Four day ago the groomer found a rash on my Shi-poo’s tummy and thought it may be ringworm. We went directly to the vet to see what it could be. He said that it was a summer time rash and gave her a prednisone shot.

Donna
Hoover, AL

The prednisone injection almost certainly is the cause of your dog’s excessive urination.

The “summer time rash” that your dog developed likely was an allergic reaction to one or more allergens.

Prednisone is simultaneously the best and worst medicine ever invented. Prednisone is a very effective allergy treatment. It also treats a host of autoimmune diseases and skin diseases. But it has many side effects.

The first side effects that animals show after receiving prednisone are increased thirst and urination, panting, and behavior changes (sleeplessness, aggression, or lethargy). After a while, increased appetite may develop. Animals that receive prednisone are prone to infections. Long-term prednisone use may lead to diabetes (cats, dogs), kidney failure, or liver failure.

Your dog’s excessive urination should go away as the drug is eliminated from her system. She is unlikely to suffer any long term consequences from the prednisone injection.

I often tell clients that prednisone is a double-edged sword, and your situation is a perfect example. The medicine cured the skin rash as intended. But the medicine also created a new problem.

Prednisone always should be used with caution.

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When I was a child of 12, I started a venture that I believed would allow me to make money doing something I loved. I started a pet sitting business.

By many measures, my business was a success. I had fun, and pet owning folks in Boise, Idaho got to go on vacations. I don’t remember perfectly, but I suspect that my rates were very reasonable. I was a kid, after all, and I certainly didn’t get rich.

When I look back on those days now, I am amazed that I got through that time without a major catastrophe befalling one of my charges. Pet sitting is a risky business in the hands of a professional, let alone those of a child.

The overwhelming majority of pet sitters I have met are caring, responsible people and completely solid citizens. Yet a disproportionate number of sick animals are brought to me by pet sitters.

This phenomenon has nothing to do with the quality of care that the sitters offer. In most cases that care is excellent. Rather, it has to do with stress. Pets love their owners. When the owners go out of town, pets’ routines are upset. That is stressful. Stress can unmask pre-existing disease.

Consider a case I saw the other night. A very nice pet sitter was looking after her neighbor’s cat during a vacation. The owner had noticed the cat was excessively thirsty for a few weeks before the trip. She reported this to her neighbor and left town. As soon as she left the cat stopped eating, and the pet sitter wound up in my office at 10:00 pm.

I was very troubled by my exam findings. The cat was emaciated and dehydrated. It had very bad breath. Its coat was rough and unkempt. I suspected kidney failure.

To diagnose the problem definitively I would need to run tests. Depending on the outcome, hospitalization and intensive treatment might be necessary. The cat clearly was suffering intensely. If the test results showed seriously advanced disease, euthanasia might have been the best choice for the poor creature.

The owner was in Cancún. She had left no contact information. This placed the pet sitter in an incredibly awkward position.

The pet sitter would have to pay for the visit and any tests that were run and hope for reimbursement. She would have to make decisions regarding the cat’s care without any guidance from the owner.

The pet sitter agonized over the situation for over an hour. In the end she decided to forego tests. We administered fluids to the cat to treat dehydration, and she took the cat home. Her plan was to send a flurry of e-mails to the owner and hope for a response. I lost sleep that night worrying that the cat was suffering. I did not hear from the pet sitter again.

I can’t imagine that any pet owner wants to place their pet or their pet sitter in this sort of situation. But it happens all the time. Here are some steps you can take to help steer clear of the problems discussed above.

Pet sitting is a labor of love. Take the steps listed above and be kind to your pet sitter.

Photo: FlaviaC.

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