Hypoglycaemia after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 60 reports of hypoglycaemia in dogs after Prednisone. That is 0.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

60Reports

93%Marked serious

12%Recovered

48%Died or euthanised

19 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

5 13%

1–2 days

6 15%

3–7 days

4 10%

1–4 weeks

13 33%

Over a month

12 30%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 10%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.7%

Still unwell when reported

11 18%

Died

13 22%

Euthanised

16 27%

Not known

13 22%

Problems reported at the same time

38 63%

30 50%

30 50%

29 48%

26 43%

22 37%

18 30%

16 27%

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 hypoglycaemia in dogs?: 60 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 19 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).

Hypoglycaemia with similar medicines

Hypoglycaemia after Dexamethasone 44 reports · 1.6% of its reports
Hypoglycaemia after Prednisolone 20 reports · 1.7% of its reports

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