Dehydration after Prednisolone in cats

63 reports to the FDA describe dehydration in cats given Prednisolone. That is 5.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.0% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

63Reports

86%Marked serious

13%Recovered

40%Died or euthanised

8 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

8 16%

1–2 days

6 12%

3–7 days

10 20%

1–4 weeks

16 31%

Over a month

11 22%

How the animals did

Recovered

8 13%

Still unwell when reported

22 35%

Died

5 7.9%

Euthanised

20 32%

Not known

8 13%

Problems reported at the same time

50 79%

37 59%

29 46%

26 41%

25 40%

19 30%

19 30%

14 22%

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 dehydration in cats?: 63 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 8 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).

Dehydration with similar medicines

Dehydration after Prednisone 36 reports · 4.0% of its reports
Dehydration after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 25 reports · 3.1% of its reports
Dehydration after Dexamethasone 65 reports · 8.5% of its reports

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