Hyponatremia after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 107 reports of hyponatremia in dogs after Prednisone. That is 1.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

107Reports

79%Marked serious

7.5%Recovered

23%Died or euthanised

23 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

10 14%

1–2 days

11 16%

3–7 days

5 7.1%

1–4 weeks

15 21%

Over a month

29 41%

How the animals did

Recovered

7 6.5%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.9%

Still unwell when reported

41 38%

Died

13 12%

Euthanised

12 11%

Not known

33 31%

Problems reported at the same time

57 53%

50 47%

44 41%

43 40%

40 37%

36 34%

Didn't work as expected

33 31%

Hyperkalaemia

33 31%

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 hyponatremia in dogs?: 107 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 23 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).

Hyponatremia with similar medicines

Hyponatremia after Dexamethasone 61 reports · 2.2% of its reports

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