Diarrhea after Prednisone in cats

79 reports to the FDA describe diarrhea in cats given Prednisone. That is 8.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.1% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

79Reports

53%Marked serious

14%Recovered

16%Died or euthanised

18 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

8 13%

1–2 days

7 11%

3–7 days

11 17%

1–4 weeks

12 19%

Over a month

26 41%

How the animals did

Recovered

9 11%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 2.5%

Still unwell when reported

34 43%

Died

1 1.3%

Euthanised

12 15%

Not known

21 27%

Problems reported at the same time

29 37%

26 33%

17 22%

16 20%

13 16%

11 14%

10 13%

8 10%

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 diarrhea in cats?: 79 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 18 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).

Diarrhea with similar medicines

Diarrhea after Prednisolone 102 reports · 8.3% of its reports
Diarrhea after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 38 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Diarrhea after Dexamethasone 73 reports · 9.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Prednisone in cats · Medicines most reported with diarrhea