Ketosis after Prednisone in cats

20 reports to the FDA describe ketosis in cats given Prednisone. That is 2.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.2% across reports for all cat medicines.

20Reports

15%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

5.0%Died or euthanised

47 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

0 0.0%

1–2 days

2 14%

3–7 days

4 29%

1–4 weeks

1 7.1%

Over a month

7 50%

How the animals did

Still unwell when reported

8 40%

Euthanised

1 5.0%

Not known

11 55%

Problems reported at the same time

9 45%

5 25%

4 20%

4 20%

3 15%

Didn't work as expected

3 15%

Diarrhea

3 15%

Hypercalcaemia

3 15%

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 ketosis in cats?: 20 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 47 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).

Ketosis with similar medicines

Ketosis after Prednisolone 29 reports · 2.4% of its reports

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