Head shake - ear disorder after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 40 reports of head shake - ear disorder in dogs after Prednisone. That is 0.4% 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.

40Reports

80%Marked serious

23%Recovered

7.5%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

11 34%

1–2 days

5 16%

3–7 days

3 9.4%

1–4 weeks

6 19%

Over a month

7 22%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 15%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 7.5%

Still unwell when reported

8 20%

Died

1 2.5%

Euthanised

2 5.0%

Not known

20 50%

Problems reported at the same time

Didn't work as expected

15 38%

11 28%

10 25%

10 25%

9 23%

9 23%

8 20%

7 18%

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 head shake - ear disorder in dogs?: 40 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 3 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).

Head shake - ear disorder with similar medicines

Head shake - ear disorder after Miconazole + Polymyxin B + Prednisolone 23 reports · 2.1% of its reports

All reported side effects of Prednisone in dogs · Medicines most reported with head shake - ear disorder