Hair loss after Prednisolone in cats

The FDA has received 127 reports of hair loss in cats after Prednisolone. That is 10% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 14% across reports for all cat medicines.

127Reports

52%Marked serious

9.4%Recovered

9.4%Died or euthanised

8 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

17 16%

1–2 days

13 12%

3–7 days

22 20%

1–4 weeks

27 25%

Over a month

29 27%

How the animals did

Recovered

10 7.9%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 1.6%

Still unwell when reported

63 50%

Died

4 3.1%

Euthanised

8 6.3%

Not known

40 31%

Problems reported at the same time

Itching

52 41%

Application site reaction

41 32%

Skin rash or irritation

33 26%

Skin redness

28 22%

Skin scab

22 17%

Didn't work as expected

15 12%

Loss of appetite

14 11%

Vomiting

13 10%

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 hair loss in cats?: 127 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).

Hair loss with similar medicines

Hair loss after Prednisone 79 reports · 8.9% of its reports
Hair loss after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 51 reports · 6.4% of its reports
Hair loss after Dexamethasone 55 reports · 7.2% of its reports

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