Side Effects Of Injectable and Oral Steroids In Cats

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How will prednisone affect my cat -

Download the Full Guide to Cat Asthma. Oral and injectable steroids are commonly prescribed to treat certain conditions in cats. However, the problem with these oral steroid medications is that they can have many potential side effects. Oral corticosteroids often called oral steroids are medications taken by mouth in either liquid or pill form to reduce inflammation. Injectable steroids are similar but are delivered through a needle.

These synthetic corticosteroid medications are meant to resemble a hormone naturally produced in the body called cortisol. Steroid medications are commonly used to treat a variety of conditions in cats, ranging from inflammatory conditions to conditions where the immune system is overactive and the body begins to attack normal, healthy cells.

Depending on the severity and nature of the condition, the treatment dose will differ. Some inflammatory conditions steroid medications are used to treat include:.

In higher doses, corticosteroid medications are used to treat overactive immune system immune-mediated conditions such as:. Steroids and their anti-inflammatory properties play an important role in respiratory disease management. They help prevent asthma attacks by suppressing inflammation in the airways which otherwise causes swelling and airway blockages.

Inflammation is one of the hallmarks of asthma and chronic bronchitis and requires regular steroid use for the life of the pet to keep it under control. However, oral and injectable steroids can cause health side effects when used regularly.

To mitigate side effects, a preferred alternative to injectable or oral steroids is an inhaled steroid medication. Inhaled Steroids. Although there are several other forms of corticosteroid medications such as inhaled and injected , the main types of oral steroids prescribed for cats include:.

Injected options include depo-medrol Pfizer, methylprednisone and dexamethasone. These corticosteroids are synthetic and much more potent than steroids naturally occurring in the body and typically last much longer. This combination of strength and length of time that they are active in the body is what can cause the serious side effects when used long term. While both have similar effects, prednisolone is the metabolized form of prednisone.

Prednisone must be metabolized by the liver before it can be used effectively. Cats are not able to absorb and convert prednisone into the active metabolite, prednisolone. This means there is a higher bioavailability of prednisolone—it is absorbed at a higher rate and degree than prednisone.

Oral and injectable medications need to be processed by the body. Once in the bloodstream, they spread throughout the entire body system.

Only some of the medication goes to the intended target, the rest could impact other organs as well. This is why these types of medications are often referred to as systemic steroids. As such, there are many side effects associated with oral and injected steroid use.

Short-term side effects are expected soon after a cat begins to take oral and injected corticosteroids. These effects will vary by dose.

Long-term side effects are seen over time if a cat has been prescribed long-term treatment with oral corticosteroids. The severity of these effects depends on the dose and duration of treatment.

As prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone are all oral corticosteroids, they have similar short-term and long-term side effects in cats. Short-term effects of oral corticosteroids:. Long-term effects of oral corticosteroids:. These side effects may reduce the quality of life of not only the affected cat, but also the family relationship.

Cats who are lethargic or have a change in behaviour may be unable or unwilling to play and may no longer seem like the cat you knew. In the case of feline asthma, systemic steroids may be used by a vet during an asthma attack. However, because of the many side effects of using oral steroids, they should not be used for long-term disease control. The goal of systemic steroids is often to get an immediate respiratory response if the cat is in distress. The cat can then be transitioned to inhaled steroids for regular management.

For chronic conditions that require ongoing treatment, this becomes problematic. Because cat asthma and chronic bronchitis are life long conditions, corticosteroids are an important part of daily disease management to keep the airways clear and help cats with these conditions live a normal life. Inhaled corticosteroids are a safer alternative to oral and injectable steroids, lacking the side effects that can be common to systemic steroids. Inhaled steroids are designed to be used on an ongoing basis for inflammation and symptom control without exposing the cat to the risks of systemic medications.

There are two key differences between inhaled and systemic steroids that make them safer:. Inhaled corticosteroids target the lungs and airways directly. Unlike systemic steroids where only some of the drug reaches the lungs and the rest is spread throughout the body , inhaled steroids go directly to the active site where they are needed.

Because Inhaled steroids target the lungs directly, the concentration of steroid can be much less. Systemic steroids have to be given in much higher concentrations to ensure that an appropriate dose reaches the airways after first being metabolized and then indiscriminately sent throughout the body.

Using a substantially lower dose to achieve the same therapeutic effect can significantly lower the risk of harmful side effects. The typical goals of asthma management are risk reduction and symptom control. According to the Global Initiative for Asthma GINA 7 , the intent of management is to reduce the burden to the patient and to reduce their risk of asthma-related death, exacerbations, airway damage, and medication side-effects.

In human children with asthma, inhaled steroids are considered the gold standard treatment for long term disease management. Systemic steroids are not recommended for daily asthma control. And, just like for children, inhaled steroids are considered safe and effective for cats and are a better option for the management of respiratory conditions. For cat owners, being informed about the side effects of injected and oral corticosteroid use is the first step in ensuring your cat is safe and healthy.

Always be on the lookout for any side effects your cat may be showing after starting these medications. We would love to hear from you. If you have questions or comments about one of our chambers, please reach out to us today.

Search - Optional. Combined Shape Created with Sketch. Why Is My Cat Coughing? Respiratory Conditions in Cats. Medication Choice. Breathing Together Program. Why Is My Dog Coughing? Respiratory Conditions in Dogs. Shop AeroDawg. Fill 1 Created with Sketch. Shop AeroHippus. How We Help Your Pet. View All Stories. This article is part of our Cat Asthma series. Download the Full Guide to Cat Asthma Oral and injectable steroids are commonly prescribed to treat certain conditions in cats.

Some inflammatory conditions steroid medications are used to treat include: Asthma Other Respiratory Conditions Allergies Dermatitis In higher doses, corticosteroid medications are used to treat overactive immune system immune-mediated conditions such as: Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBS Hyperactive immune system Polyarthritis Meningitis Haemolytic anaemia Other immune-mediated conditions 3 Steroids and their anti-inflammatory properties play an important role in respiratory disease management.

Inhaled Steroids Types Of Systemic Steroid Medications For Cats Although there are several other forms of corticosteroid medications such as inhaled and injected , the main types of oral steroids prescribed for cats include: Prednisone Prednisolone Dexamethasone Injected options include depo-medrol Pfizer, methylprednisone and dexamethasone.

The Difference Between Prednisone And Prednisolone While both have similar effects, prednisolone is the metabolized form of prednisone. Side Effects Of Prednisone, Prednisolone, And Dexamethasone In Cats As prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone are all oral corticosteroids, they have similar short-term and long-term side effects in cats.

Oral Vs. Inhaled Steroids For Cats With Asthma: Why Inhaled Steroids Are Considered Safe And Effective Because cat asthma and chronic bronchitis are life long conditions, corticosteroids are an important part of daily disease management to keep the airways clear and help cats with these conditions live a normal life.

There are two key differences between inhaled and systemic steroids that make them safer: 1. Posted in. Questions or Comments? Get in Touch. Contact Us.

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Prednisolone and Prednisone for dogs and cats: Uses, Dosage & Side Effects.Side Effects of Corticosteroids - Paws & Claws Animal Hospital

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How will prednisone affect my cat.Side Effects of Corticosteroids

Cats tend to tolerate prednisolone well, however, a reduced energy level may sometimes be observed. Give oral prednisone or prednisolone with food to reduce the chance of stomach irritation.

Medication Choice. Breathing Together Program. Why Is My Dog Coughing? Respiratory Conditions in Dogs. Shop AeroDawg. Fill 1 Created with Sketch. Shop AeroHippus.

How We Help Your Pet. View All Stories. This article is part of our Cat Asthma series. Download the Full Guide to Cat Asthma Oral and injectable steroids are commonly prescribed to treat certain conditions in cats. Some inflammatory conditions steroid medications are used to treat include: Asthma Other Respiratory Conditions Allergies Dermatitis In higher doses, corticosteroid medications are used to treat overactive immune system immune-mediated conditions such as: Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBS Hyperactive immune system Polyarthritis Meningitis Haemolytic anaemia Other immune-mediated conditions 3 Steroids and their anti-inflammatory properties play an important role in respiratory disease management.

There are two key differences between inhaled and systemic steroids that make them safer: 1. Posted in. Questions or Comments? Get in Touch. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your normal dosing schedule.

Do not give extra or double doses. Prednisone or prednisolone may cause side effects, which are dependent on the dose the pet is receiving and how long they have been on the medication. Additional side effects can occur, especially when the medication is given long-term or at higher doses. These additional side effects may include:.

Prednisone or prednisolone can suppress the immune system response at higher doses. This may cause pets to be more susceptible to infection. Abruptly stopping prednisone or prednisolone can cause serious side effects. Contact your veterinarian before prematurely discontinuing prednisone or prednisolone. Your veterinarian can recommend a gradual reduction in dosing to reduce the likelihood of serious side effects. While this medication is used in humans, it may be given differently and have different side effects.

If you accidentally ingest this medication, call your physician or local poison control center. Your veterinarian is likely to recommend routine testing while your pet is on this medication.

Most common recommendations for monitoring on this medication is blood work, encompassing a complete blood cell count and chemistry panel, urinalysis and blood pressure monitoring. Overdoses of prednisone or prednisolone can cause digestive upset, especially in dogs.

Signs may include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, blood in the vomit or black, tar-like stools. If you suspect an overdose, immediately contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center. Consultation fees often apply. Pet Poison Helpline Keep the container tightly closed in order to protect from moisture and light. Long-term use can also cause diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, and adrenal disease.

Over the short term, steroids cause an increase in appetite, water intake, and urine output. For dogs and cats that may require steroids, a lower dose can often be used when natural therapies are also utilized.

In order to minimize the use of steroids, the following natural therapies are very helpful. While steroids certainly have their place and can be lifesaving in some circumstances, there are better alternatives for treating many diseases. When steroids need to be given, the lowest effective dose for the shortest period of time, made possible through the simultaneous use of natural remedies, is most beneficial!

Facebook Instagram. Many nonsteroidal methods can manage chronic itching in cats. Allergy testing and immunotherapy are options in some cases. However, the expense for this type of testing and subsequent treatment can quickly tally into the hundreds of dollars.

Likewise, various neurologic diseases often require steroidal therapy. These can include brain tumors and trauma to the brain, as well as spinal cord injury and disease. However, surgical options that can correct some of them are becoming increasingly available.

Owners should consider these surgeries as a means of avoiding chronic steroid administration in their pets. However, like certain drug alternatives to steroids, surgical costs can be prohibitive, leaving steroids the only option. Because steroids suppress the immune system, cats taking them can be vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and other infections.

While healthy cats should see their veterinarians for checkups twice a year, those taking long-term steroids should see their veterinarians more often. During these visits, veterinarians will conduct urine and blood tests to screen for infections or signs of damage and make sure the cat is handling the steroid medication well. They might decide to alter the dosage or switch to an alternative medication if certain side effects become evident.

While corticosteroids definitely have their place, steroids are frequently over-prescribed and misused, and can lead to serious health consequences in pets. There must be a better way! The problem is, corticosteroids are often not used at the right dose, for the proper length of time, or for the correct reason. With rare exceptions for example, some cancers and immune disordersthere is rarely — if ever — a need for the long-term use of corticosteroids in the treatment of diseases such as arthritis or allergies, since so many natural options work just as well.

Corticosteroids are stress hormones naturally produced by the adrenal glands, under the control of the pituitary gland. This is one of the potentially serious side effects that can occur when we treat pets with steroids. Corticosteroids have many positive effects and do a number of wonderful things. First, they are anti-inflammatory and analgesic pain-relieving.

They decrease inflammation, swelling, pain caused by inflammationand itching their ability to relieve itching leads many doctors to over-prescribe them for pets with allergic dermatitis.

Steroids are also very helpful in the initial treatment of patients with severe shock and neurological disease e. For pets with various cancers, corticosteroids can actually kill cancer cells. On the minus side, corticosteroids can decrease the ability of wounds to heal while increasing the chance of infection due to immune suppression.

They may also actually contribute to the further destruction of arthritic joints by decreasing collagen and proteoglycan synthesis, making them a poor choice for long-term therapy in most pets with arthritis. Long-term use can also cause diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, and adrenal disease. Over the short term, steroids cause an increase in appetite, water intake, and urine output.

For dogs and cats that may require steroids, a lower dose can often be used when natural therapies are also utilized. In order to minimize the use of steroids, the following natural therapies are very helpful. While steroids certainly have their place and can be lifesaving in some circumstances, there are better alternatives for treating many diseases. When steroids need to be given, the lowest effective dose for the shortest period of time, made possible through the simultaneous use of natural remedies, is most beneficial!

Facebook Instagram. Corticosteroids Explained Corticosteroids are stress hormones naturally produced by the adrenal glands, under the control of the pituitary gland. Pros Corticosteroids have many positive effects and do a number of wonderful things. Cons On the minus side, corticosteroids can decrease the ability of wounds to heal while increasing the chance of infection due to immune suppression. Natural Therapies For dogs and cats that may require steroids, a lower dose can often be used when natural therapies are also utilized.

Allergies — antioxidants, fatty acids, topical decontamination with hypoallergenic shampoos and conditioners, homeopathic remedies such as Pulex, Sulfurand herbal remedies such as burdock, Rehmannia, and Dong Quai, found in an effective product called Xiao, can decrease itching and inflammation. Joint supplements containing glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin sulfate can also nourish and repair the damaged cartilage.

Autoimmune disorders — herbs and antioxidants are often recommended. Inflammatory bowel disease — herbs, probiotics, enzymes, glucosamine, and glutamine are usually recommended. Cancer — numerous natural therapies are very helpful for supporting the immune system, detoxification, killing cancer cells, and reducing their spread. Supplements I have found helpful include vitamin D3 based on blood testingantioxidants, herbs astragalus, Echinaceaenzymes and probiotics, olive leaf, medicinal mushrooms, and homeopathics such as Viscum Alb.

localhost › medications › prednisolone-and-prednis. development or worsening of infections (especially bacterial. When giving your cat Prednisolone, potential side effects may include increased thirst, appetite, and risk for infection. With that said, you. development or worsening of infections (especially bacterial. Prednisone for cats is proven to work well and effectively help cats, but it doesn't help cats without causing potential harm as well. Before. For dogs and cats that may require steroids, a lower dose can often be used when natural therapies are also utilized. Corticosteroids have proven effective in treating a variety of conditions from allergic reactions to brain disease, but they present a balancing act for both owners and veterinarians. For example, Atopica for Cats is a common nonsteroidal drug used to control allergic skin disease.

Corticosteroids have proven effective in treating a variety of conditions from allergic reactions to brain disease, but they present a balancing act for both owners and veterinarians. At the same time, veterinarians must determine the lowest dose of medication to control the condition.

Many can be reversed if the drug is stopped early. Corticosteroids, commonly referred to as steroids or cortisone, are a class of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal glands. Due to their anti-inflammatory properties, corticosteroids are a valuable class of medications typically used to suppress the inflammation associated with allergies.

Most corticosteroids are synthetic and more potent and longer-lasting than the naturally occurring forms. These include:. Miller says. They just control signs of disease. Side effects can include increased infection rates and the development of diabetes. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, about 30 percent of cats on long-term steroid treatment suffer a urinary tract infection.

Cats tend to be more resilient than dogs when it comes to steroid side effects, but they may experience both initial and long-term changes. Among the early effects of steroid use in cats are:. Cats undergoing long-term use of steroids may face an even longer list of possible effects, including:.

Lowering the dosage can often minimize side effects. Alternately, the veterinarian might prescribe another type of corticosteroid. Many newer drugs like cyclosporine and treatments are available as alternatives, but their considerable expensive might deter owners. Steroids have strong anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects and can help calm an overactive immune system. Among other diseases and conditions, they can treat the following:.

Allergies: — Environmental allergic reactions — Allergic reactions to flea bites, bee stings or spider bites — Allergic bronchitis. Inflammatory conditions: — Osteoarthritis — Trauma, especially to the head — Soft tissue injuries like sprains or strains — Gingivitis, a common form of gum disease. Autoimmune disorders: — Stomatitis, inflammation in the mouth — Pemphigus, a skin disease in which numerous pustules form on the skin — Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a condition associated with an abnormal breakdown of red blood cells — Certain kidney diseases.

In cats, itchy skin disease is the No. Before nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs became available for cats, steroids were typically used to control arthritis and other orthopedic disorders, but their use in these conditions has declined as NSAIDs have proven to be effective and relatively safer for long-term treatment than most steroids, Dr. Some will disappear quickly when the drug is stopped, while others will persist long term or permanently.

The best way to counter or avoid the effects of long-term steroid use in cats is to explore alternate means of treating the underlying condition.

For example, if your cat is taking a steroid for skin disease, you and his veterinarian should investigate all possible causes for the itching. For example, Atopica for Cats is a common nonsteroidal drug used to control allergic skin disease. However, its cost can be more than four times that of steroid treatment, with prices varying considerably from practice to practice.

Many nonsteroidal methods can manage chronic itching in cats. Allergy testing and immunotherapy are options in some cases. However, the expense for this type of testing and subsequent treatment can quickly tally into the hundreds of dollars. Likewise, various neurologic diseases often require steroidal therapy. These can include brain tumors and trauma to the brain, as well as spinal cord injury and disease.

However, surgical options that can correct some of them are becoming increasingly available. Owners should consider these surgeries as a means of avoiding chronic steroid administration in their pets. However, like certain drug alternatives to steroids, surgical costs can be prohibitive, leaving steroids the only option. Because steroids suppress the immune system, cats taking them can be vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and other infections.

Signs of this condition can include increased thirst and urination, an increase in skin or urinary tract infections, a pot-bellied appearance and thinning skin and hair loss. To minimize the risk, veterinarians will try to gradually reduce corticosteroid doses over time. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Privacy Policy. Create an account. Password recovery. Catwatch Newsletter.

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