Dog Health Issues: My Dog Fell While Eating

A veterinarian gently examines a relaxed white dog using a stethoscope.

My dog on prednisone - weaning was awful

My pup was just weaned off of prednisone a couple of days ago (he’d been on it for about a month and a half) and I fed him like normal. After he ate some, I heard a commotion and thought something fell from the counter, so I made my way over. I heard another noise and then I saw that my dog fell while eating – twice.

I kept him in one spot to rest and called the vet. They said he might have had a seizure, which can be one of the dog seizure symptoms to watch for, and might be okay or get worse. It was at the end of the day, so they gave me the information for the vet ER. She said I can take him there or see if he has more issues. He started eating again but has no energy.

I was texting a friend, and she mentioned that her retired doctor husband said that weaning off prednisone can cause adrenal insufficiency in dogs. It’s possible his adrenal glands were not producing the necessary cortisone he needs to function, which could lead to severe complications and even be fatal. The husband advised me to give him a dose right away and another in 12 hours until I can talk to the vet.

I’ll let him in and out where he has no stairs to climb. Tonight I’ll see how he does and take him to the ER if needed. It might be a one-time thing that he can bounce back from, or it might be more serious.

My pup was stable all night, and he even hopped up on the bed without trouble. So, it was a good call to give him a dose (I had a few extra and had not yet thrown them away).

I called the vet, and they gave me a month more of tapering doses of prednisone to last, and then I need to bring him back in. If he has any issues, I need to give him a normal dose to bring him back on track.

Be very cognizant of dog health care when giving prednisone to your dog because if it’s a few weeks of dosage, he might have weaning off issues. Call your vet right away if anything seems like a problem; it can get serious quickly.

While on prednisone, he was panting more, hungrier, thirstier, and had not much energy. Some dogs become more aggressive. He did not understand what was going on but he just trusted me.

Cortisol is a hormone made by the adrenal glands. If the adrenal glands don’t kick back in after weaning off prednisone, it can cause a life-threatening shock to the system. Dogs react differently just like people can react differently. Lack of cortisol can cause dizziness, severe fatigue, muscle pain, low blood pressure, and other issues. It regulates many essential body functions.

As of now, he fell again, so I gave him the second prednisone dose—his cortisol levels might be too low, and he might need an IV to pump the right dosage in. He had a seizure, which was scary for both of us.

The prednisone and its weaning took a toll on him. He did not make it to the ER—he passed in the car on the way.

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Dog Health Issues: My Dog Fell While Eating

My dog on prednisone - weaning was awful

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