Dehydration after Prednisone in cats

The FDA has received 36 reports of dehydration in cats after Prednisone. That is 4.0% 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.

36Reports

75%Marked serious

14%Recovered

44%Died or euthanised

10 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

8 32%

1–2 days

1 4.0%

3–7 days

2 8.0%

1–4 weeks

4 16%

Over a month

10 40%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 11%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 2.8%

Still unwell when reported

11 31%

Died

4 11%

Euthanised

12 33%

Not known

4 11%

Problems reported at the same time

24 67%

20 56%

16 44%

16 44%

13 36%

11 31%

8 22%

6 17%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Prednisone reduces inflammation and immune activity.

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

Questions owners ask

Can Prednisone cause dehydration in cats?: 36 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 10 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 Prednisolone 63 reports · 5.1% 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 Prednisone in cats · Medicines most reported with dehydration