What is prednisone for dogs for?
Prednisone is a medication that is usually used to reduce inflammatory processes and in diseases that affect the immune system. This drug has an immunosuppressive effect, which means that it is capable of stopping all those processes in which the immune system reacts against itself. An example is immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, in which the destruction of red blood cells occurs. Prednisone, which is the prodrug of the active substance prednisolone after being converted in the liver, by suppressing the activity of this system, would decrease the self-destruction capacity of the blood cells. Therefore, the drug would control this symptom, but it would not cure the disease that is causing it, which must be diagnosed and treated by the veterinarian.
This immunosuppressive effect means that its use is not recommended when we face infections such as viral or fungal infections, since, if the defenses decrease, the dog will have more difficulties fighting the disease.
Uses of prednisolone in dogs
Thanks to the action of prednisone in the body that we have explained in the previous section, it is the treatment of choice in different processes, among which the following stand out:
Prednisone for dogs with tumors, as part of chemotherapy treatments, generally combined with other drugs.
Prednisone for dogs with allergies, because in an allergic reaction there is an exaggerated activation of the immune system, which leads it to react against non-pathogenic elements such as dust or pollen. Therefore, it works as an immunosuppressant, just as in immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.
Prednisone for dogs with Addison's syndrome, a disease in which there is a deficiency in the production of glucocorticoids that can be replaced with this drug.
Recommended Prednisone Dosage for Dogs
Prednisone or prednisolone for dogs, as we have said, should only be prescribed by the veterinarian. It is a drug that can produce significant side effects, hence the importance of this professional being the one to control the administration, with the ideal being to use the minimum effective dose in each case. This will range between 0.5-4 mg per kg of weight.
The chosen dose must be adjusted and, furthermore, if the treatment lasts about seven days it must be withdrawn gradually, lowering the dose or giving it every other day. Otherwise, it could cause Addison's syndrome.
Side Effects of Prednisone in Dogs
If treatment with prednisone is limited to 2-3 days, it is normal that, in addition to the improvement of symptoms, we will not notice any adverse effects in our dog. On the other hand, in the case of prolonged treatments we will identify signs such as the following:
Increase in water and food intake.
Increase in urine output.
Swelling.
Delayed wound healing.
These symptoms are mild and disappear when treatment is stopped. More serious effects are those that Addison's syndrome can produce, as we have said. Prednisone suppresses the action of the adrenal glands, which produce glucocorticoids. If we stop the treatment abruptly we run the risk that these glucocorticoids will not be produced again, which causes Addison's.
Considerations for using prednisone for dogs
Finally, we must take into account the following recommendations:
Prednisone or prednisolone cannot be used in pregnant dogs because it causes malformations and abortions.
In lactating dogs it will be at the discretion of the veterinarian.
There are several conditions that advise against the use of prednisone, such as diabetes, cardiac disorders or gastrointestinal ulcers. If this is the case, we must inform the veterinarian of any illness that our dog suffers or if he is taking any medication.
It is not advisable to use prednisone and vaccinate the dog at the same time
Негізгі бет 🟢PREDNISONE OR PREDNISOLONE (Corticosteroids) what it is for in DOGS 🟢Treatment of Allergies in Dogs
Пікірлер: 351