Addison’s Disease (adrenal insufficiency of cortisol – a glucocorticoid)
- Allergies
- Arthritis (Rheumatoid arthritis)
- Crohn’s Disease
- GME
- Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) also known as chronic Colitis
- Kidney Disease
- Lupus
- Sudden trauma due to injury resulting in inflammation
- Ulcers, etc.
- Typical uses: cancer, inflammatory diseases and conditions
May Be Prescribed
Allergies
Asthma
Arthritis
Cancer
Colitis
Crohn’s Disease
Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME, MUA)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Lupus
Other chronic inflammatory diseases
Sudden trauma
- Prednisone
- May mask signs of infection
- Make it easier to contract an infection
- Worsen any current infection
- Adrenal/Hormone problems
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Blood clots
- Blood sugar elevation
- Bloody or black stools
- Bone loss including the triggering of Osteoporosis;
- Bruising, bleeding (tendency to)
- Depression
- Esophageal damage
- Fluid retention can be severe and can include fluid around the heart and lungs
- Hair loss;
- Increased thirst
- Increased risk of infection
- Loss of Appetite
- Mood swings
- Muscle weakness or pain
- Neurological issues
- Respiratory issues
- Seizures
- Severe psychological side effects - including aggression
- Skin rashes
- Sleep deprivation
- Slow healing of wounds
- Swelling
- Nausea
- Urinary tract and renal issues
- Vision Problems
- Vomiting
- Weight gain
Risk of Prednisone to Your Dog or Cat
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Blood Pressure problems
- Diabetes
- Eye Diseases
- Heart problems
- Kidney disease
- Liver Disease
- Mineral imbalance
- Osteoporosis
- Tendency to acquire infections
- Thyroid problems
- Ulcers
other Steroids for Dogs and Cats
Glucocorticoids
Generic Name (Brand Name):
- Prednisone
- Prednisolone
- Dexamethasone (i.e. Azium)
- Trimacinolone (i.e. Animax, Panalog Vetalog)
- Methylprednisolone (i.e. Medrol)
Deltasone
Temaril-P
Medrone
Solu-Medrone
- Animax
- Betagen
- Corti-Care Spray, Corti-Care Lotion, Corti-Care Shampoo Hydrocortisone Cream/Gel
- Cortispray
- Dermigard Hydrocortisone Spray, Dermigard Medicated Shampoo
- Excel Hydrocortisone
Spray
Excel Hydrocortisone Shampoo - Genesis, Genesis Topical Spray
- Fuciderm gel-UK
- GentaVed Topical Spray
- Gentosin Topical Spray
- Mometamax, (otic-ears)
- Panalog ointment and cream with antibiotics
- ResiCORT Leave-On Lotion
- Tritop
- Zymox Topical Wipes
with Hydrocortisone
Zymox Topical Spray with Hydrocortisone
Zymox Topical Cream with Hydrocortisone
- Decadron (Dexamethasone)
- Inflamase Forte (Prednisolone)
- Econopred Plus (Prednisolone)
- Pred Forte (Prednisolone)
- BNP with Hydrocortisone bacitracin, neomycin, polymixin & hydrocortisone acetate Neobacimyx-H
- Cortisporin
- Gentocin Durafilm
- Dexamethasone Sodium
Phosphate Ophthalmic Solution
NeoDecadron - Neo-Predef
- Neo-Poly-Dex
- Prednisolone Acetate Ophthalmic Suspension
- Prednisone Sodium Phosphate Ophthalmic Solution Trioptic S
- Vetropolycin HC bacitracin, neomycin, polymixin & hydrocortisone acetate
- Synotic Otic Solution
- Animax
- Aurizon
- Canaural
- Cortisporin Otic
- DVMax
- GentaVed Otic
- Mometamax
- Otomax
- Surolan
- Tresaderm/Mintezol - also for topical application
- Tritop
- Zymox with Hydrocortisone
Steroids
- Amazacort (Triamcinolone)
✓ None.
✓ I don't sell food or supplements.
✓ I'm not aligned with any companies.
Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld
what is a good natural alternative to Surolan for my 14 year old cat with chronic ear infections in left ear (since she was 2 years old)...so frustrating. Surolan has prednesone so I don't want to give it to her since she has possible kidney issues and it can give cats and people vision problems and cataracts. thanks!!
ReplyDeleteYour cat's chronic ear infection needs remedy = identification of root cause and removal of the cause. Treating the ear with a topical is secondary and should not be the long-term solution. If you are serious about addressing this properly you are welcome to become a client.
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