Dog on Prednisone

My dog had bronchitis (he’s older, so bronchitis can affect older dogs for no apparent reason) and he was put on antibiotics and prednisone.

The effects of prednisone on dogs were immediate. He drank more, was hungrier (constantly asking for more food), and had no energy to complete a walk.

He would cry for food, so I gave him a carrot. I’m not supposed to change anything about his food (since dogs tend to gain weight when on prednisone), but I consulted the vet, who said I could give him carrots, green beans, or frozen mixed vegetables to avoid significantly increasing his calories.

I tried to walk him, but he stopped to rest several times, so I opted for a shorter route back (he’s over 70 pounds, so carrying him is not an option for me). I shortened our walks to a 0.3-mile loop around the block. Some days he made it all the way, slowing down on the home stretch. On other days, he needed to rest one or more times along the way. Today, he couldn’t go far, so I turned around and brought him back home.

His last prednisone tablet (1/2 tablet) is in two days. He will probably feel confused during the weaning process and may take a week or two to regain his energy. It will be beneficial for both of us when he can walk further again. He’s been wanting to go to the park, but it’s too far for him to manage when he’s needing to rest or cut our walks short. As I mentioned, I cannot carry him back.

I feel terrible for him, but for now, his coughing is better, and I hope it won’t return. If the cough does come back after he’s off the medication, I’ll need to take him back for a new plan regarding his dog health care.

I have an update - I do not recommend prednisone for longer than a week or two for managing dog medications, especially not for a month or more unless monitored closely or ensuring that the adrenal glands can produce cortisol. My dog's adrenal glands were unable to function properly during the weaning off period. The cortisol hormone needed for life functions was not being produced, even with a slow tapering off. This led to shock, and he sadly passed away. My beautiful, brilliant constant companion is gone. No prednisone should be given for an extended period without regular check-ins with a vet to monitor the dog’s vitals and verify if the dog can produce its own cortisol.

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Dog on Prednisone

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