Breathing problems after Prednisolone in cats

The FDA has received 70 reports of breathing problems in cats after Prednisolone. That is 5.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines.

70Reports

84%Marked serious

19%Recovered

54%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

14 23%

1–2 days

10 16%

3–7 days

12 19%

1–4 weeks

16 26%

Over a month

10 16%

How the animals did

Recovered

13 19%

Still unwell when reported

5 7.1%

Died

15 21%

Euthanised

23 33%

Not known

14 20%

Problems reported at the same time

38 54%

25 36%

23 33%

17 24%

15 21%

Abnormal radiograph finding

11 16%

Weight loss

11 16%

Blood problems

10 14%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Prednisolone reduces inflammation and immune activity.

Steroids commonly cause increased thirst, urination and appetite, especially at higher doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Prednisolone cause breathing problems in cats?: 70 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 4 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Breathing problems with similar medicines

Breathing problems after Prednisone 55 reports · 6.2% of its reports
Breathing problems after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 32 reports · 4.0% of its reports
Breathing problems after Dexamethasone 134 reports · 18% of its reports

All reported side effects of Prednisolone in cats · Medicines most reported with breathing problems