Elevated amylase after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 70 reports of elevated amylase in dogs after Prednisone. That is 0.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

70Reports

81%Marked serious

8.6%Recovered

33%Died or euthanised

28 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 7.8%

1–2 days

2 3.9%

3–7 days

5 9.8%

1–4 weeks

15 29%

Over a month

25 49%

How the animals did

Recovered

5 7.1%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.4%

Still unwell when reported

31 44%

Died

10 14%

Euthanised

13 19%

Not known

10 14%

Problems reported at the same time

49 70%

37 53%

37 53%

33 47%

29 41%

24 34%

24 34%

23 33%

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 elevated amylase in dogs?: 70 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 28 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).

Elevated amylase with similar medicines

Elevated amylase after Dexamethasone 48 reports · 1.8% of its reports
Elevated amylase after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 20 reports · 1.0% of its reports

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