How to Treat Prednisone Side Effects in Dogs on Steroid Therapy

Learn how to manage/treat the side effects of prednisone in dogs, like skin problems, vomiting, muscle wasting, excessive thirst, urination and infection.

LEARN HOW TO TREAT SOME SIDE EFFECTS OF A DOG

Prednisone is a glucocorticoid that's used to treat inflammation, skin conditions, gastrointestinal problems, asthma and autoimmune disorders like lupus. Prednisone may be prescribed on a short term basis, or it may be prescribed on a long term basis.
There are many significant side effects associated with steroid therapy and some can be a bit difficult to manage. In fact, prednisone is one drug that can actually change the pet's body over time. It can permanently affect the dog's adrenal glands after just one week, resulting in Cushing's Disease (associated with overactive adrenal glands) or Addison's Disease (associated with adrenal insufficiency.) This can lead to a dependence upon the drug and it's one reason why the dog's prednisone dosage must be tapered gradually at the end of the treatment period.

Adjusting the Dog's Dose to Reduce Prednisone Side Effects
Many prednisone side effects can be lessened or eliminated by lowering the dog's dose, so consult the dog's veterinarian to determine if a dose adjustment is a viable option for your pet. The prednisone dosage is calculated based on weight and the nature of the condition that's being treated. When it's prescribed for its anti-inflammatory properties, the dosage is 0.1 mg to 0.3 mg per pound of body weight, given twice a day. When prednisone is used as an immunosuppressant, the dosage is 1 mg to 3 mg per pound of body weight, up to three times per day.
The pet should be on the lowest possible dose with a therapeutic effect. Every dog's body is slightly different, so an effective dose for one 50-pound dog may be excessive or insufficient for another 50-pound dog.
Managing Excessive Drinking and Urination as a Side Effect of Prednisone
Most dogs on prednisone experience excessive thirst, called polydipsia, and excessive urination, known as polyuria. These particular side effects cannot be counteracted or eliminated; they must be managed as follows:

• Ensure your dog has constant access to water;
• Arrange for more frequent walks or provide a doggy door so the pet can access the bathroom area when needed; and
• Provide puppy pads if your dog is left home alone for long periods of time and cannot access the bathroom area.

Aside from being inconvenient, the dog's excessive thirst and frequent urination are not harmful. In fact, the increased urination will help to flush toxins from the dog's kidneys. Many dogs on steroid therapy long term will experience slight bloating or "water weight," as the tissues in the dog's body retain a bit more water than what's normal.
Increased Appetite, Weight Gain and Muscle Wasting in Dogs on Steroids
Many dogs on prednisone will gain weight because the drug can increase appetite. An easy solution to this problem involves adding water to the pet's kibble. Add hot water to the pet's food -- the kibble should be completely covered with hot water. Allow it to sit for approximately 10 minutes. The kibble will swell and absorb the water. The dog will feel fuller, without extra calories, and the water will serve to satiate the pet's thirst.
In addition, feed smaller, more frequent meals. Pet owners can also increase the amount of exercise that the dog performs on a daily basis. This will burn calories and it will also help to combat another prednisone side effect: muscle wasting.
Muscle wasting is most commonly seen in dogs on prednisone long term, particularly in cases where the pet is on a high dosage. This effect cannot be avoided, but it can be managed by keeping the pet active with daily exercise and activity, which will maintain muscle tone. Also, feed a high-protein diet. Supplement the pet's food with items like:

• cooked beef;
• cooked chicken;
• cooked turkey;
• tuna fish; and
• other high-protein foods like peanut butter, served in an appealing form like homemade peanut butter treats.

Managing a Dog's Upset Stomach Due to Prednisone
Some dogs on steroid therapy will experience gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting, ulcers and diarrhea. One of the most effective ways to treat this particular side effect is to give the medication with food. The food dilutes the concentration of the drug in the dog's stomach, making it less likely to cause upset.
In addition, some dogs may do well with an anti-vomiting medication, given in conjunction with the prednisone. If you give the medication with food and the dog's vomiting and upset stomach persists, consult your veterinarian, as he/she can recommend an over-the-counter medication like Pepto Bismol or Pepcid or the vet may opt to prescribe a medication to treat the gastrointestinal upset. Always consult your vet before giving over-the-counter medications to a dog, as they may upset a pre-existing health issue or the OTC medications may interact with one of the dog's prescribed medications.
Fur Loss, Skin Problems and Staph Infections in Dogs on Prednisone
Poor coat -- including fur loss and thinning fur -- along with skin problems and infections are all common side effects of prednisone. This cluster of side effects cannot be avoided, but they can be managed.
Provide the dog with a daily multi-vitamin, a Vitamin E supplement and a liquid skin and coat supplement to improve the condition of the pet's fur and skin. Also, soak a piece of bread in olive oil or add a couple tablespoons to the pet's meal to combat dry skin and add sheen. Practice good grooming methods to keep the pet's coat and skin in the best possible condition.
Staph infections occur as a result of the immunosuppressant properties of the drug. Staph bacteria is normally present on the skin, but minor scratches can become infected in a dog with a suppressed immune system. What's more, thinning skin is a long term side effect of prednisone and this can make the skin more prone to injury. In some cases, the infections occur in the form of pus-filled blisters that arise suddenly and without any apparent cause. This creates a moth-eaten appearance to the dog's coat, as the fur overlying the wound falls off when the pustule breaks open. (See photo below.)
In addition, flea infestations are a major cause of staph infections in dogs on steroid therapy because the skin parasites are constantly breaking the skin. Therefore, it's important to prevent and immediately treat a dog's fleas while on prednisone. The only effective treatment for chronic skin infections is oral antibiotics, which may need to be administered for two to three months or longer.
A small number of dogs on prednisone may suffer from an itchy skin problem known as calcinitis cutis. (See photo below.) Small calcium deposits form beneath the skin's surface, resulting in intense itching and hard white lumps (calcifications.) Small deposits may be reabsorbed, while larger deposits will be gradually pushed out through the skin over the course of several weeks, resulting in chronic wounds that are prone to staph infection and opportunistic bacterial infection. The condition can be treated with daily cleansings, anti-itch medications and oral antibiotics.
Steroid therapy can also lead to diabetes, Cushing's disease and eye problems like glaucoma and cataracts. These side effects are most common in dogs on prednisone long term. If unusual symptoms are observed, contact your veterinarian to arrange for an examination.
To learn more, read "Prednisone Side Effects in Dogs on Steroid Therapy."
To learn more about staph infections in dogs, read "Dog Staph Infection Remedies and Topical Treatments for Skin Infections,"
Dog owners may also wish to read "Dog Skin Problems -- Antibiotic Treatment for Staph Infections in Dogs."

How Do I Treat Dog Vomiting?

 "Why is my dog vomiting?
Learn how to treat a vomiting dog at home, and learn symptoms and how to tell if a dog is sick with a more serious illness.

At some point, every dog owner will find him or herself in a situation with a dog with an upset stomach. Pet owners are often left wondering "Are there any home remedies for dog vomiting? Can I stop my dog's vomiting?" and "How do I help my vomiting dog at home? Is there anything I can do to help a dog with an upset stomach?"
Fortunately, there are several steps that the owner of a sick dog can take to help treat a vomiting dog with an upset stomach. This article will provide step-by-step directions on how to treat dog vomiting at home, along with information on how to tell if a dog is sick with a serious problem and when to take a dog to the veterinary clinic.

Treating a Vomiting Dog - "Why Is My Dog Vomiting?"

There are many reasons why a dog may start vomiting. A dog owner must consider possible causes for the dog's vomiting. A dog's upset stomach can be a symptom of a much more serious problem like poisoning or Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus, better known as "GDV" or bloat.
The following are some of the more common causes of dog vomiting:

• Eating a new, unfamiliar food
• Eating too much "people food"
• Stomach virus
• Stress or anxiety
• Excess stomach acids and bile
• GDV or "bloat"
• Eating a non-food item or foreign object
• Ingesting a chemical or toxin
• Food sensitivities
• Stomach problems like a stomach ulcer or gastritis

Pet owners should consider these common causes of vomiting in dogs and determine which causes may be to blame for the dog's upset stomach.
In a situation where the dog may be suffering from a potentially deadly health problem like bloat, ingesting a toxin or foreign object, the dog should immediately be transported to the veterinary clinic for an examination; owners should not attempt to treat these potentially serious cases of dog vomiting at home.
Symptoms of a Serious Illness in a Vomiting Dog
Before attempting to treat a dog at home for vomiting and upset stomach, the owner must look for signs of a more serious problem. If any of the following symptoms are present, a trip to the veterinarian's clinic is warranted:

• Dehydration
• Vomiting blood
• Projectile vomiting
• Vomiting for more than 24 hours
• Dog not improving after 24 hours
• Bloated appearance
• Fever
• Pale gums in dog

Home Remedies for Dog Vomiting and Upset Stomach
For many cases, the owner can treat the dog's vomiting at home by following these steps:

1. Remove access to the dog's food for 12-24 hours; this allows the dog's stomach to rest and recover.
2. Give maple syrup or Nutri-Cal to the dog every 4-6 hours. For maple syrup, give one large spoon for every 15 pounds of body weight. If the dog won't lick the syrup or Nutri-Cal, rub it on the dog's gums.
3. Add unflavored Pedialyte to the dog's water in a 50-50 mix to help combat dehydration.
4. Monitor how much water the dog is drinking. Excessive, fast drinking is a common response to nausea in dogs, and it can cause dog vomiting, worsening the dog's upset stomach. If necessary, limit the water available to the dog; dole it out in hourly "rations."
5. If the dog won't drink water, offer low-sodium broth or a diluted clear soup like chicken soup. No onion soup, as onions are toxic to dogs. Bullion cubes can also be added to water. Clear non-citrus juices can also be offered.
6. After 24 hours, offer a bland diet of homemade dog food consisting of plain white rice or cottage cheese with plain skinless chicken or boiled hamburger meat, with the fat strained away.
7. When first offering food, only offer one or two bites worth.
8. If the dog keeps the food down for four hours, offer a slightly larger ration of food - approximately 4 bites worth.
9. Wait an additional 4 hours and offer food again. Feed approximately one-third of the dog's normal meal size.
10. For three full days, feed the dog the bland diet of homemade dog food three times per day. Each meal should be small - about one-third of the dog's normal meal size.
11. After feeding the bland food for three full days, begin to phase the dog's normal dog food back into the equation. This must be done over the course of 3 to 5 days, gradually adding more dog food while decreasing the amount of homemade bland food.

Dogs can also be given over-the-counter medications like Pepto Bismol or Pepcid, but approval from a veterinarian is required to give a dog medicines, as this can worsen the dog's condition in certain situations.
Over-the-counter medicines can also interact with the dog's prescription medication, so it's essential that dog owners consult their veterinary clinic prior to giving a dog medicine at home.
More Help for a Sick Dog
Notably, the home treatment for a dog that's vomiting yellow fluid on a chronic basis is different. To learn how to help a dog that vomits yellow liquid, read Why Is My Dog Vomiting Yellow Liquid?
Many dog owners will also get very frightened when they see a dog vomiting blood. To learn more about what causes a dog to vomit blood, read Why is My Dog Vomiting Blood?
Pet owners must also monitor their dog's vital signs when the dog is sick to ensure that the pet is not becoming critically ill. To learn more on how to examine a sick dog at home, read Is My Dog SIck - How to Check a Dog's Vital Signs.