Dehydration after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 176 reports of dehydration in dogs after Prednisone. That is 2.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.7% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

176Reports

84%Marked serious

15%Recovered

29%Died or euthanised

14 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

26 21%

1–2 days

17 14%

3–7 days

12 9.8%

1–4 weeks

20 16%

Over a month

48 39%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 14%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 1.1%

Still unwell when reported

57 32%

Died

21 12%

Euthanised

30 17%

Not known

42 24%

Problems reported at the same time

112 64%

110 63%

96 55%

61 35%

57 32%

51 29%

41 23%

41 23%

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 dehydration in dogs?: 176 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).

Dehydration with similar medicines

Dehydration after Dexamethasone 116 reports · 4.3% of its reports
Dehydration after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 24 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Dehydration after Prednisolone 31 reports · 2.6% of its reports

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