Side effects from Prednisone??? Update Post 18; cute pics post 12

[Grace]

I never knew that pred could have these kind of side effects on cats. Starr is still on 5mg of it every morning and he's been acting normal the whole time even when he was on a higher dose in the beginning. He's always been feisty though and he'll get very hissy and grumpy if one of his siblings tries to wake him up from his nap. I'm hoping to be able to wean him off of it soon but his vet wants to wait a while and do it very slowly.

Good luck Pyka. I hope you feel better very soon.

Just like with humans, not every cat or dog will have a reaction to a medication. As I said previously, our dog went on prednisone every spring because of skin allergies. She never had a problem with it. Luckily Starr is another like Jenny.

[moosmom]

Catty1,

Prednisone is also an appetite stimulant. Turkey baby food is a good idea as it can make him lethargic (or sleepy) from an active ingredient Triptiphan.

[Karen]

Different people react differently to predisone. As a family of folks with asthma - all to varying dergees, nearly all of us have been put on it at some time. It makes me feel HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY and a little fidgety - hungry enough to eat the whole supermarket, but it's illusory, as my tummy is no bigger than it was the day before. Lady's Human, on the other hand, ends up not being hungry at all - to the point where he needs to be reminded to ingest calories for survival.

It usually starts with a "burst then taper" - high quantity at first, then tapering off. DO follow the instructions, don't stop it abruptly, as that can cause problems.

[Freedom]

Over time, prednisone will cause kidney damage in both humans AND cats. That is what brought on Amber's kidney failure. He died at age 8, after almost 4 years of prednisone, 5mg once per day, which he was taking for a spinal injury. I just never knew to ask if there was something else at the time.

[Catty1]

Mom took Pyka into the vet first thing. They have a surgery spot open - Pyka has to have a general because the hematoma on his ear has hardened.

I hope they can find something else for Pyka to use. Maybe - if his sneezing has stopped - take him off the Pred for a while?

Freedom...thanks for the reminder...I am so sorry that happened to Amber, and a relatively low dose too...

Pyka is very hyper on it, and hides, and doesn't eat - so I hope there is something else!

[Catty1]

Surgery is over already, and went well. Vet is doing a blood panel as Pyka has not had one done since 2003. It's for Feline Leukemia, and I hope he doesn't have that.

Mom is thinking that since the sneezing has stopped, to just stop all meds for several days and see how he does. The vet thinks Pyka's fear and hiding behaviour is from the hematoma.

Thanks for your prayers - this poor guy has been the sickly of the two, never really BAD - but enough to cost a couple of hundred per visit (this one was $600! )

Pyka is the one stretched out in the sun in the first one; his littermate Shiney is in the second. They're each about 7 lbs.

[Medusa]

My dog Charmin was on Prednisone nearly all her life and she lived to be 18 1/2. She never had a problem w/it. I had to go on it on occasion and I can tell you that aside from gaining weight, it affected my balance and coordination, which could explain Pyka's crashing to the floor when attempting to jump on the countertop.