Death after Prednisolone in dogs

199 reports to the FDA describe death in dogs given Prednisolone. That is 16% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

199Reports

84%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

100%Died or euthanised

14 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

29 21%

1–2 days

18 13%

3–7 days

12 8.5%

1–4 weeks

34 24%

Over a month

48 34%

How the animals did

Died

105 53%

Euthanised

94 47%

Problems reported at the same time

60 30%

57 29%

56 28%

47 24%

42 21%

33 17%

31 16%

28 14%

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 death in dogs?: 199 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 14 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).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Prednisone 1,116 reports · 12% of its reports
Death after Dexamethasone 623 reports · 23% of its reports
Death after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 168 reports · 8.0% of its reports
Death after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 27 reports · 4.2% of its reports

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