What are the Side Effects of Cortisone (Prednisone)?
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.
The rash did clear, but then she started having to pee a lot. She sleeps with us, and that night she peed in the bed. She has never done that before (she is 2 1/2 years old). Then she did it again last night. She is having to pee approx. every several hours. I can not let her sleep in the bed any more till this resolves itself, so I slept on the couch with her.
Could the shot have made her have the urination problem, or do you thing there is more that just a rash going on? After all the food and treat scare I am worried that it could be another food comtamination or just disease.
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.
You have questions. 
Thanks for the info about prednisone. Harley has a bad case of feline eosinophilic granuloma complex. At first he was receiving Depo-Medrol shots, but the lip ulcers came back in about 2 weeks. He’s doing well on prednisone, and he’s down now to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet every other day. He still has linear granulomas down the back of both thighs, but the oral blisters and ulcers are under control. (he also eats a raw diet, is on an immune supplement, eats from only glass or SS dishes, and uses perfume- and dye-free litter). I hope he can eventually taper completely off the prednisone as he’s only 1 1/2 years old.
Daisy had to take prednisone for awhile and the same exact thing happened to her. She kept having accidents on our bed. She was taking pills. I was so relieved when they were done. Our vet warned us that excessive urination would probably occur and it sure did. Once she stopped the medication the excessive urination stopped.
Hello,
My dog Howie Doo has had a horrible time this summer with allergic reactions to. The first time we had to rush him to the er because his stomach was so red and bumps every where. They gave him a shot of prednisone, antibiotics so the skin he scratched raw wouldnt get infected and then we had to give him benadryl. Then a little later I noticed him scratching his ears and when i looked they were so red. This time I was able to take him to my vet that is actually an all animal hospital. The vet said yea they were infected but it looked like some kind of allergic reaction to something. He gave us antibiotics for the infection and then these ear drops i can not remember right now and then a med called temaril – p. He said it was an antihistamine and prednisone. I was to only give him the temaril p for like 3 days but the rest was for 10 days. Howie’s ears started to look better but then after he was done with the temaril p , it seemed as if they were getting worse instead of better. We had to take him back to the vet and come to find out he was allergic to the ear drops. Howie’s poor ears were so red and swollen the vet looked like he was going to cry. Well back on the temaril p he went and this time he put him on them for 5 weeks. Yes 5 weeks. It cost me almost a hundred dollard for this med but It worked wonders. within 3 days his ears looked great. I still continued giving him the med though until it was gone. he has been off now for 4 days and so far so good no allergy anything yet. Howie did drink so much more and had to go out side every hour. his hunger got so bad he wanted to eat all the time. I really couldnt go any where because he had to be left out so much. Now about a week ago I noticed he now has a lump on his side going towards his stomach. I have to take him in now for that. Howie turned 6 in may and before that he has never had to be at the vet beside his check ups seems like at 6 he turned into a medical disaster. he is doing great though.
I’m not so convinced that prednisone is the drug of choice for allergic reaction except for very short term usage. There are other alternatives. It is very effective to treat disc syndrome for no more than 7-10 days, then tapered off. There are those special “what have you got to lose” conditions where your little one requires it over the long term.
My little BYB rescue was given it indescriminately and she subsequently developed adult onset diabetes. As a retired nurse. the problems associated with Prednisone usage cannot be overstressed such as: prednisone induced diabetes, some say it can precipitate Cushings syndrome, effects on the eyes, teeth and bones, thinning of the capillaries and veins, effects on the heart, liver, kidneys and arteries, and predisposition to infections of all kinds. The vet has to weigh the risks and the benefits and the drug has to be monitored carefully.