Cardiac enlargement after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 48 reports of cardiac enlargement in dogs after Prednisone. That is 0.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

48Reports

92%Marked serious

4.2%Recovered

48%Died or euthanised

33 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 11%

1–2 days

2 5.6%

3–7 days

3 8.3%

1–4 weeks

9 25%

Over a month

18 50%

How the animals did

Recovered with lasting effects

2 4.2%

Still unwell when reported

14 29%

Died

12 25%

Euthanised

11 23%

Not known

9 19%

Problems reported at the same time

Abnormal radiograph finding

28 58%

24 50%

23 48%

17 35%

16 33%

16 33%

14 29%

12 25%

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 cardiac enlargement in dogs?: 48 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 33 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).

Cardiac enlargement with similar medicines

Cardiac enlargement after Dexamethasone 24 reports · 0.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Prednisone in dogs · Medicines most reported with cardiac enlargement