Behaviour change after Prednisolone in dogs

The FDA has received 44 reports of behaviour change in dogs after Prednisolone. That is 3.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.5% across reports for all dog medicines.

44Reports

61%Marked serious

6.8%Recovered

27%Died or euthanised

10 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

7 20%

1–2 days

4 11%

3–7 days

6 17%

1–4 weeks

9 26%

Over a month

9 26%

How the animals did

Recovered

2 4.5%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 2.3%

Still unwell when reported

17 39%

Died

4 9.1%

Euthanised

8 18%

Not known

12 27%

Problems reported at the same time

18 41%

17 39%

12 27%

11 25%

11 25%

9 20%

8 18%

7 16%

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 behaviour change in dogs?: 44 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).

Behaviour change with similar medicines

Behaviour change after Prednisone 417 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Behaviour change after Dexamethasone 139 reports · 5.1% of its reports
Behaviour change after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 102 reports · 4.9% of its reports
Behaviour change after Miconazole + Polymyxin B + Prednisolone 67 reports · 6.1% of its reports

All reported side effects of Prednisolone in dogs · Medicines most reported with behaviour change